‘Slashlorette Party’ Review

Stars: Molly Souza, Ginger Lynn, Krystal Shay, Drew Marvick, Brooke Morris, Nina Lanee Kent, Shalene Prasad, Vanessa Mata, Jasmine March, Katee Hudson, Andrew Brown, Daniel James Moody, Luis Maya, Devin March | Written and Directed by Paul Ragsdale, Angelica De Alba

Slashlorette Party‘s set up is pretty basic; at least on the surface. The film tells the story of Brie, an anxious young woman who is taken by her friends to a remote cabin in the woods to celebrate her bachelorette party. However the fun and games are cut short when uninvited guests begins killing off the wedding party, one by one. So far so familiar right?

Yes, we’re in old-school slasher movie territory with Slashlorette Party… A throwback to the 80s era of psycho-killers, T&A and gore-galore – only the film also makes its own way through the classic cliches and gives them its own spin, throwing in more modern sensibilities, especially touching on mental health – giving this story a whole new edge; blurring the lines between psycho killers, their victims and how both can be manipulated!

For most of Slashlorette Party‘s run time however it sticks the the usual slasher movie tropes of a cabin in the woods, people at said location partying, drinking and sleeping around; and the usual arguments between friends that  typically signals to the audience who’s going to die – showing us who the arseholes are and who the “virginal” final girl will be. And it does all that VERY well. There’s a brilliantly portrayed burgeoning lesbian relationship between Brie and her best friend; two incredibly creepy handymen who it’s NEVER kept secret are the films soon-to-be psychopaths; and Brie’s superbly nasty boyfriend who’s the kind of guy you just wish to get picked off first! Plus – in a twist – Ginger Lynn, who plays Brie’s psychiatrist, shows up at the cabin to help Brie’s friends help Brie overcome her anxiousness.

It’s clear that filmmakers Paul Ragsdale and Angelica De Alba love for the slasher genre and whilst they play things pretty cliched, they do it a way that shows a deep-seated admiration for the genre. This is more a homage to 80s slashers rather than a parody… Which is clearly where this film could have gone. Others have set out to do exactly what Slashlorette Party does and the finished product has felt like a hollow shell, following a blueprint but never having a heart. Slashlorette Party is FULL of heart, it really feels like this film was made by slasher fans for slasher fans, with no pretence to reinvent the wheel as such; rather to give a spin to what has come before – show the classic stalk and slash story through modern eyes.

Though the twist in this films tale certainly takes a well-worn cliche and adds greater depth to it. It’s almost a play on the mother-son relationship of the Friday the 13th series but taken to another twisted level. It’s a great ending to a film that felt, for the most part, like it was treading a well-worn path; no matter how loving an homage to the genre the film is. However… Whilst the majority of the film plays out superbly, unfortunately the story falls apart in its epilogue. Oh god does it fall apart in its epilogue. I’d possibly go as far as saying that the epilogue destroys all the goodwill the rest of the film built up, undoubtedly leaving the previously appreciative audience angry and upset.

Honestly, watch Slashlorette Party right until the film fades to black prior to the epilogue. Turn if off there and you have a great slasher movie, one that ticks all the boxes: gore, T&A and crazy killers. Keep watching and you might, like me, want to put your foot through the TV. Hey, to be fair to Paul Ragsdale and Angelica De Alba, at least their film elicits a powerful response!

Slashlorette Party is out now.