Article: Slasher with a Twist
I scream, you scream, we all scream for masked maniacs!! Ryan serves them up with depth and insight.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for masked maniacs!! If your reading this, you're either a slasher film fan, or your doing it out of sole pity for yours truly. Either way, I'll take what I can get~! As my uncle who lives in a van under a bridge says..'Handouts are free!'
The Redeemer: Son of Satan! (1978)
I'm sure the director of a certain little film called 'The Redeemer: Son of Satan!'(It was later re titled 'Class Reunion Massacre' upon its video release)was taking quiet a few handouts--probably either ludes or acid, I have yet to decipher, but nonetheless, I'm gonna talk about it a bit, probably much to your disdain.
Everywhere I turn, I run into bad reviews for 'The Redeemer'. I'm sure that these people are just as big a horror fan as me, but I'm also sure that most of them forget to look past the images on the screen. This film cries commentary (even though it may be very subtle), and being brought up in a somewhat 'southern' religious background, I know first hand how distorted religion(especially Christianity) can become. Everyone has their own ideas on what will get you to Heaven, or ultimately what will lead you straight to Hell, but very few probably act upon their knowledge because they're too busy telling other people what's right and what's wrong. 'Class Reunion Massacre'(The title I prefer) really touches on the 'self righteousness' aspect of Christianity, and how it's much easier to dictate someone else's fate than your own.
We begin with a very relaxing shot of a beautiful lake for what seems to last for at least five minutes. A very soft, synthesized form of music begins to play as the opening credits roll. Soon after, the static shot of the lake is broken by bright, blood-red letters that read: "From out of the darkness, the hand of the Redeemer shall appear, and punish those who have lived in sin." From that point on, every stereotype I hade about this film flew out the window. Somehow, things suddenly became interesting.
From out of the blue depths of what looks to be icy cold water, a balled up fist punches through the surface. I had mixed emotions about what I saw next. I really didn't know whether to burst out laughing, or be mildly intrigued by the chubby red-haired kid in a blue shirt and red bell bottoms that emerged from the depths below. Was this the devil? Was this the 'Redeemer'? I always had pictures of this huge beast with horns, holding a pitchfork in hand, not a dumpy kid in bell-bottoms who looked more gentle than Emmanuel Lewis from('Webster').
What comes next is a shot of a blue and white Church bus as it picks up the strange kid and takes him to a synagogue where he is obviously a choir boy. This really didn't make much sense at the time, and to tell you the truth, it still doesn't, but hey, religion is complicated. We later are introduced to a stern looking priest who makes his way to the pulpit. As he spouts his gospel, we are introduced to our six characters by means of some truly great editing. They appear to be normal people with normal lives, who have only one thing in common--they all graduated in 1967. In the meantime, we are then taken to an abandoned school, where a 'Fire and Casualty' agent (supposedly) makes his way up to the front doors with briefcase in hand and wingtips on feet. The handicapped caretaker of the school believes he is actually there to examine the place for possible hazards, lets him in, and ultimately falls victim by means of a bullet to the neck. Not gruesome I mind you, but still effective. In a very Argento-esque fashion, the killer makes a plaster mold of the janitors face, and begins cutting, and mutilating the pictures of our six characters. ('Prom Night' doesn't sound so original anymore, uh?)
To sum it up in a nutshell, the six characters(3 men-3 women) end up at the faux class reunion(hence the 'Class Reunion Massacre' title), catch up on old times by means of conversation, and soon wonder why they are the only ones who show up. By the time they finally realize that they're all alone in the building, they soon learn they are trapped with a religious crazed madman who seems to be offing them one-by-one!
As the film went on, I was drawn into the gloom and doom world of our characters. I was truly amazed at the wonderful picture quality and the excellent sound that the film had. For a film released in '76, it manages to steer clear of all the 'Friday the 13th' cliche's, and can boast of having a crazed masked maniac even before Carpenter's 'Halloween'. The killer also effectively dons a different disguise with each victim he kills('Terror Train' anyone?) and manages to give us a little intro via verbal moralist nonsense before a few of his kills.
To boil it down into one big glob of fat, we have a film dealing with 'Redemption' or the lack thereof. Each one of the characters is supposed to represent one of the seven deadly sins~ We have a hotshot lawyer with little or no remorse for one of his dying clients. We have a hot head actor who has to have his way, a rich big breasted lady who gets off on shooting live pigeons for sport, a lesbian(need I say more?), a woman who has been married a few times and wears lots of make-up, and a fat lowlife Italian who likes to eat a little too much(as well as commit adultery on his wife). The 'Redeemer'(murderer) seems to have his own definition of the people' 'faults... "Gluttony in all things. Vanity, Hoarding, Perversion, Licentiousness, Debauchery, Avarice"(Hey, that's just 6 deadly sins, right? I never said the film makes much sense)
'Class Reunion Massacre' is somewhat of an enigma. Just who's side are we supposed to be on? Are we supposed to side with the 'Redeemer'? Does he have a valid argument of doing away with people who in his mind have no morals? Do we side with the awful characters and their disastrous, 'killworthy' faults? Whatever the case may be, and whoever the hell you root for, there's no denying the impact that this film has on the psyche. It's like walking through a lucid dream. Is everything we're seeing on the screen actually happening?
The director seemed to be totally in the 'twilight zone' while directing this film. As the main character of this film states in an interview about this movie, the director stayed pretty much drunk on the set, by consuming at least a case of beer a day. (I admired the director even more for being a functioning alcoholic after hearing that) Now, that takes talent.
It's hard not to comprehend that the director had some kind of personal vendetta when it came to religion. Maybe he had some pretty traumatic experiences with a crucifix as a child, who knows, but the visual flare, and sheer great cinematography overshadows his faults and short comings. 'Class Reunion Massacre', in my opinion is a very competent off-kilter Slasher film with a constant feeling of isolation and impending doom. There's also this great subtle shot of the characters sitting down to a dinner in the cafeteria. It is reminiscent and a visual scene of the painting 'The Last Supper'. The acting is decent for this type of flick, and the soundtrack is quiet creepy as well. If you have never seen this virtually defunct film, I suggest that you try ands track it down. Whether you like it or not, it's bound to make a definite standout and unique edition to your video vault.
