Critics are unanimous with their praise for the new Slumber Party Massacre. Directed by Danishka Esterhazy and written by Suzanne Kelly, the movie is a direct remake of the original 1982 movie of the same name by Rita Mae Brown. It stars Hannah Gonera, Alex McGregor, Shelaine Bennett, Mila Ryane, and Rob Van Vuuren.
Horror movies do not typically fare well on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s safe to say that horror is not the preferred genre for most mainstream critics, and for many, it can be particularly challenging for horror movies to impress them. For whatever reason, they all enjoyed watching the Slumber Party Massacre remake. As of now, it’s sitting on a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, an amazing accomplishment for any movie, but an especially rare feat for horror movie remakes.
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“A fun reworking of a tarnished classic, Slumber Party Massacre offers the newer, younger horror generation perfect sleepover scary fun,” says Kat Hughes of THN.
“This remake pays respect to the source material while also understanding today’s audience. It is a reminder of what makes slashers fun,” Dread Central’s Sharai Bohannon also writes, giving Slumber Party Massacre a perfect score.
Rob Aldam of Backseat Mafia puts it, “This new imagining plays with the genre clichés which provided their fulcrum and twists them into something vibrant and fresh. Slumber Party Massacre is both a celebration and an evolution.”
“Danishka Esterhazy updates an 80s slasher with wit and commentary while still delivering both kills and silliness,” says Rob Hunter of Film School Rejects. “While ultimately far more of a comedy than a horror film, the new Slumber Party Massacre finds a comfortable spot alongside the original franchise in its skewering of the genre norm. It’s pretty great when it’s aiming for dumb fun but less so when it’s just being dumb. "
The original Slumber Party Massacre was written by Rita Mae Brown and directed by Amy Holden Jones. In part a parody of the slasher genre, the movie follows a group of young women hosting a slumber party as an escaped lunatic named Russ Thorn embarks on a massacre with a power drill. Boasting a large cult following, that original movie spawned two sequels which were released in 1987 and 1990, though the sequels aren’t quite as well-regarded with genre fans as the original.
The official synopsis of the remake reads, “Hannah Gonera (Spell), Alex McGregor (Blood Drive), Frances Sholto-Douglas (The Kissing Booth) and Jane de Wet (Trackers) star in this terrifying thriller that gives new life – and death – to the classic ‘80s horror franchise. Brace yourself for thrills and drills when an evening meant for games turns into a night of chaos and fear. An uninvited guest stalks the party-goers with all-new horrifying ways to extend his twisted sense of fun. Who will survive to see the morning when no one at this party is safe?”
Slumber Party Massacre debuted on the Syfy Channel in October. It is now available for purchase or rental on demand. You can see what the critics are saying about the perfectly-scored movie at Rotten Tomatoes.
