gwnightscream This 1986 horror film stars Joanna Johnson, Elaine Wilkes and Sherry Willis-Burch. This focuses on 3 college girls, Jennifer (Johnson), Phoebe (Wilkes) and Vivia (Burch) who pledge a sorority and get in enduring pranks and humility. Soon, a mysterious killer starts wiping out some of the campus residents and when the girls attend a costume party, the killer decides to make their presence known. This is a strange film that pays homage to recent horror films, "The House on Sorority Row," "The Evil Dead" and "The Exorcist." The acting is kind of weak, but there's good make-up effects and I'd probably view this at least once if you're a horror/slasher fan.

Bill Hollister Killer Party is one of those titles that does not often get mentioned when people discuss 80s slasher movies.It's relatively unknown yet seems to have a loyal following amongst its fans. Filmed in 1984 under the title The April Fool but not released until 1986, Killer Party is three films rolled into one.It begins as a music video, then becomes a college comedy filled with sex jokes and pranks. It is only in the final hour that it fully becomes a horror movie. We cannot go any farther into a discussion on Killer Party without mentioning the characters. One of the main reasons that the movie has a loyal fan base is because almost every character is likable. Our three main characters (Jennifer, Phoebe, and Vivia) are friends and are pledging the same sorority. The actresses playing those roles are great and the viewer feels as if they truly are friends. Their dialogue and banter is realistic. They care for each other and we cheer for them to survive.Jennifer is the studious, sensible one. Phoebe is excitable one and goes along with the group, and Vivia is the nerdy prankster.The actress who played Vivia, Sherry Willis-Burch, was also in the 1981 slasher movie Final Exam.The girls must go through the typical sorority hazing and tasks in order to become members. The most memorable line from the movie comes from a scene in which the snotty head of the sorority, Veronica (Alicia Fleer) tells the girls that when asked a question in class, they must respond by saying "I myself prefer a big, fat cucumber." Oh those wacky sororities and sexual innuendos. There are also great secondary characters like Professor Zito, played by the always entertaining Paul Bartel, Martin played by Ralph Seymour and Blake played by Martin Hewitt.Bartel is probably best known to genre fans as the director/star of the cult classic Eating Raul, Chopping Mall, Death Race 2000 and Piranha. He also directed one of my personal favorite horror movies, Private Parts. Ralph Seymour was also in the 1980 backwoods slasher classic, Just Before Dawn.The criticism of Killer Party is that it takes much too long to become a horror movie. While I see that point, I do not mind because I like the characters enough and enjoy the comedy aspects of the film. It all depends on your moods and tastes, but I am never bored whenever I sit down to watch it. The final half of the movie takes places at an abandoned frat house which was the site of a fraternity prank gone wrong 20 years before.Does this tragedy from the past have something to do with the recent killings? Could be...All of the before mentioned comedy hi-jinx makes the final 30 minutes all the more surprising and affective.It is a jolt to the viewer when our killer begins to dispatch the remaining characters without a hint of humour. In fact, I would argue the final act of Killer Party is one of the best found in a slasher movie.I remember watching it for the first time in an edited form on TBS in 1989 and was amazed by the performance of the killer. I won't reveal who that is. No spoilers here. Special mention should be made of the two main songs featured in the movie. The first is April by the band White Sister. It is a catchy tune in the rousing tradition of 80s hair rock. All depending on your feelings toward said hair rock, you'll either enjoy it or hate it. I personally love the song and listen to it occasionally. However, April is just a warm up to what is the theme song of Killer Party: a song that goes by the name These Are The Best Times of Our Lives. Those who have seen the movie know the song and if you haven't, you will soon know it the minute you hear it.I'm a fan of cheesy songs from horror movies and These are the Best Times is pure cheese but it also happens to be one of my favorite songs ever in a movie. Try not to sing along...I dare you. Currently Killer Party does not have an official DVD release but is a part of the Warner Archives.My old VHS copy has seen better days but I return to it like an old friend I have known for years. While not one of the greatest horror movies by any means, slasher fans and horror fans in general could do much worse than seeking out this movie. You may even find yourself preferring a big, fat cucumber after watching this.My rating based on nostalgia and love for the movie: 10/10 My rating as a non biased slasher fan 7/10

BA_Harrison Tongue-in cheek horror Killer Party begins in perfect cheesy, 80s fashion with a 'film-within-a-film-within-a-music-video' pre-credits sequence that features a big-hair metal band named White Sister. It's a fun, silly and irresistibly daft opening to a film, but, unfortunately, it's also the best part of the whole affair, and has absolutely nothing to do with what follows!The bulk of this otherwise forgettable mess is a lame cross between Porky's and Hellnight, with a touch of the Exorcist thrown in for good measure. Elaine Wilkes, Sherry Willis-Burch, and Joanna Johnson star as Phoebe, Vivia and Jennifer, three girls desperate to become members of the exclusive Sigma Alpha Pi sorority. After suffering various humiliating rituals, the trio are accepted, and are given the task of organising a practical joke at the yearly April Fool's party (being held at an old abandoned frat house which is rumoured to be haunted).During the celebrations, however, an evil spirit interrupts the fun by turning Jennifer into a demonic, scuttling creature (complete with long tongue and a nice line in guttural noises) who proceeds to butcher the other party-goers.Although the possession at the end of the film does lend for some creepy scenes (with Jennifer crawling up vertical walls in a spider-like fashion), there are not nearly enough scares, and way too much silly student buffoonery (one fraternity plays a prank on the girls of Sigma Alpha Pi which results in some predictable gratuitous nudity), for Killer Party to be deemed a success.Perhaps if the studio hadn't seen fit to cut out the bloody effects that were filmed (apparently they expected more of a comedy than a horror, got cold feet when they saw the graphic gore, and excised the lot!), then maybe the film would've been more bearable, but in its severely trimmed form, Killer Party turns out to be a bit of a non-event.

AngryChair College students throw a party in an old frat house, only to have someone start killing off everybody and raising demons (?!)Canadian 'horror' drivel is one mess of a movie. The movie opens with a weird prologue that has nothing to do with the rest of the film and even when we reach our 'feature' story it's a bit of a train wreck. Killer Party is a movie that suffers from a real lack of seriousness. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy campy horror movies, but in this case it's all a bit too ridiculous. Even as the movie tries desperately for a terrifying climax, it comes off as completely laughable. The movies theme song 'Best Times of our Lives' is memorable though.Those who enjoy silly 80's schlock might have a good time with this one, but all in all Killer Party is totally inept as a horror film.BOMB out of ****