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For myself and many other horror fans, the 1986 classic April Fool’s Day (watch it Here) is a must-watch every April 1st – and next year, thanks to the folks at Kino Lorber, some of us are going to be able to watch the movie on a brand new 4K Uhd disc! They’re giving the film a 4K Uhd release on January 21st, and copies are available for pre-order at This Link.

Directed by Fred Walton from a screenplay by Danilo Bach, April Fool’s Day has the following synopsis: When a group of college students decides to spend spring break at the secluded island estate of their wealthy classmate, Muffy St. John, what starts out as a fun, hedonistic weekend turns into something more sinister. Muffy is very fond of practical jokes, and sets up numerous gags throughout her mansion. But, when friends begin going missing and turn up dead,...

April Fool’s Day will be the life of the party when it hits 4K Ultra HD on January 21 from Kino Lorber.

The 1986 holiday slasher has been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision/Hdr.

From Friday the 13th franchise producer Frank Mancuso Jr., the film is directed by Fred Walton (When a Stranger Calls) and written by Danilo Bach (Beverly Hills Cop).

Deborah Foreman, Jay Baker, Deborah Goodrich, Ken Olandt, Griffin O’Neal, Leah King Pinsent, Clayton Rohner, Amy Steel, and Thomas F. Wilson star.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative Dolby Vision/Hdr Presentation of the Film Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson (new) 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

Horror with a Twist: 2-Part Interview with Director Fred Walton Well of Lies: Interview with Actress Deborah Goodrich Royce Looking Forward to Dessert:...

Actor Judge Reinhold has spent decades in show business, appearing in a variety of different feature films and television shows. However, co-starring in a movie with Kevin Bacon seems to have marked a new major milestone for Reinhold.

In the new Netflix sequel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Reinhold returns as Billy Rosewood, an ally of Eddie Murphy's Axel Foley from the first three films. Axel F also brings Bacon into the series to take on the role of the captain of the Beverly Hills Police Department. Following the film's arrival on Netflix, Reinhold shared an image on social media from the production of himself standing alongside Bacon. The caption of the post noted, "I made it. One degree."

I made it.One degree.#beverlyhillscop #40th @kevinbacon #Billy #Grateful #sunday #bts @netflix pic.twitter.com/rU8RFKyxfm Judge Reinhold (@JudgeReinhold) July 15, 2024

Related Bronson Pinchot Details Improvised Scene with Eddie...

For Bronson Pinchot, reuniting with Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F wasn't just a fun cameo for their respective characters, Serge and Axel. It was a sentimental moment for the actors who had not shared the screen in years, so improvising Serge's reaction was natural.

In an interview with ComicBook, Pinchot explained that the scene in which Serge hugs Axel was improvised because it felt like something the character would do. "I'll tell you something that sounds smarmy, but once in a while, the truth is just kind of gooey," he said of the scene. "Younger actors say to me sometimes on a set, 'How do you make every take different? I want to do that - how do you do that?' And I say, 'Oh, just don't act.' They say, 'What?' And I say, 'Acting ruins everything.'"

Related Beverly Hills Cop 4...

Quick Links Beverly Hills Cop (1984) Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

As Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane in Beverly Hills Cop 4 on Netflix this summer, old and new generations of movie lovers are experiencing the kind of fun, throwback action-comedy that populated the 1980s. While buddy-cop movies have been a surefire formula for success in the past, including Murphy's 48 Hours, the SNL alum's unique brand of comedy proved he could carry a movie on his back as the leading actor on the call sheet.

Following his breakout starring role in the original 1984 Beverly Hills Cop, Murphy returned for the stylish sequel Beverly Hills Cop II and the abysmal, franchise-killing Beverly Hills Cop III, which put the wise-cracking Detroit transplant on ice for 30 years. While the three-decade return of Murphy in Axel F is impressive on its own,...

This article contains mild spoilers for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a very nostalgic film, as it brings back Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley three decades after last playing the role. There was also a fun cameo in the film that may be amusing for Happy Gilmore fans.

