6/10/10

Two Quick Answers

For Gay Pride Month: Answers to yesterday's Two Quick Questions:

Tom DeSimone directed Hell Night - he also went on to direct other classics like Reform School Girls as well as several episodes of the syndicated TV show, Freddy's Nightmares.  But the reason we are bringing him up for Gay Pride Month is that Mr. DeSimone, under the name of Lancer Brooks, directed a slew of (mostly gay) porn films including, Hot Truckin', Heavy Equipment and the classic, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Electric Banana (aka Confessions of a Male Groupie).  However, when one is reviewing the works of Mr. DeSimone, one must never forget his masterpiece, Chatterbox; which tells the tale of a woman with a talking vagina.  Nope, I am not making this up.  I am sure that Platinum Dunes would love to do a remake of that one. 

When it was revealed that Feminist Icon, and celebrated Lesbian Author, Rita Mae Brown penned the screenplay to The Slumber Party Massacre, (as well as the film being directed by a woman, Amy Jones),  a lot of liberated women took umbrage and felt betrayed (a dear friend of mine, who was a dedicated feminist, nearly burst a blood vessel when she discovered these facts - I am not kidding).  Sadly, I think my friend and the others who were angry, might have never seen this movie.  Despite the rather sordid plot of this film,  the dialogue is brilliant and crisp, and some of the kills are ingenious.  And frankly, you won't need a PHD in Women's Studies to read the underlying message in this one; that is if you have a sense of humor. 

6 comments:

Jack Veasey said...

I interviewed Rita Mae Brown back in my days as a journalist, and asked her about why she did Slumber Party Massacre. She said, "I wanted to learn the timing" (meaning of a horror film). Whatever motivated her, I loved the movie -- it's exciting, scary, and full of great lines.

Pax Romano said...

Jack, that is so cool that you met her. If memory serves,she also has a cameo in this movie as the "handy woman" who drills a peep hole into a door or something like that.

Sarah said...

I read at one point Rita Mae Brown sort of disowned Slumber Party Massacre because it featured the stereotypes that she was more interested in destroying, but I think the film has a lot of good feminist elements to it.

Pax Romano said...

Sarah, it does - I think it had play it's hand rather close to the vest, but ultimately, I think the film has a very post feminist vibe to it.

Lisa/knitnzu said...

Just found your blog on recommendation from Rob in PA. Had to go add Slumber Party to my Netflix queue! Horror's not my favorite, but this looks like fun. I guess they all are though, right?

Pax Romano said...

Lisa,
Thanks for stopping over - I can't wait to hear what you think about Slumber Party Massacre - keep in mind that, in a way, it's sort of mocking the slasher concept that was very popular at the time, and note the weapon of choice of the bad guy.