Beyond the Drawer

Slumber Party Massacre II (1987) picks up where The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) left off. Courtney (Crystal Bernard) continues her life as a traumatized high school student, while her younger sister Valerie (Cynthia Eilbacher) is confined to an insane asylum. Courtney plays guitar in a band with three of her friends—Sheila (Juliette Cummins), Amy (Kimberly McArthur), and Sally (Heidi Kozak). They all go to Sheila’s dad’s condo for a weekend getaway, but Courtney is haunted by premonitions that a supernatural rockabilly driller killer (Atanas Ilitch) is going to murder them all. Slumber Party Massacre II stands apart because of its satirical tone, psychological themes, and driller killer with a penchant for singing and dancing. Right from the beginning of the film, we know that Courtney suffers from nightmares and hallucinations. She has a terrible dream containing death scenes from the first film, and an image of a dead pigeon. While walking to school, she looks down at the ...

Slumber Party Massacre III (1990) is a fun, thrilling sequel to the original slasher cult classic. Jackie Cassidy (Keely Christian) is a high school girl who hosts a slumber party at her house while her parents are out of town. At the party, coeds drink beer, eat snack food, and dance to the music. They are having a great time by themselves until a few guys from school crash the party as a practical joke. Meanwhile, a mysterious serial killer with an oversized power drill is stalking Jackie Cassidy and her friends. As the party guests start turning up dead, the girls and guys have to fight for their lives. There is a suspenseful story, good acting, excellent use of music, and gory effects. The story keeps the viewer in suspense wondering the identity of the Driller Killer and who will end up dead next. At the beginning of the film, Jackie Cassidy and Diane (Brandi Burkett) are sunbathing at the beach while watching their friends play volleyball. While they are discussing life, an o...

Framing John DeLorean (2019) is a documentary feature film that examines the question “Who was the real John DeLorean?” DeLorean began his career as a successful executive at GM and eventually started his own company with the hope of fulfilling his dream of building an affordable sports car. He is to some people a renegade visionary—who revolutionized the automobile industry—and to others, the ultimate con man. This biography film is a mix of vintage videos, interviews, re-enactments featuring Alec Baldwin, and behind-the-scenes footage. The film is noteworthy for its comprehensive look at the subject, unique editing style, and input from John DeLorean’s family. The documentary provided a comprehensive examination of the subject within the one hour and forty-nine minute running time. The story began with John DeLorean’s career at GM, where he introduced the high performance Pontiac GTO. He became a charismatic public figure and married a popular fashion model named Cristina Fer...

Flashout (2019), directed by Richard Lerner, is a smart, original sci-fi film that will make your head spin. Although it is from the director and producer of the cult film Revenge of the Cheerleaders (1976), this new feature is not just for those who enjoy the cinematic past of the ‘70s and ‘80s. In the story, three young women in a parallel universe play a blind date reality game, InterMate, in order to experience the euphoria of the Flashout. Unexpectedly, they wind up trapped on unfamiliar planet Earth seeking the missing player of their game. This film deserves credit for delivering an original story, interesting characters, and striking visuals. The first impressive quality of this film is the unique, mind-bending metaphysical story. Richard Lerner and his writing colleagues John Powers and Wayne Weber churned out a truly outlandish contribution to the sci-fi genre. It takes the viewer a minute to grasp the concept of the parallel universe, let alone the broader notion of th...

Virginia Minnesota  (2019), directed by Daniel Stine, is a heart-felt film with the right mix of drama, comedy, and adventure. The story is about two young women—Addison (Aurora Perrineau) and Lyle (Rachel Hendrix)—who embark on an illuminating 24-hour journey, unlocking long-forgotten memories and exploring a world of fantastical creatures. There are both comical and touching results along the way. In the end, they realize what it means to truly believe and how their friendship can overcome any obstacle. Viewing this movie is a feel-good experience; this is a story the world needs right now. Addison and Lyle were childhood friends torn apart by a tragedy at the school they attended together. Now, in order for a will to be opened, a group of the former students need to be present at the school. Addison refuses to show up, so Lyle steps up to go get Addison and bring her to the school. The contrast between the personalities of the two women—and their current professions—is appar...

Survival of the Film Freaks is a documentary exploring the phenomenon of cult film in America and how it endures to the present day. Through interviews with filmmakers and fans, the documentary traces decades of film fanaticism from the era of midnight screenings at the cinema to the present digital age. The viewer learns about the factors that define a cult film and gains an understanding of the cultural significance of these films. Right when the documentary starts, it points out that cult films have existed from the beginning of the film medium itself. The people who are attracted to cult films are those who do not see themselves in the big budget mainstream box office films. Films that become cult classics are typically independent efforts with modest budgets. Because of that, they often rely on shocking storylines, outlandish action, and special makeup effects as a way to stand out in the crowded landscape of movies. The documentary examines changes in technology, and h...

Killer Kate!  (2018), directed by Elliot Feld, is a horror comedy about a woman who gets invited to her estranged sister’s bachelorette party. The weekend is spent in a remote cabin booked on a home-sharing app. What is supposed to be a weekend of fun turns into a fight for life as four girls face a family of intruders intent on killing them. The film features an innovative story, suspense, and a great performance from the lead actress. The opening credits and the moody music remind one of John Carpenter’s Escape from New York  (1981). The kills and Kate’s blood splattered face were reminiscent of Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead  (1981). The opening scene involves a malicious family brainstorming ways to murder the unwitting guests of their short-term rental house. The motive is a big reveal at the end of the movie—a much broader theme that belies the seemingly simple plot. Kate, played by Alexandra Feld, is a kindhearted young professional who has feelings...