In one scene, Happy Gilmore actor Christopher McDonald briefly appears as an angry golfer. The role is very similar to Shooter McGavin, the antagonist McDonald played in Happy Gilmore. He's only credited as "golfer," and he's not identified by name, but the nod to Happy Gilmore will still be obvious for fans of the Adam Sandler comedy. That was by design, as confirmed by director Mark Molloy in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Related Retro Review: Beverly Hills Cop (1984) is a Charisma-Fueled Entertainment of Few Equals

1984's Beverly Hills Cop is a profound...

Quick Links Beverly Hills Cop Is Hilarious Eddie Murphy's Movie Star Moment A Stellar Release Date The Music Was Heating Up the Charts

1984 was a legendary year for movies. Films like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Karate Kid, Gremlins, Purple Rain, Splash, and Footloose are just a few of the legendary titles that were released. Many assume that the biggest film of the year was Ghostbusters, given it was one of the highest-grossing films of the decade and lived on through merchandise and television deals. Yet the biggest movie of the year was another comedy featuring a Saturday Night Live alumnus, Beverly Hills Cop.

Starring Eddie Murphy, Beverly Hills Cop was a box office sensation from the moment it was released on December 5, 1984. It had strong reviews from critics, earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and stayed number one at the box office for an impressive 13 weeks straight.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F redeems the film series from previous missteps with a solid premise and fast-paced narrative. Director Mark Molloy confirmed Eddie Murphy approved the sequel even if it changed a key aspect of his legacy character.

Director Mark Molloy said Beverly Hills Cop 4 was a tough pitch to sell. He told /Film that producer Jerry Bruckheimer handpicked him for the project but they still had to get everyone else's approval. Eddie Murphy's feedback was particularly critical; Axel Foley is a legacy character and the actor had reservations about reprising the role. "The first thing [Murphy] told me, he told me it's the most important character he's ever played," Molloy said. "It meant a lot to him, and I could really feel that. The main thing he really wanted to make sure was I understood the tone of the films and the balance of action and comedy.

Beverly Hills Cop is one of the best and most iconic franchises in the action comedy genre, and most of the credit for that goes to its leading man, Eddie Murphy. Created by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie Jr., the first film in the franchise came out in 1984, and now, with the fourth film coming out nearly thirty years after the third and the worst film in the franchise came out, the hype for the franchise and its iconic theme song is back on the top. So, if you loved Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, here are some more great action comedy films you could watch next.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (In Theaters) Credit – Sony Pictures

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fourth entry into the buddy cop action comedy film franchise directed by Adil & Bilall from a screenplay by Chris Bremner and Will Beall. The 2024 film picks...

Eddie Murphy returns as Axel Foley in Netflix's Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, a legacy sequel blending nostalgia and fresh elements. The original Beverly Hills Cop remains a classic action-comedy, announcing Murphy's star to the world. The first two sequels faced diminishing returns and mixed reception.

Eddie Murphy has now made Beverly Hills Cop movies for 4 decades, with the fourth entry, Netflix's Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F taking 30 of those years to make it to the screen. By now, Murphy is far less prolific, having made only a handful of movies since Dolemite Is My Name brought him back into the limelight, but in the 1980s, he was as big a star as it's possible to imagine.

Hot off his incredibly popular run on Saturday Night Live, Murphy had already made 48 Hours and Trading Places, coolly fitting into Hollywood with the same swagger that would make Axel Foley so instantly popular.

Kevin Bacon and Glenn Howerton have joined the cast of the upcoming Netflix series Sirens. Billed as a female-driven limited dark comedy, the cast is led by Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy and Milly Alcock.

Per the official synopsis (via Deadline),Sirens focuses on Devon (Fahy) who is worried about her sister Simone (Alcock) and the creepy relationship she has with her mysterious socialite employer, Michaela Kell (Moore). Michaela's cult-like, luxurious lifestyle is like a drug to Simone and Devon thinks it's time for an intervention. When she eventually tracks down her sister, she finds herself in Michaela's dangerous path. The story takes place over a weekend at a lavish beach estate.

