VACACIONES DE TERROR (1989)
aka VACATION OF TERROR
(part of HORROR FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER VOLUME 1)
Directed by René Cardona III
BCI/Deimos DVD
Reviewed 02.22.08
Review by Joseph A. Ziemba

THE FILM
When a couple of eggs explode, a wall bleeds, and dueling Ziggy sweatshirts emerge, who you gonna call?

Yep. Nacho.

Nice folks: I like 'em. After all, they're the reason why Vacaciones De Terror goes down so smoothly. For it is here that the unflappable Nacho (Pedro Fernandez) from Trampa Infernal and his charismatic almost-family band together against the forces of darkness. Darkness, of course, being buck-fifty Mexican interpretations of all the neat stuff that happened in Ghostbusters and Poltergeist. Typically, unremarkable PG-level trashers do as much for me as season two of Diff'rent Strokes. Busto! But Vacaciones rains pleasantness. Everybody's happy, nobody dies, and a jeep plows through a brick wall. Now, if only they had a good catch phrase...Nacho?

"I smell a ghost!"

When Nacho (his name is Julio, but c'mon!) trades his "little magic box" (a Walkman) for a Satanic pendant, it's only a matter of time before we wind up at his girlfriend's uncle's haunted vacation house and all hell breaks loose. Blood trees! An obese Satan doll! A muddy refrigerator! Possessed R/C cars! The kids get scared, Mom has a miscarriage (or something), Uncle plays it cool, and Nacho kicks some ghostly-ass. To reveal anything further would be a travesty.

Vacaciones De Terror is good, clean fun. Plain and simple. Given director René Cardona III's sleaze-filled lineage (Pops: Beaks: The Movie, Grandpa: Night Of The Bloody Apes), that assessment is surprising, but never frustrating. Aside from a few surreal visuals, the 80 minute film contentedly breezes by with little distinction and lots of conviction. Plus, they set it up for the best sequel ever made. You see? Nice folks. Good vibes. Ghost smells.

Whatchoo tallkin' 'bout Nacho?

AUDIO AND VIDEO
Give me a fuzzy, scratchy, green-hued print and I'll give you a smile. By the way, the original Spanish language soundtrack (with optional English subtitles) is present and accounted for.

EXTRAS
The brilliant, four-disc'd "Horror From South Of The Border Volume 1" includes Vacaciones, Vacation Of Terror 2, Trampa Infernal, Cemetery Of Terror, Grave Robbers, The Demon Rat, and Don't Panic. It's almost too much. Yet, it's never enough.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I like these people. The civilized tone of Vacaciones De Terror may be an initial turn-off, but as it stands, there's nothing wrong with this film. Relax, breathe it in, and sniff up some ghosts...or I will throw another catch phrase at you.

They call me Nacho.


Ziggy, Inc.


Hullo 'dere!


Blark