Beyond the Drawer

Party Line (1988)—directed by William Webb—is a slasher film that incorporates police drama and erotic thriller plot points. In this underrated gem, brother and sister Seth (Leif Garrett) and Angelina (Greta Blackburn) live a secluded life in their parents’ Bel Air mansion. They share a dark, violent hobby of using sexually driven telephone ‘party lines’ to meet and lure victims into situations where they kill them. Lieutenant Dan Bridges (Richard Hatch) is assigned to track down the killers and bring them to justice. This film was made primarily for the video store market, which was booming in the late ‘80s. Although video stores have disappeared, this film is still fun to watch today. It has a fascinating story reflecting ‘80s pop culture, interesting characters, and stylish cinematography. The concept of this film is very original. It forms a bridge between the slasher films of the ‘80s and the soon to rise erotic thrillers of the early-‘90s. There is also an underlying psychologic