Alice, Sweet Alice (1978) aka: Communion (1976), Holy Terror (1981) 15 out of 100

Alison “Alicat” Wise submitted the following Feminist Slasher Project Investigation and Review

Alison’s history with this film:
I remember seeing the beginning when I was a kid and only really remember Brooke Shields. But I’m super excited about this movie.

Play by Play:
To explain the different titles and dates, according to Wikipedia…
It was released theatrically three different times, each time under a new title: first as ‘Communion’ in November 1976; as ‘Alice, Sweet Alice’ in 1978; and as ‘Holy Terror’ in 1981…The film is notable for being Brooke Shields' first acting role, which prompted distributors to re-release the film to market upon Shields' growing notoriety following her role in Pretty Baby (1978).

The Spages are at Father Tom’s house; Karen, Brooke Shields, is nine and just about to have her first communion. Her sister Alice, who is twelve, is a bit of a brat and jealous that Father Tom gives Karen a lovely crucifix. She scares the housekeeper, Mrs. Tredoni with a creepy mask.
Alice bullies Karen taking a doll their father gave her. Karen goes to look for Alice in an abandoned where house. Alice, again wearing the creepy mask jumps out and scares Karen. Alice is super jealous of all the attention that Karen is getting.
There’s a fat, sweaty gross guy, Mr Alfonso, who’s the landlord of the same apartment building the Spages live in and he has loads of cats.
It’s time for Karen’s first communion at the church and Alice is missing. Just before Karen goes into the main part of the church someone attacks her in a creepy mask and yellow raincoat, just like Alice’s! They put Karen’s dead body in a pew along with a lit candle.
Alice takes Karen’s place at communion and right before she gets the wafer an old nun finds Karen’s burnt body. Mrs. Spages tries to go find Karen but Alice keeps holding her back. Why does Alice have Karen’s communion veil? Did Alice kill Karen or was it someone else?
The police are staking out the funereal.
Mr. Spages finally shows up ‘before they put the body in the ground’. There seems to be tension regarding Mr. Spages. It looks like he doesn’t actually live with them.
Alice is told to take a cake to creepy Mr. Alfonso…total perv. But then again Alice kicks some frosting off her finger before giving him the cake.
Alice is a suspect in Karen’s murder. Everyone thinks she did it.
Mr. Spages goes to the police station to talk to the detective. They want to talk to Alice. They’ve talked to her principle who recommends that Alice see a psychiatrist. It also turns out that Mrs. Spages sister, Annie, doesn’t like Mr. Spages or Alice.
Mr. Spages then calls Father Tom, who tells him that police took Alice’s records from the school. Father Tom also wants to talk to Mr. Spages alone.
Catherine, Mrs. Spages, is lying on Karen’s bed and hears Annie and Alice fighting kitchen. She goes down to the stop it. It’s obvious that Annie doesn’t like Alice.
There’s all sorts of weird sibling rivalry going on in this movie.
She asks Alice to take the rent check down to creepy Mr. Alfonso. She antagonizes him by saying his apartment smells like ‘cat piss’ and calls him ‘fatty’. He says he ‘knows what she done’ and that he’ll show the police what’s in the basement. He tries to molest her and she kills one of his cats.
Alice goes down to the basement. She has this shrine thing with Karen’s doll and the veil and some cockroaches in a jar…and the creepy mask.
And then the masked raincoat again, creeping on the stairs, they stab Aunt Annie in the feet and legs as she comes down the stairs. She screams “Alice!’ and crawls out the front door in to the rain, screaming ‘Help me! Help me!’…it’s all quite (overly) dramatic. Mr. Spages pulls up in a car just then and goes to look for Alice in the basement, as Annie’s rushed off to the hospital. Alice cries ‘I didn’t do it daddy!’
But in the hospital Aunt Annie is blaming Alice…again. In a very (over) dramatic scene with lots of yelling, Annie tells the police Alice stabbed her in the legs. The police bring Alice and the Spages into the station and give her a lie detector test, with her parents watching behind a two-way mirror. Alice says it’s Karen...WHO’S DEAD! Poor Alice. There’s also a very weird scene with the lie detector guy acting all creepy and paedo about Alice.
Old crazy priest on one of those seated stair things!
Mr. Spages goes to Father Tom and tells him he thinks it’s Angela who’s done it…that’s Annie daughter.
The Spages go and speak to Alice’s doctor at the psych ward. Alice has ‘a lot of deep seeded problems’…no shit.
Mr. Spages promises to make things right and then he and Mrs. Spages get it on! And then his new wife calls…doh!
Angela calls Mr. Spages at his hotel saying she ran away…watch out dude.
I’m not saying anymore or else I’ll spoil the ending. All I am saying is some crazy shit happens!

