April 2011

April 8 2011

Killing Joke: Pranks in Slasher Movies

Christian Sellers Features April Fool's Week, Theme Coverage 5

As Scream‘s token nerd Randy revealed, there are rules to surviving a horror movie. Although he would cover sex and drugs, there is another important point that he would neglect to mention… never, ever play a practical joke! With very few exceptions (Friday the 13th Part 2’s Ted being the most obvious example), this is a sin in the slasher film that is punishable by death. Whether it is a relatively harmless joke or one that results in a serious accident – often the catalyst for the carnage that follows – those who act idiotic or reckless are doomed.

April 7 2011

When Push Comes to Shove: Slaughter High & Bullying

Amanda By Night Features April Fool's Week, Slaughter High, Theme Coverage 5

For anyone who has ever been pushed around (and haven’t we all at one point), Slaughter High is a revenge seeker’s wet dream. Marty (Simon Scuddamore) is probably the nerdiest nerd this side of Kenny Hampson (Terror Train). But he’s kind of lovable in that totally annoying way most dorks are. In the first scenes of Slaughter High, we get the impression that Marty doesn’t really know how truly geeky he is. He really thinks he can get it on with Carol (Caroline Munro), the oldest high school kid in history. Hey, older women are often temptresses, right (Private Lessons, anyone)? But Carol is only a decoy for what becomes one of the most disturbing prank scenes in slasher history. Not only is Marty given a nasty swirly, he’s also dunked nude. It’s pure degradation and it only gets worse from there. Then, he actually seems to forgive his attackers, and thanks to a big marijuana ciggy, and some unfortunately placed acid, Marty sets himself on fire! All because he dared to try to be cool.

April 4 2011

A Fool’s Guide to April Fool’s Day

Ross Horsley Features April Fool's Day, April Fool's Week, Theme Coverage 4

Exactly twenty-five April 1sts have passed since the release of Fred Walton’s classic “fun” slasher, April Fool’s Day, and the chances of a 25th Anniversary Special Edition DVD are looking increasingly slim. In lieu of a commentary track, then, here’s a time-coded trivia guide to one of the quirkiest horror movies of the 80s… Major spoilers ahead!

April 3 2011

April Fool’s Week

Dusk Features April Fool's Week, Theme Coverage 6

Holy guacamoley, we really outdid ourselves this year with the April fool’s day prank, which consisted of two co-ordinated efforts for a winning result. Our complete and total rule is best exemplified in the comments on Blood Test, where longtime reader Tuzo wrote “I used to [love] the April Fool’s day jokes on this site, but you guys are slipping a bit in your obviousness. Good try, though.” Dave’s spectacular fake Blood Test was the classic red herring which successfully bait-and-switched you all away from calling out Thomas’ fabricated Honeymoon Killer piece, the more nuanced affair. Once again Retro Slashers wins the pig, the keg, and the paper crown! See you next year. Now for some history and what you can expect this coming week.

April 1 2011

“Best Slasher Flick of All Time” Finally Released (APRIL FOOL’S)

Dave Stewart Features April Fool's Week, DVD 8

Slasher fanatics everywhere, rejoice – new boutique DVD company Hoa-X is releasing Deacon Natterling’s unseen 1980 Canadian slasher Blood Test on April 1. It’s final exam time at Hillcrest College, and someone is killing the students one-by-one using the most bizarre methods imaginable. It seems the victims were all part of a treehouse club when they were kiddies, until an initiation mishap left 12-year-old initiates Carl burned beyond recognition, Amelia with total amnesia, and Boner dead – or is he? Seven years later, someone is getting revenge.

April 1 2011

Interview: Bill Kinison Discusses The Honeymoon Killer (APRIL FOOL’S)

Thomas Ellison Interviews April Fool's Week, Honeymoon Killer, Lost Slashers 2

Charlie Sheen, Alison (Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie) Arngrim, and radio personality Rush Limbaugh star in Sam Kinison’s The Honeymoon Killer now in post-production. The late Sam Kinison’s take on the slasher genre, which was previously covered here, deals with an unhappily married man who targets brides on their wedding day. During a recent interview conducted by email, executive producer Bill Kinison, Sam’s brother, provided Retro Slashers with details about the new production and the long lost promo video Sam shot for THK during the early 1990s. Kinison also sent a rare behind-the-scenes photo (above) taken during the filming of the promo which shows Sam dressed as the killer while holding a glass of liquid inspiration, director “Bill Blackman” offering encouragement, and Robin Williams clutching the script.