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Related The Dark Knight Actor Reveals Whether A Robin Spinoff Was Ever In The Works

Joseph Gordon-Levitt explains that spinoffs were not a common consideration "in those olden days."

Bacon will portray Michaela's husband, Peter Kell, who comes...

Eddie Murphy's trademark laugh from the 1980s may have been a part of the original Beverly Hills Cop, but that's one element that won't be back in the new Netflix sequel. Murphy long ago made himself stop laughing that way, recalling why he felt compelled to do so.

Murphy recently spoke with Cbr's Kevin Polowy to promote Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the fourth installment of the Beverly Hills Cop movie series. When asked about the absence of Axel Foley's unique laugh from the 80s films, Murphy shared how that just happened to be his real laugh that wasn't directly tied to his Beverly Hills Cop character. The actor went on to recall how comedians relentlessly poked fun at him by exaggerating his laugh when doing impersonations, and that left Murphy concerned that he'd be known for the way he laughed above all else. He then "forced" himself to stop laughing that way,...

Eddie Murphy agrees with the consensus that Beverly Hills Cop III didn't live up to the first two films. While the film is appreciated by some fans of the action-comedy movie series, it was heavily panned upon release in addition to falling short of box office expectations.

In a new interview with Screen Rant to promote the franchise's fourth film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Murphy commented on what happened with Beverly Hills Cop III. He referred to the sequel as "soft" due in part to the absence of John Ashton's Taggart. Along with feeling that his own character and Timothy Carhart's villain failed to live up to expectations, Murphy has also suggested that the film was just a bit too clich, pointing to one particular line as assurance from the start that the movie wasn't going to turn out well.

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When Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is released next month, it will have been 30 years since the last installment, 1994's Beverly Hills Cop III. Franchise lead Eddie Murphy recently opened up about why it took decades to find the right story for the fourth movie.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Murphy revealed that the "reason why the movie didn't come together for years and years and years is because, in all the scripts that I read, there was no evolution." He explained, "It was just, 'Axel's coming back now, and he's on a new mission.' It was like, 'Okay, now this has happened.' It was just the generic things. 'This happens, and that happens, then this happens, and that happens.' And nothing worked."

Related Bad Boys 4 Team Addresses Possible Crossovers With Beverly Hills Cop and Rush Hour

Exclusive: The stars and filmmakers of Bad Boys: Ride or Die...

Movie icon Eddie Murphy recently recalled the original Beverly Hills Cop's first industry screening, which left the actor scared that the film would fail to connect with audiences and flop at the box office. Forty years on, the hit franchise's fourth installment, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel, will arrive on Netflix this July.

Murphy told Variety at the premiere of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F that he felt trepidation after the first screening of the original 1984 film due to the reaction, or lack thereof, of that audience. "It didn't go well. A lot of times at industry screenings they don't laugh. I thought the movie was going to be horrible," the actor said. "I was with [Murphy's Trading Places director] John Landis, and he was like, 'No, it was great.' I thought they hated it. Then I went and saw it with a real audience, and then I saw the real reaction to it.

When Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is released on Netflix next month, it will have been 30 years since fans last saw Eddie Murphy's Axel Foley. Luckily for them, it doesn't sound like they'll have to wait another 30 years for Beverly Hills Cop 5.

Speaking with Variety at the Beverly Hills premiere of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Murphy confirmed that a fifth installment in the long-running action-comedy franchise is already in the works. "Theyre developing it," he said. "If it comes together, well be doing another one." Jerry Bruckheimer, who has produced all four Beverly Hills Cop movies, added that they "have a couple of stories in mind" for Axel Foley's next adventure.

Related New Beverly Hills Cop 4 Image Teases Joseph Gordon-Levitt's 'Strait-Laced' Cop

Joseph Gordon-Levitt discusses having fun on set and working with Eddie Murphy in the latest Beverly Hills Cop movie, coming to Netflix this summer.