My Conclusion:
This movie is awesome but gets a big bad Red Light! There really isn’t a heroine or a protagonist, except Mr. Spages, and throughout the whole movie Alice is considered a suspect. Also…Alice is 12 and she is grossly leched upon by older men! Prepubescent Objectification! EWWWW! Alice was played by an actress of 19 but that’s besides the point, she is 12 in the film!

Friday The 13th (1980) 14 out of 100

James "The Jimi" Hattar submitted the following investigation for The Feminist Slasher Project.


Play by Play:

The original and classic Slasher flick; it spawned countless sequels, a television show, a versus Freddy movie, and a terrible remake. “Friday the 13th” (1980) directed by Sean S. Cunningham, stars Betsy Palmer and a young (and then unknown) Kevin Bacon. The “Friday the 13th” films are known for its iconic hockey mask wearing serial killer, Jason Voorhees. What makes this movie interesting is that the hockey mask icon we know and love doesn’t take shape until “Friday the 13th Part 3” (which was in 3-D). So who is the killer in this movie? I’ll never tell ya, but here’s the story.
Twenty years after a child drowning and the horrific murders of two camp counselors on its grounds, Camp Crystal Lake is reopening; against the better judgment of skeptical locals. “Friday the 13th” follows the new owner and a group of new camp counselors who are sent to Camp Crystal Lake (also known to the locals as Camp Blood) to get it ready to re-open its doors. The young and horny camp counselors in the camp soon find out that whoever went on the killing spree years before doesn’t want anyone to re-open the camp and has no qualms about killing those who feel otherwise.
In the darkness of the night and through the pouring rain, one-by-one the counselors are each killed off and meet with grisly demises. What we find out is that a little boy drowned years ago at the camp because the camp counselors weren't paying attention. That boy’s name was Jason Voorhees. Now he comes back for revenge on Friday The 13th, his birthday to kill the counselors. Alice (Adrienne King), one of the counselors must fight for her life at the camp. Of course there is a twist at the end when we find out who the real killer is.
Although it's a long way from being a good movie, its success and influence is seen in countless horror films. The acting is below average, but there are some good kill scenes with gruesome makeup and bloody effects by Tom Savini. An iconic psycho-killer for the ages makes this a Slasher classic that started it all. If you want to be entertained, The Jimi recommends you see this; if you haven’t already.

Feminist Slasher Project Research:

The women in this movie were either young and horny or old and creepy. The young women played the victims, getting killed while having sex or taking off their clothes whenever possible. Alice was not entirely a strong female character but did the best she could to face the killer at the end. Let’s face it, these “Friday the 13th” movies are all about horny and naked young people getting killed in various ways with a variety of weapons. Most of the female characters in these movies are dimwits just waiting to get killed off. I’d have to give “Friday the 13th” a red light for the Feminist Slasher Project.

Hell Night (1981) 13 out of 100

James "The Jimi" Hattar submitted the following investigation for The Feminist Slasher Project.

Play by Play:

