The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
Starring Michele Michaels, Robin Stille, Michael Villella, Debra Delisio, Andree Honore and Brinke Stevens
Directed by Amy Jones
Screenplay by Rita Mae Brown (anyone read Rubyfruit Jungle...?)
Genre: Horror (Slasher)
Rating: 8

Our heroine is getting ready for school on the morning our story begins. She throws on a sack dress with no bra (ah, the eighties) and disposes of all the babyish barbies and stuffed animals she has collected around her room. We learn that her parents are heading out of town, so of course she's having a party (it is called slumber party massacre after all).

At school, she and some friends are playing basketball in gym. There's a new girl who's apparently kicking ass. Next comes the anticipated and hoped for, yet somehow predictable and tiresome shower scene (Ha Ha who am I kidding, I live for these things! Brinke Stevens was once quoted as saying that she had taken so many showers in movies she must be the cleanest actress in Hollywood). After changing, Trish (our heroine) is discussing her party plans with her buds, and proposes inviting the new girl (Valerie), but Diane says no 'cus Valerie is just too dang talented and pretty! It's NOT DIANE's fault that she moved here! Valerie overhears and gets upset, leaving the locker room in a hurry.

Sometime around this time, we are introduced to our villain, a mad man who has just escaped from the mental institution, when he drills the poor, surprisingly hot and young telephone line repair woman when she's working at the high school. His weapon of choice is a power drill. It's awesome!

After this has all happened and the girls are leaving the locker room, one girl (B movie scream queen legend Brinke Stevens in one of her earliest roles) realizes she has forgotten a book in the locker room and heads back in. Unfortunately, she gets locked in. With our villain. They come face to face and he drills her in the arm before she escapes, hiding in a room. Long story short, he finds her. She a goner.

We'll skip a few scenes and go right to the party time. The girls are getting a little rowdy thanks to alcohol and marijuana, and everyone is having a good time. Pretty soon things get spooky, as two boys from school show up and play pranks on the girls, also hoping to eyeball some titties (it happens). However, soon things turn deadly. Diane's boyfriend shows up for some heavy petting in Trish's garage, despite Trish's no-boys-allowed rule for the night. When Kim goes into the house to get something, she returns to a decapitated lover. She too then bites it. Bye bye Diane!

A pizza delivery boy is mauled in front of the door when the girls go to receive their food. They girls begin freaking out. Valerie and her younger sister, who happen to live next door, hear some screams but think it's probably just because they're having such a good time. In the house, the girls are picked off one by one. One thing I really like about this movie is that the girls are literally face to face with the killer. He's not wearing a mask. HE'S RIGHT. THERE. And I think that in a way that's scarier than someone you never see. It feels so REAL.

The boys, who are discovered of playing pranks, are behaving pretty heroically throughout this movie, I must say. Too bad neither of their attempted rescue missions work, and they both die.

Valerie discovers that her baby sister has gone over to the neighbor's to see what the fun's about. In a panic, Valerie heads over, and wanders through the empty house looking for her. Finally she finds hr sister, but none of the other girls. In the initial panic, the girls had called their female gym teacher who shows up. While The last remaining girls hide, she battles our killer (and loses). Finally, in a last multiple battle, Valerie, Trish, and Val's sister all battle slashie by the pool. After a few fake deaths, he ultimately is defeated. Success is achieved, however the girls are far from happy (probably due to all their friends being dead, and the trauma of having to kill a man with a large knife). They sob as sirens arrive.

This movie is really pretty good. It makes fun of every slasher cliche, yet still manages to feel fresh and original. It can be pretty tense and suspenseful, and fight scenes and gore are well executed. Choice of weapon is appreciated. Killer is appropriately creepy. Original kills (especially pizza man). Girls do a good job. Eight stars, definitely recommended!