Salutations my screechers, screamers, and scary dreamers,
Tonight’s tale of terror entitled “April Fool’s Day” concerns college
coeds spending Spring Break bumming at bosom buddy Muffy’s mansion.
Safe shenanigans soon sour as someone slays the scholars in
succession.
Given the glut of gory slasher cinema, should “April Fool’s Day” be
removed from remembrance or receive recognition?
The main characters are rowdy college kids who talk about sex all day
which for the nineteen eighties was pretty cliche. Only Muffy seems
to have any range as she goes from self-confident to shy and strange.
The cast has some familiar faces that are easy to root for (and, hey,
was that Biff from “Back to the Future”?).
Common conceits control the commencement creating an atmosphere of
assurance. As it advances, the transparent tale twists towards a
murder mystery. As bodies briskly begin bobbing up, carnage is kept
concealed from viewer’s vision.
I appreciated that the movie was a murder mystery, and the quick
little reference to Agatha Christie, but I found the first act to be
pretty wanting as it focused on sex and a lot of crude taunting.
After the first two acts this movie was destined for a five and then
in the third act it really came alive. The change in the movie was so
extreme that it actually rose in my esteem.
Making mystery matter more than massacres proves a potent principle.
Proficient performances please perceivers while we wait for the final
reckoning. Revelers reap rewards in a rigid and revelatory
resolution.
Story/Concept: 2
Direction/Style: 2
Scares: 0
Atmosphere: 1
Rewatchability: 1
Nightshade’s Notions (extra credit): 1
TOTAL: 7/10
In conclusion, acting and humor carry the first two acts before the
killer(s?) begin their attacks at which point it becomes fun to try to
guess the solution before the film reaches its final conclusion. The
extra point I gave due to the final song, which I have been humming
all day long.
Stick to the shadows my fine friends.
- Movie Review: LEPRECHAUN 2 (1994) - March 17, 2016
- Movie Review: SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983) - March 2, 2016
- Movie Review: BONE TOMAHAWK (2015) - February 23, 2016
