Tonci Pivac When Jim Wynorski first announced he would be doing a new sequel for my favorite series of all time, the "Slumber Party Massacre" series, I was ecstatic. I had been waiting for a new installment for literally years. So, production began and very small bits and pieces on the shoot and the actors involved were released until the shoot wrapped. Then, the announcement of a title change. No longer would this new sequel be titled "Slumber Party Massacre IV," but "Cheerleader Massacre" instead. I was a bit disappointed, but having a different title would be a very small price to pay for a film I had waited so long to happen. I was still extremely intrigued and on the edge of my seat to see it.Maybe a month ago, some very advanced copies of the film were released to some extremely lucky viewers, who got to see the film months before its release date. A few reviews leaked on the net and judging by them, I began to become apprehensive on Jim Wynorski's "Cheerleader Massacre."Tonight, I got to see the film for the first time in full length and I am still scratching my head. As I read in another review, "Cheerleader Massacre" is definitely NOT a new installment in the "Slumber Party Massacre" series, but a slasher flick all on its own. And a bad one at that.Before I get into the specifics of the film, let me first state what an enormous fan of Jim Wynorski's films I am. I always thought him to be a true camp genius, with a winner almost every time. Yes, his movies are made on shoestring budgets and don't contain the most top-notch acting around, but they're fun nonetheless. They are what they are: campy movies you watch when you want to have a good time. From "Sorority House Massacre II," to "Hard to Die," to "Chopping Mall," Jim has produced the goods on more than one occasion. One of the reasons why I was excited that this film would be his latest project."Cheerleader Massacre" does not (in my opinion) reflect any of the films I had seen this director/writer create in the past. Firstly, the production was extremely inexpensive and the film was actually shot on videotape, something I had never seen Jim do before. The actors were mediocre, to say the least, and the story is almost laughable. The killer is also extremely stupid and reminds you more of your cuddly old grandpa, rather than an escaped lunatic.Of course, the film is littered with female nudity. This is a Jim Wynorski movie we're talking about, folks. But some of the boob-shots seen here almost seem like they were done for time. There is an extremely long shower scene, containing the cheerleading coach, that seems to go on forever and it greatly reflects a shower scene in Jim's "Sorority House Massacre II." The girl even bathes herself almost in the exact same way."Cheerleader Massacre" is also extremely clichéd, to say the least. The opening scene is literally something we've all seen in HUNDREDS of past slasher flicks. A guy and a girl making out, on the verge of consummating their relationship when...you guessed it. They're hacked to pieces.Brinke Stevens, who I've never really considered to be a tremendous actress in the first place, also gives one of her stiffest and forced performances in her small cameo. We're talking' possible cue cards here. She recalls some incidents her character endured by the killer seen here twenty years ago to the police, while footage of the original "Slumber Party Massacre" plays. Why was footage from the original film used if it was definitely not a new "SPM"? I have no idea. There is also two explosions seen in this movie that I am almost certain were recycled from other films.Not only does this film recycle FOOTAGE from past films, but it also recycles the scores from other films as well. Some of the music used in "Humanoids from the Deep" (which was also recycled prior for "The Coroner") can be heard throughout the entire film. There are at least two more as well that I cannot identify, but am certain have been used before.After sitting through this film's horrendous acting, ridiculous story, non-existent gore/special effects, and camcorder-like quality, I am having some serious concerns toward Mister Wynorski's career. Has the man who delighted audiences with films in the past finally lost his niche? Only time will tell. Oh, and let's not forget his newest film. A new installment in the "Sorority House Massacre" films, now titled "Final Exam." I think I'm seeing a pattern here...

Andrew Don't be foolish enough to take this film for face value, it is clearly an abomination as far as legitimate cinema goes. This movie is also however a masterpiece of the poorly made, soft-core porn, horror variety. How can you possible go wrong? Do what I did, get really bored and make sure no one with you is a pretentious ass without a sense of humor. Next, pop this bad boy into your DVD player and blaze. After 20 minutes, hit play and prepare to laugh your ass off like never before. This will however only last about an hour or so before you pass out from inevitable boredom. Never take a movie like this too seriously and you cannot lose.

BA_Harrison I've never expected too much from a film by trashy B-movie director Jim Wynorski: a silly premise, some cheapo effects and a bit of nudity from some busty babes, and I'm usually fairly happy.Well, Cheerleader Massacre delivers on the former and definitely the latter, but unfortunately is a tad light when it comes to the splatter. And when a film has the word 'massacre' in the title, and scrimps on the gore, then Houston, we have a problem.Wynorski's movie centres on a group of cheerleaders who, along with their teacher, mini-bus driver and a couple of guys, become stranded in the mountains during a snowstorm. They make their way on foot to a deserted mountain retreat, where they find food and shelter. And a crazy killer who wants them all dead! From the outset, good old Jim ensures that his film features plenty of scenes loaded with T&A, and includes the obligatory shower scene, along with numerous other moments in which tasty women get nekkid (including a spot of raunchy softcore sex and a very gratuitous three-babes-in-a-hot-tub scene). None of the women look young enough to be cheerleaders (and are never even seen in their outfits), but who cares about such details when they're all too willing to strip off in the name of art?I do care, however, about the movie's numerous lacklustre deaths. With such an extremely lurid title, I had been hoping for some inventive bloodletting to go with all of the bums, bush, and boobs; instead, practically all of the killings occur off-screen or feature next to no gore. Only a silly post-decapitation scene (achieved with cheap-as-chips CGI) comes anywhere near to delivering the goods.Still, if you're feeling in the mood for some titillation, or a bit of slasher silliness minus the grue, then, at 82 minutes, at least Cheerleader Massacre won't be too much of a waste of your time.

drhackenstine I must have read too many Leanord Maltin movie review books, because whenever I see a fiasco like this, I just wanna pick it apart and give a bad review. Yet I love the B-movies and find them the only movies I watch. I just cannot sit through a big-budget film lately. If I sound critical of this, I'm sorry. This is a stupid movie. Fans of the '80's slashers might enjoy it for a while, because the killer, so we are supposed to believe is the killer from the original Slumber Party Massacre film. You really cannot find a slasher film made today where some angry psycho comes rumbling out of the woods to hack up the teen cast, as in Madman, The Burning, all the Jason movies, etc., etc., etc.It's always one of the lead characters with some grudge against his/her friends. The grudge here is laughable. I'm not going to get into that. I did enjoy the first hour and 10 minutes of this. Even though it was haphazard in every department, I felt myself entertained. It was shot on video, low-budget and crude, but it felt like a good trash crap flick. Then the conclusion started up, and I felt cheated. I don't consider this a Slumber Party Massacre sequel, and I didn't coming into this weird film. Hard to Die, Sorority House Massacre 2. They recycled Slumber Party Massacre footage. Why can't Cheerleader Massacre? Ugghh... If this was intended to be a sequel to the Slumber Party Massacre series, there would have been a 4 in the title. The makers just wanted to see if they could get a new series started up. That's why the title was changed at the last minute. Anyway, I did find myself watching the film intently for the first hour, but when the killer was revealed, I was let down. Not bad for a B-movie. Not good for a sequel to any of the 3 films I mentioned above. Has some horrendous lines. The male characters love to say "sweet". Buzz flubbs his lines. One character says "I knew this would be a bad day when we ate those stale donuts". Another says "Nobody has lived here for a while", when the cast walks into a furnished house,with electricity and food in the fridge. Hmmm. Two stars.