The latest installment of Eddie Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop franchise, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, doesn’t come to Netflix until July 3. Still, Murphy is already discussing the possibility of a Beverly Hills Cop 5. Speaking with Today about Axel Foley’s return to screens, Murphy said he’s not opposed to playing the character again if the story is there.

When asked about playing the wise-cracking, case-solving Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop 5, Eddie Murphy said, “I hope so because this movie turned out so good, especially if you grew up watching the movie, then you’ll really, really love this new picture.”

Speaking about Axel Foley’s appeal, Murphy says the trick to his lasting popularity is that he has something for everyone to relate to. “Axel is the everyman. He’s not a superhero or super cop. He’s the everyman that rises to the occasion.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F may not be the last time audiences see Eddie Murphy as Detroit cop Axel Foley. Murphy recently hinted that he'd be interested in reprising the role for a fifth Beverly Hills Cop movie.

During an appearance on The Today Show, Murphy revealed that he initially wanted to retire from acting when he turned 50, which would have been in 2011, but that he no longer has an end date set for when he'll hang it all up. "I think I will keep being a creative person til the day I die," he said. Murphy also shared that he wouldn't mind playing Axel again, stating, "I hope so because this movie turned out so good, especially if you grew up watching the movie, then youll really, really love this new picture."

Related Eddie Murphy's Still Got It as Axel Foley in Hilarious Beverly Hills Cop 4 Clip

It...

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal takes his shot at landing the role of Axel Foley in a new video released by Netflix. The promo is advertising the upcoming release of the sequel, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which will be the fourth installment of the action-comedy movie series.

In the new promo, Shaq sports Axel's familiar Detroit Lions jacket for what's labeled as a "screen test" for the Steel star. The basketballer jokes at the start that he's "come a long way since Kazaam," the 1996 box office bomb that featured Shaq in the role of a genie. Shaq then delivers some lines, but struggles to use the correct name of the character, instead referring to himself as "Shaqxel Foley." When he learns that he's not getting the role, Shaq insists on keeping the prop badge, and he walks off while humming the iconic Beverly Hills Cop theme song.

Related Bad Boys...

NBA legend and former genie in a bottle Shaquille O’Neal is ready to stick bananas in tailpipes and take Beverly Hills by storm as Shaqxel Foley for Netflix‘s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F! In a new promo for the long-gestating sequel starring Eddie Murphy in one of his most iconic roles, Shaq proclaims his love for the Beverly Hills Cop film series while auditioning to replace Murphy as the wise-cracking Detroit law enforcement officer import Axel Foley. Shaq brandishes a banana in the video while reciting lines from the upcoming action film. Shaq, known for his skills on the basketball court, is a humble giant with comedic chops. Check out his Hot Ones interview if you want to see Shaq hamming it up for laughs. It’s a classic piece of internet goodness.

Mark Molloy directs Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F from a story by Will Beall. Beall co-wrote...

Eddie Murphy has reprised his iconic role as Axel Foley once again for the new Netflix movie Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. A new clip from the film reveals Murphy's Foley in action, and the actor has not missed a beat with bringing the role to life for a fourth time.

The sneak peek clip sees Murphy's Axel and Gordon-Levitt's Bobby Abbott on the run from their would-be killers, and their only chance of escape is to board a helicopter. While Bobby happens to be a pilot, it takes a lot of encouragement --- complete with Axel's foul language making it more colorful --- to get him to take flight. It's not until they're in the air when Axel realizes why Bobby was so hesitant, and things are looking bad for the duo as the clip comes to a close.

Related 'It Was a Trip': Paul Reiser Says Career-Defining...

Eddie Murphy is back with a badge for the fourth franchise installment of his beloved series, with “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.”

The upcoming Netflix film, which teased a first look earlier this year, marks Murphy’s long-rumored reprisal the iconic character Detective Axel Foley. The ’80s-era franchise first began with Foley as a Detroit detective turned temporary L.A. police officer for an uncover mission. Now, after having worked in L.A. sporadically for decades, Foley teams up with his estranged daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) to take down yet another conspiracy.

