CLASS
REUNION MASSACRE (1978)
aka The Redeemer
Directed by Constantine S. Gochis
Continental Video VHS
THE FILM
Bizarro slasher or Christian scare
film? Wait...don’t run away!
If I’m going to get to the
bottom of this picture, I’ll
need all the help I can get.
Now then; raised eyebrows aside,
this is one uniquely strange horror
film. It’s creepy, unsettling,
and places all bets on the mysterious
side of things. For a majority of
the running time, I had no idea
what was going on. Why did that
kid just rise out of the water?
Is this a fully-functioning Catholic
boys school or a deserted old high
school? Two thumbs?! Are the filmmakers
really trying to say that if you’re
a dirty sinner, Satan will send
“The Redeemer” from
the depths of the California desert
to even the score? Or was it just
an easy set-up for a slasher? Judging
from the year and seriousness on
display, I’d probably go with
the former. Let’s discuss.
After a truly baffling prologue
involving said water-kid, a sermon,
and a janitor murder, Class
Reunion Massacre (aka The
Redeemer) sets the scene. The
robot music kicks in. Six stereotypical
former high-schoolers are introduced
through presentback (you know, like
a flashback...but now). We’ve
got the heartless lawyer, the town
drunk/floosie, the ex-quarterback
douchebag, the rich bitch, the flamboyant
gay actor, and the good-hearted
lesbian. All total sinners, right?
Anyway, the super-six arrive at
their ten year high school reunion,
only to find that they’re
the only ones invited. Ignoring
the obvious clues, the old kids
partake of the catering and live
it up. Until they find out that
all the doors are locked. From the
outside. Soon enough, a disguise-changing,
bible-quoting killer picks off our
cast one by one. After the carnage,
the film wraps up just where it
started, only with an accompanying
on-screen biblical blurb to help
us out. Wow.
As a straight horror film, Class
Reunion Massacre succeeds.
It’s light on gore, heavy
on gruesome and effective killings,
and filled with interesting shots.
The killer himself actually scared
me. Twice. Most successful is the
mystery factor; nothing is explained
and events continue to grow more
bizarre as each minute passes. The
tone is uncomfortable, especially
with the killer’s numerous
creeped-out costume and voice changes.
Naturally, when you add the religious
subtext to all of this, things get
even stranger. I find it a little
far-fetched to buy into the idea
of selling anything (are these filmmakers
anti or pro Christian?) through
the “art” form of trashy
horror, but whatever. Just the idea
of someone trying to get their message
out through the use of “The
Redeemer” is both hilarious
and scary.
So what do you think?
AUDIO AND VIDEO
The film has a soft focus look,
which isn’t helped any by
the muddy print. There was also
a lone horizontal video line running
through the entire picture...is
this tape on its last legs? The
mono sound was just fine. I wish
the big box wasn’t all smashed
in.
EXTRAS
Not a one. Not a two, either...thumbs,
that is.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Belying its exploitive title, Class
Reunion Massacre turned out
to be quite frightening and peculiar.
The uniqueness shone through, especially
after figuring out what was what.
It’s a must own.
— Joseph A. Ziemba, 11.18.04 |
Line 'em up
Oh, she's very good
You should be scared by now
Bloody as it gets
|
