Slaughter High

While viewing the new Veston Video Collector's Series Blu-ray "Slaughter High", I was trying to wrack my brain as to whether I'd seen this mid '80s slasher film. The Blu-ray cover at least looked familiar, harkening back to the VHS days of movie posters. The plot is very similar to scads and scads of other films in its genre: A terrible event that occurs five years earlier causes a masked serial killer to seek revenge on those who wronged him.

This scenario plays out in numerous '80s slashers, from "Prom Night" to "Graduation Day," and they owe a ton of gratitude to the granddaddy of all horror slashers, "Halloween." So what separates "Slaughter High" from the slew of others that came before it? Not too much, although there are a few things to revel in while viewing this film, which was originally titled "April Fools Day":

- Never go back to your high school reunion if you caused a nerdy former classmate to become a burn victim five years earlier.
- Make sure you take a bath immediately after getting blood spewed all over you, even if there's a masked killer on the loose.
- Sex is always a priority, especially if most of your classmates are being found dead all over your previous school.
- Do high schools usually have a bathtub handy to wash up in? Furthermore, do schools have readily available beds to fornicate in?
- Take a look at the obvious older ages of most of the supposed teenage cast of "Slaughter High," most notably the Final Girl, actress Caroline Munro, who was in her mid-30s at the time of filming.
- The irony of life imitating art in "Slaughter High" rings eerily true as actor Simon Scuddamore, who played the super-geek Marty, committed suicide before this film was released.

These and many more silly scenarios play out constantly over the 90-minute running time of "Slaughter High." Of course, it's not a very good film, but one can see why it's garnered such a cult following over the years. The Blu-ray should be added to any horror movie collection, and features a few special features to enjoy, too. There are two interview segments, one called "Going to Pieces," and features co-writer/director Mark Ezra. The delightful Caroline Munro recalls "My Days at Doddsville," a loving tribute to her time while filming "Slaughter High."

"Slaughter High"
Blu-ray
$39.97
www.lionsgate.com