Along the way, Foley lands a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and police captain (Kevin Bacon), but his old confidantes, including Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton), are still in the mix. Also returning? Franchise co-stars Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot.

“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is directed by Mark Molloy from a script by Will Beall,...

Netflix has released the official trailer and poster for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which will begin streaming globally on July 3, 2024. The film is rated R for language throughout, violence, and brief drug use.

In the action-comedy, Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.

Mark Molloy directed the new installment, which was based on a screenplay by Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten. The movie is based on the characters created by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie, Jr.

The Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F cast includes Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, and Kevin Bacon.

Eddie Murphy is feeling the heat in the first full trailer for Netflix’s forthcoming action-comedy sequel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

The feature from director Mark Molloy is set to launch July 3 on the streaming service. Murphy leads a cast that also includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot and Kevin Bacon.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F sees the star reprising his role as detective Axel Foley, who aims to save the life of his daughter (Paige) by teaming up with new partner (Gordon-Levitt) and familiar faces Billy Rosewood (Reinhold) and John Taggart (Ashton) to foil a conspiracy.

Murphy originated his character in the Martin Brest-helmed 1984 smash Beverly Hills Cop, which was written by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie Jr. After becoming the year’s highest-grossing film, it was followed by two sequels, the latest of which hit theaters back in 1994.

Axel F...

By now, the outcome of 1986’s April Fool’s Day is well known: an heiress’ guests are misled to believe their party is being picked off by a killer among them. However, had the producers not requested a last-minute change, the film would have turned the tables on the elaborate prank’s orchestrator; she would have died for real. Fans had hoped to see footage from this shot-but-unused ending on Shout! Factory’s Blu-ray. No such luck, unfortunately. And it was likely not for a lack of trying on the distributor’s part, either. Although the final cut of Fred Walton’s film features no actual deaths, Jeff Rovin’s novelization was based on an earlier draft of Danilo Bach’s script. Which means this now out-of-print adaptation used that sought-after “lost” ending.

Before taking a deadly turn, the novelization is not all that different from its cinematic counterpart: Muffy St. John...

Two shady figures walk into a club, raising the suspicions of Detective Axel Foley. Foley needs help to deal with both men, but the pair of officers keeping an eye on him — Sergeant Taggart (John Ashton) and Detective Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) — don’t trust him. Furthermore, he’s in a public place, which means that his actions could harm civilians.

After his pleading convinces Taggart and Rosewood to help out, Axel approaches one of the potential troublemakers.

“Phillip!” Foley shouts, adopting the stagger and slurred speech patterns of a drunk man as he approaches the confused suspect. Foley continues the act even after the suspect pulls a gun and threatens the patrons, which allows him to get close enough to yank the weapon away.

You probably recognize the above scene as one of the standout moments of 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop, in which Foley shows off his keen detective...

Netflix kicked off February with news of the streaming service’s 2024 film slate.

The steamer, which landed 18 Oscar nominations this year – including seven for Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” – will debut numerous populist films in 2024, including new projects from Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry, Jenifer Lopez, Millie Bobby Brown, Eddie Murphy, and more.

Well-known directors with movies set to premiere on Netflix this year include Tyler Perry (two titles), McG, Richard Linklater, and Lee Daniels. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will also make his directorial debut with “Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story.”

On the awards front, while it’s too early to tell which projects might pop – and what movies Netflix might acquire for release this year, similarly to how the studio purchased Todd Haynes’ “May December” at the Cannes Film Festival last year – titles to flag include “The Piano Lesson” from Malcolm Washington with Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington,...

Prepare to have the ’80s synth tones of the “Beverly Hills Cop” theme song stuck in your head again.

Netflix has released the trailer for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” the fourth film in the popular “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise starring Eddie Murphy. The film is slated for release on the streamer in summer 2024.

