The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) is one of the great horror-comedies of all time. This may sound like hyperbole, but after finally getting around to seeing this Roger Corman produced cult classic I can assure you that it is not. I can see why this film has such a fanatic fan base. And here I had always felt that the Shout! Factory doll of Russ Thorn was overkill.
Rita Mae Brown is, for my money, the real genius behind this film. She not only brings a feminist sensibility to the proceedings, but a queer subtext that isn’t played for laughs. At every turn women take on roles in the narrative that are traditionally occupied by men. Likewise the men, aside from the murderous Thorn (Michael Villella), are there strictly as cannon fodder. What felt surprisingly fresh was the longing gaze that Trish (Michelle Michaels) and Valerie (Robin Stille) share in the locker room after basketball practice as well as the implied queer relationship of Coach Jana (Pamela Roylance).
Apparently Rita Mae Brown wrote The Slumber Party Massacre as broad satire and the decision to play the script seriously came from director Amy Holden Jones. Jones’ decision, for all its risks, really pays off in terms of creating a film with a playful tone that sacrifices none of its narrative urgency. However, despite these leaps and bounds toward an actual feminist slasher film, The Slumber Party Massacre still retains many of the hallmarks of Roger Corman’s New World Pictures (such as gratuitous nudity).
The Slumber Party Massacre is essential viewing for horror fans and anyone interested in the history of women in film. There’s plenty to enjoy and appreciate about this unpretentious drive-in classic. And, finally, a big thanks to Viva Video! For the rental.