“Hell Night” (1981) directed by Tom DeSimone, stars Linda Blair (The Exorcist), Vincent Van Patten and Peter Barton. A decent 80’s Slasher flick set inside an old mansion that may or may not be haunted. I first saw this movie as a child by switching on Channel 9 to see “The Elvira Mistress of the Dark” show where she hosted different horror films every week. What I found interesting about the movie is not its originality or great plot, but the fact it was filmed at the Kimberly Crest Mansion in Redlands, California, near where I live. OK enough trivia; let’s get down to the story basics.
Peter, the president of the Alpha Sigma Rho fraternity, hosts a huge costume party. Peter is making four new fraternity and sorority pledges: Marti (Blair), Jeff (Barton), Seth (Van Patten), and Denise (Suki Goodwin…no relation to Susan) stay at the deserted and possibly haunted Garth Manor until dawn on hell night. Peter tells the four pledges the history of the mansion where they are to spend the night.
Twelve years ago to the day, Raymond Garth strangled his wife Lillian to death in the house and then proceeded to murder all of his deformed children. After that, he hanged himself. The police never found the body of the youngest Garth child, Andrew or his brother, Morris. Local legend states that Andrew witnessed the murder of his entire family and may still be living within the manor.
The four innocent pledges locked in the gates of the Garth Manor grounds, find their rooms to spend the night in the old mansion. The scholarly Marti and Jeff get to know one another near the fireplace, while surfer horn dog Seth and druggie Denise get it on up stairs in one of the bedrooms. Peter the president of the fraternity, with the help of his friends, attempts to scare the pledges in the mansion as a big prank. That is, until an unknown prowler begins killing the teens.
As the pledges talk and learn about themselves, they find some of the scary pranks the others have put into place. Thinking everything in the mansion is a prank, they slowly start to realize that the bodies piling up are for real. Could it be possible that the legendary surviving child of old man Garth is killing everyone in gruesome ways? Seth manages to escape the grounds to get help, but no one believes him. This leaves Marti and Jeff left to fight off the crazed killer.
This film is 80’s cheese at its finest. You even have Vincent Van Patten say the word “radical” throughout. The acting is decent, but the characters do stupid things that teens being chased by a killer usually do. The violence is not over the top or really graphic. The atmosphere is creepy throughout. Is this Slasher movie great? Nope, but it is kinda creepy and entertaining.


Feminist Slasher Project Research:

The Marti character played by Linda Blair was an intelligent, self supportive and beautiful college student, where the Denise character was just dumb, drugged out, eye candy. Marti made it known to an interested Jeff that she was not a whore, which he respected about her. Marti was the nerdy student who knew how to use her smarts as an advantage by having the popular girls pay her to tutor them and compensate all her school and board expenses. She is also a mechanic, who can fix cars. At the same time Marti is scared and makes stupid mistakes when the violence erupts, as any normal person would be. When left to fight her attacker she does her best to survive. Because of this strong female presence, I’d have to give “Hell Night” a Green Light for the Feminist Slasher Project.

The Majorettes (1986) 12 out of 100

James "The Jimi" Hattar submitted the following investigation for The Feminist Slasher Project.

Play by Play:

“The Majorettes” (aka: “One by One”) (1986) directed by S. William Hinzman and written by “Night of the Living Dead” co-writer John A. Russo, is a B-movie Slasher flick at its most crappiest. There's more than meets the eye in this wacky combination of horror flick, murder mystery, action thriller and teen drama.
Dressed in army surplus garb, a hooded psycho is killing off the members of a high school cheerleading squad one by one in a small Pennsylvania town. The local sheriff and a federal officer investigate the killings. Other back stories are happening around them that includes a greedy nurse plotting to kill her elderly employer and her daughter for a piece of an inheritance. The nurse's creepy son, who is a janitor at the school, stumbles upon a clue in the killings and a local drug dealing biker gang that's suspected in the killings complicates matters for the investigators.
The murders of each cheerleader consist of the killer cutting their throats with a big knife. Not very inventive horror at all. Another problem with this flick really begins when the killer’s identity is revealed far too soon leaving the last half of the story filled with a poorly made and generic Rambo style action sequence where the school quarterback chases and fights some biker dudes with a machine gun in the middle of a forest. This bizarre action scene comes off like a parody more than anything else. The other scenes dealing with the nurse trying to kill an elderly woman for her money is played out like a bad, made for TV murder mystery.
“The Majorettes” was not scary, interesting or entertaining at all. This flick had me either laughing or cursing the Gods the whole time. The horrible acting and dialogue, the really cheap production values and a score that sounds like it was made on a $25 Casio keyboard are just some of the horrors that await you if you watch this piece of fecal matter. Don’t say The Jimi didn’t warn you.


Feminist Slasher Project Research:

What was the role of the women in this film? Well, the cheerleaders were eye-candy and that’s it. They were victims and dumb ones at that. When they're not performing badly choreographed cheerleading routines, they are prancing around in butt-hugging leotards or skimpy bikinis or they take long, hot showers (Hmmmmm…The Jimi likes long, hot showers). The nurse character was portrayed as an old, murdering, money grubbing bitch. This flick had no strong or interesting female characters at all. I hated this movie very much and because I love women, I’ll have to give “The Majorettes” a bright RED light for the Feminist Slasher Project.

