“Slumber Party Massacre” (2021) was completely unnecessary. I wouldn’t call this a good movie, but it was entertaining and sometimes enjoyable. I kind of like it, and kind of don’t.
The insert of cliche horror tropes threw me off, but I know it was for satire’s sake. The difference is that the tropes were gender-swapped.
Horror tropes typically meant for women, were now portrayed through the men and vice versa. It was funny and entertaining, but the film was very predictable and fell flat.
However, my favorite aspect was the homage to the original films, such as an electric guitar one of the guys used as a weapon.
It’s going to be hard to not spoil, but I will keep the references vague.
The film immediately takes you through a flashback of a slumber party. With a group of girls partying in a lake house, and a pervert boy jerking off outside the window, the driller killer makes his appearance.
After the flashback, we see that Trish Devaroux, the survivor, has a daughter. The plot unveils from here on. Dana Deveraux goes on an all girls trip with her friends, similar to her mom.
Deveraux didn’t want to tell her mom where they were going, so their destination was obvious. They end up in the same lake area her mom was years ago. It’s not a coincidence. This is one example of the film’s predictability.
Since the original films carried their own metaphor, I wasn’t sure what was the point of this remake.
The first film was a metaphor for virgins’ fear of sex (as stated by the director) or of sexual assault, while the second film was about sexual frustration.
The original films were simple and brilliant. Take a look at the poster and see that it broke the common poster pose (you can read more about it on the “sexual frustration” embedded link). Instead of a woman’s legs with the men protagonists between them, it’s the driller killer’s legs with the women protagonists and victims.
This is a simple, yet powerful trope switch.
The trope switch in this film felt like it was spotlighting how ridiculous they are on women when used on men. Other than that, there wasn’t really any other obvious metaphor.
Although, it did tie together the reflection of sexuality in some way, hinting that Deveraux and her friend Maeve are secretly in love. Unfortunately, it went nowhere. Just like many of the plot points.
Moreover, the downside to some predictable movies, is that if they’re overly cliche, they become unenjoyable. It depends on what the film is going for.
Since I couldn’t predict where the plot was headed, I didn’t expect that the slumber party was a ruse to lure and kill Russ Thorn, the driller killer.
In addition to their plan, the ending was disappointing and out of place. It was cliche and kind of like a rip-off of “Friday the 13th.”
The film may as well have been a fanfic. Because of how the tropes, exaggeration, and ending are melded together, it was too much. It gets to the point where it’s cringey, stupid, and illogical.
Overall, the exaggerated satirical overuse of tropes ruins its potential and the story ultimately falls flat. That’s why it’s not a good movie. Entertaining? Yes. Entertainment alone doesn’t make it good. The film is messy, trying touch base on many points, then goes nowhere.
I believe that the originals prove that simplicity can make for the best films compared to remakes as convoluted as this.
Considering several aspects that differ from the original, this film should’ve been a stand-alone and unrelated to the “Slumber Party Massacre” franchise.
You can watch “Slumber Party Massacre” on the following platforms: Sling TV (premium subscription), fuboTV (subscription), YouTube ($3.99+), Google Play Movies & TV ($3.99+), Vudu ($3.99+), Apple TV ($4.99), Amazon Prime Video ($5.99), and Hulu (premium subscription).
With that said, I hope my insight has enlightened you and I’d love to talk about things horror and more! If you’d like to see more of my content or would like to contact me, you can find me on Instagram or Twitter. You may also email me at jrnw99@gmail.com if you prefer.
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