Directed by Mark Molloy, “Axel F” hits screens about 30 years after “Beverly Hills Cop III” was released in 1994. Murphy returns as the titular character, a Detroit cop solving crimes in Beverly Hills. Judge Reinhold and John Ashton also return as local cops Lt. Billy Rosewood and Sgt. John Taggart.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kevin Bacon are both newcomers to the “Beverly Hills Cop” universe. Taylour Paige joins the cast as Foley’s estranged daughter, while Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot and Mark Pelligrino also star.

Murphy spoke to People about what it was like returning to the franchise decades later.

Eddie Murphy is making a return as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop 4, a sequel that has been in development for decades. The film will feature the return of several original cast members and the addition of new ones, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon. The first look image of the sequel indicates that it will be embracing its modern era setting, with background characters seen using smart phones.

Eddie Murphy makes his grand return as Axel Foley in a first look image at Beverly Hills Cop 4. Murphy made his debut as the Detroit cop back in 1984 with the Martin Brest-directed Beverly Hills Cop. The film received sequels in 1987 and 1994 with Beverly Hills Cop 2 and Beverly Hills Cop 3, and Beverly Hills Cop 4 is now in development.

A new look at Murphy in his Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley role is revealed by Empire.

The heat is most definitely on in this episode of revisited, as we’re looking back on a quintessential piece of 1980s action / comedy movie-making, that helped to launch the career of American funnyman Eddie Murphy into the stratosphere. That’s right folk, with the much anticipated fourth entry in the series on the horizon, we’re taking a retrospective look at the Axel F infused goodness that is Beverly Hills Cop. Ok, well, I guess part four isn’t necessarily ‘much anticipated’ across the entire movie-world, but Eddie Murphy has had somewhat of a career resurgence in recent times and apart from a slightly tame and disappointing Coming 2 America, and the relative appeal of You People, he’s made a positive return the spotlight. Part four is currently slated, as per time of writing this video, for 2024 but there have been whispers about it possibly surfacing on Netflix,...

A new episode of our Best Horror Party Movies video series has just been released, and with this one we’re looking back at the 1986 classic April Fool’s Day (watch it Here). We may be a few days beyond the day the movie is named after, but any time is a good time to watch April Fool’s Day. And to find out how we party to this movie, check out the video embedded above!

Directed by Fred Walton from a screenplay by Danilo Bach, April Fool’s Day has the following synopsis: When a group of college students decides to spend spring break at the secluded island estate of their wealthy classmate, Muffy St. John, what starts out as a fun, hedonistic weekend turns into something more sinister. Muffy is very fond of practical jokes, and sets up numerous gags throughout her mansion. But, when friends begin going missing and turn up dead,...

1984's "Beverly Hills Cop" contains a plot hook so good it seems like a no-brainer idea in hindsight: a streetwise Detroit policeman finds himself in a fish-out-of-water situation when he pursues a criminal to luxurious Beverly Hills, whereupon his blue-collar attitude clashes with the snooty, affluent natives.

Yet a study of the making of the film reveals that it had a fairly rocky transition from concept to screen, with the production going through several different directors, stars, and tonal approaches before landing on director Martin Brest and star Eddie Murphy. That could be due in part to the fact that the core concept for the movie wasn't so fleshed out upon conception.

Way before a series of screenwriters began work on what would eventually become "Beverly Hills Cop," then Paramount executive Michael Eisner had the simple notion to make a movie about a Los Angeles policeman, an idea that occurred...

A decade before Scream sent up slasher flicks, another comedy thriller had fun with the genre.

1986’s April Fool’s Day was produced by Frank Mancuso Jr., son of then-Paramount chairman Frank Mancuso Sr. Together, father and son had produced five sequels to 1980’s sleeper hit Friday the 13th. Burned out on Jason, Mancuso Jr. wanted to try something different for his first solo foray. He selected a script by Danilo Bach, who had achieved massive success for Paramount writing 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop. April Fool’s Day’s story brought a group of college spring breakers to the island home ...

A decade before Scream sent up slasher flicks, another comedy thriller had fun with the genre.

