Underrated '80s Slasher And Its Surprising Legacy

Slasher movies were never more popular than in the 1980s, but one of the horror‘s most underrated hidden gems actually spawned a franchise. Though it began earlier, it wasn’t until the release of films like Halloween that the blood-soaked sub-genre finally began to pick up steam. A masked killer and high body count were all a movie needed to succeed.

Because there were so many slasher films released in the ’80s, plenty slipped through the cracks and have been forgotten. One such film is important because it was one of the first instances of a horror film being self-aware, and making commentary about itself. What’s more, this hidden gem actually started an underrated franchise too.

The Slumber Party Massacre Is Better Than Its 48% Rotten Tomatoes Score

While it’s often lumped in with the dozens of forgettable slashers released in the ’80s, The Slumber Party Massacre deserves more attention. Though it holds a measly 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is actually much better. The concept sounds like a parody of slashers, and that’s largely because the film is a dark spoof of sorts.

The film pokes fun at slasher movie cliches, and has a lot to say about the role of women in horror in general. Amazingly, the film is able to contain so much social commentary without ever losing sight of its main objective of being a freaky flick. The killer is memorable, and the story does a lot with a little.

The Slumber Party Massacre was based on a script by Rita Mae Brown which originally featured stronger social commentary.

It’s easy to dismiss The Slumber Party Massacre because it almost does too good a job of looking like the sort of films it parodies. Nevertheless, it’s well worth a watch both as a piece of social commentary, and as a legitimately underrated slasher gem.

Several Slumber Party Massacre Sequels Followed The Original

The first film was successful enough to warrant a follow-up, and Slumber Party Massacre II arrived in 1987. Leaning heavily into the humorous aspects of the original, the first sequel intentionally takes the franchise in a new direction with a rock ‘n’ roll-themed killer. It too got poor reviews, but has since become a cult classic among dedicated slasher fans.

The first two films led to a threequel, but Slumber Party Massacre III is not as beloved. The film lacks the bite of the original or the goofy fun of the sequel, and it falls in an in-between space that is quite boring. The other two films overcame their low budgets, but the third looks and feels very cheap.

There Are Also Slumber Party Massacre Spinoff Movies

The characters call for help when the killer shows up in Sorority House Massacre

Though only loosely connected, the Sorority House Massacre and Cheerleader Massacre series are actually spinoffs of The Slumber Party Massacre. Both copy the basic format of the original, with either a sorority house or a group of cheerleaders being tormented by a killer. All the movies lack the cleverness of the original, and sink further and further into B-movie territory.

A Slumber Party Massacre Reimagining Arrived In 2021

Slumber Party Massacre Image Gives First Look at Upcoming Remake

Initially intended to be the fourth film in the original series, 2021’s Slumber Party Massacre eventually became a reboot with sequel elements. Unlike a lot of other trashy cash-in films, the reboot had something new to say by attempting to resurrect the feminist themes that were largely excised from the original movie.

Results were ultimately mixed, though the film does hold a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes with 19 total reviews. It diversified the cast considerably, and kept the playful energy of the classic films without sacrificing an inch of its message. As far as unnecessary legacy sequels go, the modern slasher movie is well worth a watch.