Child's Play (!988) 11 out of 100

Alison “Alicat” Wise submitted the following Feminist Slasher Project Investigation and Review

Alison’s history with the film:

Oddly, I have never seen the original Child’s Play but I have seen Child’s Play 3 (1991). The Child’s Play films have caused much controversy over the years and have been blamed for influencing some horrible real life crimes including the murder of James Bulger in Northern England back in 1993. There’s been four sequels…each one getting more comedic and absurd, including The Bride of Chucky (1998) and The Seed of Chucky (2004). Don Mancini, the creator of Child’s Play, is now going to be re-making the original film, making it darker and scarier. Brad Dourif is also on board to re-create his role as Chucky.

Play by Play:

*SPOILERS – BUT ONLY IF YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF CHILD’S PLAY OR CHUCKY…AND IF YOU HAVEN’T, THEN WHY ARE YOU READING THIS BLOG!?!*

There’s no messing around the action starts off with a gunfight and chase…pre-title sequence!

Charles Lee Ray is the evil serial killer, ‘The Lakeshore Strangler’, that’s on the run from handsome cop Det. Mike Norris, Chris Sarandon from Fright Night (1985). He tries hiding in a toy store. He’s shot and dying and falls into a display of ‘Good Guys’ dolls…he starts chanting and transfers his soul into the doll…CHUCKY! Lightning strikes and blows up the store! KAAAA-BOOOOOM! Charles Lee Ray is dead…or is he?

We’re now at Andy’s apartment, He loves the ‘Good Guys’! He’s wearing ‘Good Guys’ PJ’s and eating ‘Good Guys’ breakfast cereal and watching ‘Good Guys’ on television…you get the picture.

There’s a special announcement! YOU CAN NOW GET AN ACTUAL GOOD GUYS DOLL! OMG!

Of course Andy wants one! And it’s his birthday! Come on Mom!

Those dolls are $100, Jeez Louweez! Karen, Andy’s mom, buys one from some dodgy* guy in a back alley for $50.

*If you describe someone or something as dodgy, you disapprove of them because they seem rather dishonest and unreliable. (Google Dictionary)

She’s got to work late so ‘Aunt’ Maggie, played by Dinah Manoff of ‘Grease’ (1978) fame, baby-sits Andy and Chucky.

Man that doll is creepy!

Andy and Chucky are playing in front of the T.V. There’s a news report about one of Charles Lee Ray’s ‘associates’, Eddie…Chucky turns his head to watch it…Holy Crap!

It’s time for bed and Maggie carries Chucky and Andy off to his bedroom…but Chucky ‘wants to watch the 9 o’clock news’.

Maggie’s doing the dishes and hears the T.V. turn back on and Chucky’s sitting in front of it watching the news…she takes back into Andy’s room, tucks them in and says good night.

Maggie’s in the living room when a small figure runs by…is it Andy!?! Or is it Chucky!?! We all know the answer to that question and if you don’t…have you been living in a cave!?!

Oh No! Aunt Maggie look out!

Too late! She gets hit in the head with a hammer and falls out a window!

Karen returns home from work and finds the police, including foxy Det. Norris, in her apartment. Andy’s a suspect for like a minute.

By the way, there’s a creepy ass elevator in Karen and Andy’s building.

Andy’s telling mom Karen all these things that Chucky’s telling him. And Andy keeps saying that Chucky’s alive.

Next day, Andy ditches school with Chucky. Dude! That doll is almost as big as Andy! How can he carry him? Anyways, they head out to the ghetto to visit Eddie, Charles Lee Ray’s ‘associate’.

Chucky’s totally alive…duh. He runs into the house whilst Andy’s taking a leak in the vacant lot. Chucky turns the gas on the stove and blows out the pilot light…KAAA-BOOOM!

So the police think Andy did it cuz he was found nearby the blown up house…with Chucky, of course. They put him in a mental hospital because nobody believes Andy that Chucky talks to him.

Karen’s looking at the box Chucky came in, when the batteries fall out…WTF! If Chucky needs batteries, how is he talking without them!?! She believes Andy now! She threatens to throw Chucky in the fireplace and he attacks her.

Anyways, he gets away. She tries to convince the sexy Det. Norris, he doesn’t believe her at first but does when Chucky attacks him whilst he’s driving!

