Slasher with a Twist

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!'

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?)