GENRE: Horror
YEAR: 1986
RATED: R

      There’s just something about this movie, I can’t explain it. Not only is it horror, it’s a mystery too. A group of college seniors have been invited by their friend Muffy St. John to spend the weekend at her Summerhouse. The house, however, is located on an island. The group itself is composed of your typical carefree college types, some of them performing one tasteless April Fool’s joke after another. All is perfect until a ferryman is hurt badly on the way there as a result of one of their jokes. With their only boat gone, taken by the town constable who witnessed the accident, the group is stranded. This would be fine except for the fact that there may be a homicidal maniac loose on the island with them, or among them?!

      The story is right out of an Agatha Christie, an observation made by one of the characters even. But what I love is the fact that you actually care about these characters. This is a major factor that most horror movies have forgotten and has brought about their ruination in many cases. Let’s be honest, if you don’t like the people you’re watching or relate to them in anyway, you’re not going to care if they get “sliced and diced.” The director, Fred Walton, actually gives these characters an air of believability by showing us that they have problems too. This little bit of plot development always means a great deal in the long run.

      Even if you’re not into horror movies, I still think many will like this one.