"Slumber Party Massacre III" is the third installment in the "Slumber Party Massacre" series, and, well, you guessed it--it follows a bunch of nubile young women being slaughtered at a slumber party.
Where "Slumber Party Massacre II" went the outright bonkers route with the guitar/drill weapon brandished by a rockabilly killer, this third sequel is more akin to the original film, though it has a strong late '80s flavor to it. At times, it seemed to recall a "Friday the 13th" sequel, with the group of young people anchored to a house where they are picked off systematically.
There are absolutely ridiculous things about this film--probably more than there are not, including an electrocution death by sex toy-- but where "Slumber Party Massacre III" surprises is the subtext regarding the motives of its killer, which, though wholly underdeveloped, are disturbing in implication. The acting here is largely bad, but the characters are likable despite it, and the film ramps up to a manic final act that, though over-the-top, has surprising moments of realism.
Though it's not high art, I personally found this to be an admirable entry into this series, and a bit darker than it's given credit for. The camp factor is very much present, make no bones about it, but it's considerably less tongue-in-cheek than the second film, which errs on the side of pure absurdity. "Slumber Party Massacre III," though ultimately frivolous, is peppered with grisly violence and unexpectedly dark subtext. 6/10.
Where "Slumber Party Massacre II" went the outright bonkers route with the guitar/drill weapon brandished by a rockabilly killer, this third sequel is more akin to the original film, though it has a strong late '80s flavor to it. At times, it seemed to recall a "Friday the 13th" sequel, with the group of young people anchored to a house where they are picked off systematically.
There are absolutely ridiculous things about this film--probably more than there are not, including an electrocution death by sex toy-- but where "Slumber Party Massacre III" surprises is the subtext regarding the motives of its killer, which, though wholly underdeveloped, are disturbing in implication. The acting here is largely bad, but the characters are likable despite it, and the film ramps up to a manic final act that, though over-the-top, has surprising moments of realism.
Though it's not high art, I personally found this to be an admirable entry into this series, and a bit darker than it's given credit for. The camp factor is very much present, make no bones about it, but it's considerably less tongue-in-cheek than the second film, which errs on the side of pure absurdity. "Slumber Party Massacre III," though ultimately frivolous, is peppered with grisly violence and unexpectedly dark subtext. 6/10.