They go after Chucky before he can get to Andy…and there’s a weird scene with a voodoo priest. And Chucky kills a couple more people before the final climax. When heroic Det. Norris shoots him and Chucky dies…but not really because there are FOUR sequels.

Feminist Slasher Project Research:

Karen kicks butt! She is the one who figures the whole thing out…who Chucky really is and how to kill him. She confronts Chucky. She is never objectified. I actually objectified Chris Sarandon quite a bit, as you can see in my review, and who wouldn’t; he’s quite fit. So, I give ‘Child’s Play’ (1988) a Green Light. Even though Karen brings Chucky into her and Andy’s life, she’s the one who gets rid of him. I hope they don’t mess up the re-make and make Karen all stupid and lame!

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) 10 out of 100

Susan’s History with this movie:

Let’s just say that if I was asked what 5 things I would take with me to a desert island…..My Nightmare on Elm Street box set would be setting sail with me. I am also ready at any time to “throw down” with those that mock my deformed boogeyman or Robert Englund. In conclusion, the Nightmare on Elm Street released in 2010 can SUCK IT. Also, I’ve heard that because that film was made that millions of cute puppies and kittens killed themselves and the world became a bit darker. I’m not saying that rumor is true or admitting that I made that up just now…I’m just saying to consider your actions before watching that remake.

Plot:

One of the most amazing opening scenes of a horror movie. Opening credits roll as a disfigured hand is transformed into a bladed weapon.

Flash to a young blonde girl running around in a boiler room. Ohhh, random goat roaming around….never a good sign.

The girl is slashed and then we are shown that it was a dream but the young girl’s nightgown is ripped. She decides to then go back to sleep with a crucifix at her chest. I don’t know about you….but that would not have comforted me. (I think I’ve seen too many horror movies)

We then hear the most wonderful child chant of all time “1..2..Freddy’s coming for you…3..4.. better lock your door…5…6…grab your crucifix…7…8…gonna stay up late…9…10..never sleep again.” Ahhh yeah…….

Next scene is the blonde girl, who we will now call Tina, talking to her friends Nancy and Glen about her dream. Just as Nancy is about to commiserate with a similar dream, a sexy boy in a black leather jacket appears and talks dirty to Tina. Tina likes it…who wouldn’t? Sexy boy is named Rod….and he’s a bad boy. Yummy bad boy.

Let’s pause now to note that I didn’t drool over Johnny Depp portraying Glen. The reason is that he is really not very sexy in this film. He’s no Rod……Just my opinion.

So…Tina is scared to sleep alone so she invites Nancy and Glen for a sleep over. Glen does this AWESOME trick involving a boom box…..I really love this scene. Glen is such a dork. Glen hears something outside and if you know this movie well you will note that you actually can see a person moving past the window at this time. The gang goes to investigate…..and of course it’s just sexy Rod wanting a good time with his girl Tina. Ahhh yeah…..

Nancy and Glen retire to separate rooms to sleep because they are prudes. You hear Tina and Rod getting VERY happy in the next room.

Sexy Rod, in a post coital moment, confesses he is having bad dreams too. They fall asleep.

Here it comes people…..the man we’ve all been waiting for…..Freddy comes for Tina in her dream. This film is unlike many other horror movies because it does not work it’s way up to the most graphic scene….it starts the movie with it.

Great Freddy Line #1 “ This …..is God”

Tina is killed and dragged across the bedroom and slashed to death with sexy Rod watching in horror as he sees his girlfriend being mutilated by an unknown force.

So of course….Sexy Rod is blamed for the murder of Tina. Because he’s a “musician type”. (they totally said that)

Next scene….John Saxon’s second appearance in the Feminist Slasher Blog! I guess we should offer lifetime achievement awards out or something. He plays Nancy’s father, Lt. Thompson. He’s investigating the murder and is convinced Sexy Rod is the man to blame and shoves aside Nancy’s confession of a boogeyman chasing them in their dreams.

Nancy decides to return to school and her mother protests. I will take a moment now to commend Ronee Blakley in her role as Nancy’s mother, Marge. Never has an alcoholic mother displayed such care for her child. I’m totally not being sarcastic. As she pours Vodka into her breakfast mug she then consoles Nancy. Gotta love Marge.

On Nancy’s way to school sexy Rod is arrested and yes…..you do see his bare chest. Nice scene.

Through the next couple scenes Nancy is pulled into dreams with Freddy. There are some creepy times to be had….

