How a Slumber Party Massacre prequel could work!!!
The other day on Facebook, a fellow friend posted a screen-cap from one of my favorite slasher movies
Slumber Party Massacre.
The person brought up a very good point, bringing up the question what actually went down when crazed psychopath Russ Thorn killed 5 people before this film's events. So what actually happened? How long had Russ been put away? What really happened? Besides the newspaper, and hearing reports of his escape briefly on the radio, we get no answers.
All we know is that these crimes took place in 1969 in the same suburbs that the original takes place in. So that got my wheels turning. Wouldn't it be awesome instead of another sequel, we get a prequel?!
I actually really like the Slumber Party Massacre movies. They honestly are prime examples of fun slasher movies. The original, made back in 1982 was just another way to cash in on the wave of endless slashers that had followed Halloween and Friday the 13th. In this short period of time we got movies like Friday the 13th 2 and 3, Pieces, The Burning, My Bloody Valentine, He Knows You're Alone, and Don't Answer The Phone to just name a few. In typical Halloween fashion, we have a basic set up. A group of beautiful girls are alone, a crazed psycho is on the loose, and it takes place in a neighborhood which brings up the frightening fact that you aren't safe even on a street where everyone is home. Directed by Amy Holden Jones, a feminist director. What's funny about all three films in the original trilogy is that all of the movies have actually been directed by women. Despite the fact the girls are all running around naked, these directors wanted to show that they knew what made money at the box office. Audiences of these films were mostly guys at the time, and they wanted to see plenty of T&A. Plus, they made up a pretty good theory on the killer's choice of weapon.
A big...drill.
Basically the common theme is that these crazed killers will punish you, "drilling" into you if you go all the way, smoke dope, drink, or worse. It sounds cheesy, but even Jones the original film's director has stated in Going To Pieces, The Rise and Fall Of Slasher Films, stated that this was her original vision. That the killer's weapon is to represent of manhood as he stalks these young girl's, representing the fear of finally getting laid. (Sure, I'll go with the flow here.) The fun crazy colorful sequel even has the warning of not going all the way, with the 1950's rocker killer representing our lead girl Courtney's sexualy and awakening once she starts seeing a handsome boy from school. The third even has more underlining warnings as our killer is a sexualy repressed man who's trigger is anything dealing with sex which stems from his trauma of getting molested by his uncle when he was a boy. Sounds pretty deep, but believe it or not these films do have these themes beneath all the tits and blood. I actually really enjoy all three films, and look at them as guilty pleasures. They aren't trying to be award winning cinema, and actually have some funny moments. These are great movies to watch with a group of friends drinking beer.
In a day where so many of these films are either getting remade or sequels, it seems as if audiences want to return to the heyday when these films were popular. So many films are paying tribute to the 1970's and 80's. With so many playfully spin-offs and nods to horror movies made durning the slasher boom, why not make a prequel to one of the ultimate slasher series that holds a special place in all of our hearts?
I feel if they did a direct to DVD or Netflix movie it would be a nice little treat for slasher fans. I mean so many films have been made in the same fashion of these films (Pool Party Massacre, Spring Break Massacre, ect.) Have fun with it, and have the series return back to it's roots. Also how many horror and slasher movies take place in the late 1960's?! I feel having a prequel take place durning this time would be a riot. Really play up the fact it takes place in this time period.
I would have the plot simple enough. A group of teenagers are having a slumber party while the parents are away. The boys are coming over to try to score, drink, and smoke grass. There could be all the perfect stereotypes, and have these teenagers in a house ready to party. Here we meet Russ Thorn, younger and of course played by a different actor attack the girls. I think it would be really fun if they casted somebody we all recognized (Maybe Eli Roth?) Pack it full of cameos. I would LOVE to see Sid Haig or Kane Hodder play neighbors or local police who get slaughtered. Of course have some of the teenagers fight back, and the police arrive just in time. Sounds cheesy? Well that's what we want!
I think instead of trying to remake or add another sequel to this fun series, just make a prequel as a present to fans of the series. Pack it full of Easter Eggs and nods to the original films, and boom we got one fun movie!
Thoughts?
