johnmorghen

Another slasher film, you say? Yes, it is... but, it's much more.

The teaming of director Michael Hoffman and writer Meghan Jones-Hoffman deliver their slickest work to date here, presenting an amalgam of slasher horror, sex comedies and jabs at contemporary culture... with bite! Personally, I dig that sort of thing.

Here are some of the high points for me:

1) Sal & Beetlejuice are worth the price of admission alone (check their behind-the-scenes antics in the DVD supplemental, as well).

2) Katie Peterson in the lead. Peterson has a lot going for her and reminds one of vintage Nicole Eggert... which is a definite plus.

3) Newcomer Shea Stewart. Is this really her first film? She puts the 'pretty' in pretty damn good.

4) Major kudos to Marcus Koch for providing some truly impressive special make-up effects.

5) Jerry Lawler giving his finest performance since his days with Andy Kaufman.

5) And, last, but certainly not least... Nicko McBrain croons country!

With elements like that, you just can't lose.

Give it a quick lick and make it stick!

Whether you love it or hate it, you've got to give Rob Zombie credit for making a film for his favorite genre and attempting to appease fans who, like me, are sick of the current trend of so-called horror films.

Overall, I confess that I am a bit indifferent on the film and I should see it again. With that said, what I loved best about the film was Rob's utilization of some terrific talent. When I first heard the cast included Bill Moseley, Karen Black, Sid Haig, Tom Towles and Michael J. Pollard, my admission was instantly secured. As for the film itself, it definitely could be considered "throwback horror", but not in the revolutionary sense. The film bares far too much familiarity to other horror films, most notably Tobe Hooper's "THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE" and "THE FUNHOUSE", which prevents it from treading new ground in the genre. But then, most everything in the horror genre has been done before and it's inevitable that whatever follows will be deemed derivative. Clearly the intent is there to make a good horror film or at least something better than the current drivel. Either way, it's an entertaining escapade.

Today, this film is notable primarily for the early performances of several young actors and serves as a great curiosity piece. Overall, I found this to be a fun, fast-paced and neatly constructed entry to the genre. Many talents are showcased here, such as Lewis Smith, Adrian Zmed, Rachel Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Metcalf, Daryl Hannah and John Friedrich. Great performances, a terrific score and tight direction by Andrew Davis, make this an extremely entertaining addition to the slasher tradition. If you are a fan of the early '80s slashers, then I would highly recommend this.