The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

Director:

Amy Holden Jones

Writer:

Rita Mae Brown (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Close your eyes for a second... and sleep forever.

Plot:

An eighteen-year-old high school girl is left at home by her parents and she decides to have a slumber party...

Plot Keywords:

Slumber Party | High School | House | Basketball | Bare Breasts

Cast

Michelle Michaels	...	Trish Devereaux
Robin Stille	...	Valerie 'Val' Bates
Michael Villella	...	Russ Thorn
Debra Deliso	...	Kimberly 'Kim' Clarke
Andree Honore	...	Jackie
Jennifer Meyers	...	Courtney Bates
Joseph Alan Johnson	...	Neil
David Millbern	...	Jeff
Jim Boyce	...	John Minor
Pamela Roylance	...	Coach Rachel Jana
Brinke Stevens	...	Linda
Rigg Kennedy	...	Mr. David Contant
Jean Vargas	...	Telephone Repair Woman (Mary)
Anna Patton	...	Mrs. Devereaux
Howard Furgason	...	Mr. Devereaux

Also Known As:

Don't Open the Door (USA) (working title)
Sleepless Nights
Slumber Party Massacre (USA) (DVD box title)
Slumberparty Massacre
The Overnight Massacre (USA) (working title)
The Slumber Party Murders (UK) (video title)

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Germany:(Banned) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Trivia:

Rita Mae Brown wrote a screenplay for a parody of teen/slasher flicks and titled it "Sleepless Nights". However, when she submitted it to the producers, they filmed it as if it weren't a parody and retitled it "Slumber Party Massacre". As a result, the movie displays a lot more humor, both intended and unintended, than others of this genre.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Coach Jana arrives home from school, her friend drills a peephole through her door. The hole in the door is rough and ugly, yet in the next shot it's neater and has gained a metal eyepiece.

Quotes:

Valerie: [to Courtney] It's too bad Mom and Dad didn't get a divorce before YOU were born.
Courtney: I love you too.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chopping Mall (1986)

Pizza time!

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for "Slumber Party Massacre" ever since I first saw it at the ripe old age of 11. Sure it's not the bloodiest, scariest, well acted or written horror movie that wonderful 80's produced- but it does have something that makes it special and a standout on its own.

Trish (Michelle Michaels) is a popular basketball player whose parents have gone away for the weekend. Just so happens that the night before, convicted killer and mental patient Russ Thorn (wonderfully played by Michael Villella) has escaped from confinement. Awww...timing is everything! Val (Robin Stille) is the new girl in school as well as on the basketball team, who also happens to live right next door to Trish. Of course, Trish decides to gather her girls for a night of fun at her empty house. She suggests they invite Val, and is of course is rejected by her snobby & trampy friend Diane (Gina Mari).

Cut to the chase...the girls have there slumber party. Of course Russ has been following them around all day and is just waiting for his moment to strike. Val on the other hand is alone too next door, with the exception of her boy crazy 13 year old sister Courtney (Jennifer Meyers). When the pizza delivery boy shows up dead on Trish's doorstep- mayhem ensues. The girls (along with some boys who have crashed the Slumber Party) are scared to death. They are afraid to leave the house - so the boys volunteer to make a run for it.

One by one our teenagers get hacked away. Eventually Val and Courtney get involved in the goings on and before you know it our girls are in some serious trouble.

The movie works due to some genuinely funny comedic dialogue- and Michael Villella's great portrayal of the Driller Killer. When he says "I love you" in his sick and twisted way- you genuinely feel creeped out! The music is also quite good as well. With a 77 minute run time- Slumber Party Massacre doesn't drag and keeps pace quite nicely. If you collect horror and are a big fan of the classic cheesy horror movies from the beloved 80's, Slumber Party Massacre is worth an entry into your DVD collection.