Great Freddy Line #2 “Come to Freddy…….”

Nancy, obviously our heroine, goes to visit sexy Rod in jail. They talk about Freddy. Nancy believes him but leaves. She’s off to investigate.......

Nancy employs Glen to keep a watch on her as she falls asleep hoping to find and conquer Freddy. Glen is amazingly inept at this task. Bad dreams come for Nancy and Glen is in big trouble for falling asleep.

Sadly, Freddy comes for sexy Rod. This is a scene I like to call…..Sexy Rod dies and we all cry. Let’s all take a moment for sexy Rod. He was crude, kind of misogynistic but very hot. Rest in peace.

Funeral scene and bad acting from drunk mom Marge.

Drunk mom Marge decides to put Nancy into a dream clinic. Awesome idea since Nancy claims people are being killed in their sleep. Great parenting skills I must say. Let’s just put her closer to her fear of death! Good grief.

Ohhhh damn….Drunk Marge reveals the mystery that is Freddy Kruger. Nancy is PISSED OFF ! And ready to KICK SOME ASS!

Glen and Nancy talk about plans to take down Freddy. Nancy fuels herself with coffee and prepares for the unknown. Everything goes to hell…….

Great Freddy Line # 3 “I’m your boyfriend now, Nancy”

Glen’s only job is to stay awake….and again….he can’t pull off that task. Glen pays for his incompetence with a wonderful death by sinking bed scene. Lots of blood!

Lt Thompson arrives on the scene of Glen’s death and talks to Nancy. Nancy…being the hard core chick she is advises her dad to arrive at her house in 20 minutes to take down Freddy Kruger. Lt Thompson brushes her off and Nancy goes on her next mission alone.

So….that’s the end of my play by play. I gave a lot away with this one, but in order to give this film justice I will say that nothing I write is better then the last 30 minutes of this film.

Feminist Slasher Project Research:

The character of Nancy is one of the strongest female characters to ever appear in a horror movie to date. Even when she is frightened she is still in control. After all of her friends, including her boyfriend, are killed she forces herself into a dream to take down Freddy Kruger. Nancy is the ultimate heroine. This movie gets a BRIGHT GREEN LIGHT for the feminist slasher project.

When A Stranger Calls (1979) 9 out of 100

Alison “Alicat” Wise submitted the following Feminist Slasher Project Investigation and Review:

Alison’s History with this Film:

I’ve never seen this movie but I know that it is extremely influential and inspired ‘Scream’ (1996), amongst other films.

Play by Play:

The first 22 minutes of this movies are considered to the most frightening ever. It’s based on the urban myth ‘The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs’, which was also an inspiration for ‘Black Christmas’ (1974), which Susan has already reviewed.

*THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILERS BUT ONLY IF YOU’VE NEVER WATCHED A HORROR MOVIE OR HAVEN’T HEARD ANY URBAN MYTHS*

It stars Carol Kane! I love her. She’s the babysitter, Jill, our heroine.

She’s looking after the Mandrakis kids while the parents go out to dinner…and maybe a movie. Mrs. Mandrakis tells Jill the kids are upstairs in bed recovering from a ‘bad cold’ and that she shouldn’t ‘try and wake them’.

Jill’s on the phone with her ‘friend’, who tells Jill, that the guy Jill likes Bobby wants to hook up her that weekend but she didn’t do it because Jill’s her ‘really good friend’…um, what a bitch! Jill than asks her friend to give Bobby the phone number of the Mandrakis house.

Duh, duh, dum…all the pieces are falling into place.

Jill doing her homework and the phone rings…nobody’s there…she hangs up.

The phones rings again…she answers it ‘Bobby?’…a man’s voice asks…’Have you checked the children?’ Jill asks ‘What?’ and then the caller hangs up.

The phone rings again…’Have you checked the children?’. Jill asks ‘Dr. Mandrakis?’…the caller hangs up.

The tension is building and Jill is looking nervous.

She hears a noise in the house!

She goes to check on it.

She looks in the kitchen. It’s just the icemaker in the fridge…whew!

The phone rings again! ‘Have you checked the children?’

Jill still thinks it Bobby playing a joke. She decides she needs a drink from Mandrakis’s bar to steady her nerves.

The phone rings again. Jill answer it…nothing.