1986’s April Fool’s Day was produced by Frank Mancuso Jr., son of then-Paramount chairman Frank Mancuso Sr. Together, father and son had produced five sequels to 1980’s sleeper hit Friday the 13th. Burned out on Jason, Mancuso Jr. wanted to try something different for his first solo foray. He selected a script by Danilo Bach, who had achieved massive success for Paramount writing 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop. April Fool’s Day’s story brought a group of college spring breakers to the island home ...

A film I’ve talked about ad nauseam for like decades now, Fred Walton’s April Fool’s Day has been a favorite of mine ever since I discovered it on VHS during the summer of 1987.

[Spoiler warning if you haven't seen April Fool's Day.] To me, it’s always been the perfect anti-slasher, where no one in the film really dies (unless you count the film’s missing ending), and instead leans into the whodunit aspects that are driving the mystery of just who exactly is terrorizing Muffy St. John (played by Deborah Foreman) and her friends during what’s supposed to be their idyllic lakeside weekend away from the stresses of college life.

What it may lack in an official body count, April Fool’s Day more than makes up for with its whip-smart script, charismatic performances, and a whopper of an ending that I certainly wasn’t expecting at all the first time I saw it.

Creating a slasher movie in 1986 wasn’t a monumental feat, as the horror genre had seen its fair share of cinematic killers over the years, but it was a culmination of many elements that made April Fool’s Day one of the best of its era. With a focused and experienced director at the helm, a clever script filled with laughs and unexpected thrills, and an affable ensemble of actors who were infectiously likeable and endlessly talented, April Fool’s Day is an underappreciated gem and is truly unlike any other genre film of its, or any, time.

Written by Danilo Bach and directed by Fred Walton, April Fool’s Day follows a group of college students—Kit (Amy Steel), Rob (Ken Olandt), Nikki (Deborah Goodrich), Chaz (Clayton Rohner), Arch (Tom Wilson), Harvey (Jay Baker), Skip (Griffin O’Neal), and Nan (Leah Pinsent)—who head out to their pal Muffy...

Today, the cult horror comedy April Fool’s Day celebrates its 30th anniversary. Written by Danilo Bach (Beverly Hills Cop) and directed by Fred Walton (1979’s When A Stranger Calls), the film follows a group of college students who spend spring break at their friend Muffy St. John’s family estate, unaware that the weekend will be filled with frights and unexpected surprises.

Released the same weekend as The Money Pit, April Fool’s Day became a modest success for Paramount Pictures, taking in $13 million during its three-week theatrical run and finding even more of an audience once it was released on VHS. Even though it has largely flown under the radar over the last 30 years, Walton’s slasher send-up with an Agatha Christie flair has remained a beloved cult film among genre fans and this writer in particular.

Looking back at the horror comedy, Walton discussed how his involvement...

Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) has named two-time Wgaw President Daniel Petrie, Jr. as its 2013 Morgan Cox Award honoree in recognition of his longtime service to the Guild. The award will be presented at the Wgaw’s 2013 Writers Guild Awards West Coast ceremony on Sunday, February 17, 2013, at the Jw Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live. “Dan Petrie, Jr. is a remarkable man, distinguished for his creative accomplishments as an Oscar®-nominated screenwriter, as a producer and as a director, and no less distinguished for his long and passionate commitment to the well-being of all writers. Dan has served this Guild for 25 years, twice as President. He has guided us through difficult times. A champion of our fervent and often raucous democracy, with a quiet manner and a firm hand, Dan made our many voices our strength. In the process, he earned the respect of all who served with him.

April Fools Day (1986) Stars: Deborah Foreman, Griffin O'Neal and Clayton Rohner Director: Fred Walton Writer: Danilo Bach A group of college kids invited to their wealthy friend's island mansion retreat for a weekend of fun in the early days of the spring season - what could be better? For the nine invited to visit Muffy St John, it would seem the chance of a lifetime. The true tone of the weekend is set, however, as the group witnesses or h…...