07 December 2024
Curtains (1983)
88 min.
Directed by Richard Ciupka & Peter Simpson.
With Samantha Eggar, John Vernon, Linda Thorson, Lynne Griffin, Anne Ditchburn, Lesleh Donaldson, Deborah Burgess, Sandra Warren, Michael Wincott, Maury Chaykin.
Underrated slasher from a well-saturated era of splatter.

Six actresses gather at the secluded snowbound retreat of well known director Jonathan Stryker (Vernon) in hopes of auditioning (& winning) the coveted role of 'Audra' in an upcoming star movie.

But faster than you can say 'catfight,' some psychotic loon wearing a hideous hag mask begins eliminating the actress pool one by one. Which of the lovely thespians is also a murderess...and who will be left standing?

Game performances from all involved (most notably Eggar, Donaldson and Thorson).

Best scene: the great 'death-in-full-daylight on an ice skating pond' sequence featuring Donaldson.

Criticize Curtains for what you will: no other slasher so effectively captures sheer terror in complete sunshine.

Runner up scene: the extended prophouse chase sequence with Warren and the killer.

Also deserves kudos for taking usually teenybopper-dominated slash material and trying with an adult cast.

Buoyed by a memorable score from prolific Canadian composer Paul Zaza. Filmed in 1980.

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