She gets the restaurant’s number the Mandrakis’s left for her in case of emergency. They aren’t there…they left 40 minutes ago. Jill’s looking worried.

She calls the police. They say they get that sort of thing all the time but since he’s not being obscene or threatening her, there’s not much they can do. They suggest she blow a whistle into the phone next time he calls.

The phone rings again…’Why haven’t you checked the children!?!’. Jill hangs up.

She goes and checks the locks on the front door looks out the windows. She finally goes to check on the children when the phone rings again.

The phone starts ringing and ringing but she doesn’t answer it.

She calls the police again. She thinks he watching her. She’s freaking out. The police get the phone number, so if/when he calls again they can trace it.

The music is really good, quite atmospheric.

The phone rings again. ‘It’s me.’ Jill tries to keep him on the phone longer so they can trace the call.

She says that he really scared her and is that what he wanted...’No…I want your blood… all over me’! Ahhhhhhhh! (my own screaming) She hangs up the phone.

It rings right away…’LEAVE ME ALONE!’ It’s the cops…they’ve traced the call…IT’S COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE! GEY OUT NOW!

Holy shit. Jill looks like she’s gonna throw up.

As she goes to leave out the front door, a door at the top of the stairs opens, a silhouette of a man…she can’t get out, she forgot out the chain! She gets the chain off and runs out the door.

Cut to Charles Durning, Officer John Clifford, outside the house.

The police were only a block away. The kids had been murdered hours before though…by some crazy English merchant seaman, Curt Duncan…funny, he didn’t sound English on the phone.

That was just the first 22 minutes now for the rest of the movie…

7 years later…

Officer Clifford, now retired and a detective, has a meeting at some fancy mansion…its Dr. Mandrakis’s house!

He asks Clifford to find Curt Duncan, who’s escaped from a mental institution.

Clifford is a man on a mission.

He goes to the mental hospital and talks to Duncan’s doctor. She thinks he won’t murder again. Clifford doesn’t believe her.

Cut to Curt in a bar, he tries to pick up some chick named Tracey, played by Colleen Dewhurst.

(By the way, this movie has a lot of good actors in it.)

Curt Duncan still doesn’t sound English.

He won’t leave her alone and gets into a fight. Some random old couple are in the bar…why would they be drinking there?

It’s not really a horror movie anymore…it’s more like ‘Dirty Harry’.

Duncan follows Tracey home. Tracey doesn’t seem surprised and isn’t scared of him. She feels bad for getting him into a fight.

Tracey tells him to leave. He keeps asking for a coffee. But Tracey is firm and tells him to leave. She’s quite assertive and isn’t letting him take advantage, so he finally leaves when she’s say they might have coffee the next day.

Clifford is looking for Duncan all over skid row. God this is boring.

He goes to Tracey’s to ask her about Duncan. He tells her that Duncan killed the Mandrakis children with his bare hands. But somehow, he talks her into being bait to catch Duncan.

Clifford tells his old partner that he’s gonna kill Duncan if he catches him.

Tracey’s apartment and Clifford’s there waiting for Duncan to follow her home from the dive bar. He leaves because Duncan didn’t follow her, but somehow Duncan snuck into Tracey’s apartment and hid in her close. WTF!?! When did that happen?

He just wants to be ‘friends’…Tracey screams ‘NOOOOOO!’, as you would when a killer asks to be friends. Clifford comes and saves her but not before Duncan runs off.

Duncan has some crazy naked breakdown in the bathroom of a YMCA.

Clifford finds him there and runs after him…and loses him again.

Now we’re at grown-up Jill’s house…she’s married and has two kids of her own. Her husband calls to tell he taking her out. Jill needs to get a babysitter!

At the restaurant the Lockhart’s get a phone call…Jill takes it…’HAVE YOU CHECKED THE CHILDREN?’ AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They call the house and Sharon tells them everything is fine. They rush back and it is…but the police are still stacking out their house, just n case Duncan shows up.

Which he does, of course.

Feminist Slasher Project Research:

The first 22 minutes are tension packed and would have made a great short film. The rest of the movie is not really a horror movie and definitely isn’t a slasher film. Jill does take things into her own hands in the beginning and the end but she is only actually in the same room with Kurt Duncan once.

I think I have to give it a yellow light because all the women are pretty strong characters and don’t take any crap but in the end the movie was more like a ‘cop out for revenge’ movie and not a slasher film.