By Geno McGahee
The 1980s was a very special time for horror films. It was the slasher boom and the villain with the mask and motive was unleashed. The whodunit horror of that time was so much fun, with films like MY BLOODY VALENTINE, PIECES, THE PROWLER, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME and many more were capturing the imagination of the public. The slasher earned its place in horror history and hopefully history will repeat itself.
Writer, Kevin Sommerfield, was obviously heavily influenced by this era. If you cannot tell by the style of the film, you can by the dialogue and mentions of the films of the time. In DON’T GO TO THE REUNION, brought to us by Slasher Studios, we have a tribute to movies like SLAUGHTER HIGH. A nerd gets treated poorly and the high school kids are brought back together to pay the price many years later. On a very low budget, this film is able to get some things done and proved to be a very entertaining throwback to a better time.
It’s 2004. Scott (Brady Simenson) is obsessed with horror and is an outcast at school. He keeps to himself, but is pleasantly surprised when the popular and attractive, Erica (Stephanie Leigh Rose) takes an interest in him. Of course, this is a prank and they hide a sickle in his locker. When it’s discovered, he’s kicked out of school and goes away to a home for the mentally ill.
In 2014, ten years after the Scott incident, the invites go out and the old gang is reunited, but nobody knows who sent them out. Everyone is in a different place and there is some joy as the group, but the characters are basically stereotypes…sticking to the old formula. Despite this, the writing is so witty and fun that the movie cruises along very well. I found myself laughing at many of the stupid things that are said in this.
The film follows the same path as many of the 80’s slashers did. The characters are murdered in unique ways by a killer who conceals his identity. The ending shifts to the 90’s brand of horror…maybe a little too close to it, but I still found that reference enjoyable.
DON’T GO TO THE REUNION had budget restrictions and they stick out like a sore thumb. It is very low budget, but the film is very “80s” in its execution, the acting is pretty good, and the writing is what carries it. The mixture of humor and horror was done very well. If you’re a fan of the 80’s slasher, you will absolutely appreciate the effort and the tribute. I did. This was a fun film and I suspect this group would do wonders if they had more cash behind their productions.
Rating: 6/10
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