🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Amy Holden Jones
- Genre: Horror, Slasher, Teen
- Release year: 1982
- Runtime (length): 1h 17min
- IMDb rating: 5.6/10 (20K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Girls just wanna have fun…until a dude with a power drill shows up to ruin the party…and their faces.
🍿 The Slumber Party Massacre: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Setting the Scene: A Slumber Party and an Escape
The film opens with high school student Trish planning a slumber party while news breaks of escaped mass murderer Russ Thorn. This immediately sets up the central conflict: carefree teenage fun juxtaposed with imminent danger. Thorn, who has a penchant for power drills, adds a unique and terrifying element to the traditional slasher villain.

The Party Begins: Tension and Foreshadowing
As the slumber party gets underway, the atmosphere is filled with typical teenage antics – music, pizza, and burgeoning romantic interests. However, subtle hints of Thorn’s presence create a sense of unease. These moments are designed to build suspense and foreshadow the impending violence, keeping the audience on edge even during seemingly innocent scenes.

The Carnage Commences: A Night of Terror
The film transitions into a series of suspenseful and gruesome murders as Thorn begins to pick off the party attendees one by one. The isolated location of Trish’s house amplifies the feeling of vulnerability and entrapment. The use of a power drill as a weapon adds a visceral and disturbing element, differentiating it from other slasher films.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Trish (Michele Michaels): The high school student who throws the slumber party, becoming a target for the escaped killer.
- Valerie (Robin Stille): The new girl in town who ultimately becomes the final girl and confronts the killer.
- Russ Thorn (Michael Villella): The escaped psychotic serial killer who uses a power drill as his weapon of choice.
- Kim (Debra De Liso): One of Trish’s friends attending the slumber party, who unfortunately meets a gruesome end.
- Coach Jana (Pamela Roylance): The girls’ basketball coach who becomes concerned and investigates, putting herself in danger.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Russ Thorn: ““You’re pretty. All of you are very pretty.”” – Said by the killer, expressing his twisted admiration for his victims before attacking them.
- Russ Thorn: ““It takes a lot of love for a person to do this.”” – Spoken by Russ just before attacking Trish, revealing his deranged justification for his violence.
- Jackie: ““Well, life goes on after all and eating makes me feel best when I feel bad, and boy do I feel bad.”” – Jackie says this while eating pizza after discovering the dead pizza delivery guy, highlighting the film’s dark humor.
- Jeff: ““What’s the damage?”” – Jeff asks this through the door to the pizza guy, just before the dead delivery boy falls into the house.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $250,000
- Domestic Gross: Unknown
- Worldwide Gross: Unknown
💥 The Slumber Party Massacre Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so *The Slumber Party Massacre* is a total guilty pleasure. I remember watching it for the first time at a friend’s house way back when, and it was both terrifying and hilarious. The drill is such a ridiculous weapon, but it definitely makes an impact. I loved the whole 80s vibe and the over-the-top characters. Plus, knowing it was originally intended as a parody makes it even funnier. It’s not high art, but it’s a blast to watch with friends and make fun of all the cheesy moments. The ending is great, with the girls finally fighting back. Overall, it’s a fun, campy slasher that I’ll always have a soft spot for.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of 80s slasher films”
- “Horror enthusiasts seeking cult classics”
- “Viewers interested in feminist interpretations of horror”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Graphic violence”
- “Nudity”
- “Strong language”
- “Drug use”
Professional Reviews
- Film Monthly: “While not reinventing the slasher wheel, *Slumber Party Massacre* delivers on its promise of thrills and chills. Jones’s direction, while straightforward, creates moments of genuine suspense. The script is smarter than your average slasher, but ultimately it’s the creative kills that will stick with viewers. A solid entry in the genre.
- Scream Queens Quarterly: “A surprisingly self-aware slasher film, directed and written (originally) by women, providing a unique lens into the tropes of the genre. The film’s subtext is more interesting than its overt scares, though the power drill does provide some memorable moments. A fun watch with a feminist bent.
- Horror Today: “Predictable and cheesy, but with a certain low-budget charm. *Slumber Party Massacre* offers few surprises, but it does provide the expected doses of gore and nudity. The killer is menacing enough, and the kills are creative if not particularly scary. A quintessential 80s slasher flick.
Audience Reactions
The over-the-top kills were so outrageous they were hilarious!: Viewers found the movie both scary and humorous, appreciating the blend of horror and camp.
The final girl’s resourcefulness in using a machete was a thrilling conclusion.: Audiences enjoyed the strong female characters and their ability to turn the tables on the killer.
Overall Consensus: A cult classic 80s slasher known for its cheesy kills, over-the-top humor, and surprising feminist undertones, appreciated for its camp value and creative violence.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Rita Mae Brown, a feminist author, originally wrote the screenplay as a parody of slasher films, but the producers decided to play it straight, resulting in a mix of intentional and unintentional humor.”
- “Amy Holden Jones, the director, was initially an editor and had difficulty securing funding until her husband, a veteran cinematographer, helped create a promo reel.”
- “The film’s iconic weapon, the power drill, was intended as a symbol of male aggression and the phallus, a theme explored by feminist critics.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Slumber Party Massacre?
As a classic slasher film, ‘The Slumber Party Massacre’ is widely available. You can find it for streaming rental or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check local listings for possible broadcast options or physical media availability for purchase, supporting the preservation of classic horror films.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Slumber Party Massacre, you might like these similar films:
- Black Christmas (1974): Features a group of sorority sisters terrorized by an unseen killer during the holiday season, predating and influencing the slasher subgenre.
- Halloween (1978): John Carpenter’s classic that set many of the tropes for the slasher genre, including the masked killer, final girl, and suspenseful atmosphere.
- Sorority House Massacre (1986): Shares the premise of a group of young women being stalked in their own home, with similar levels of gore and suspense.
- Scream (1996): A more self-aware and satirical take on the slasher genre, offering meta-commentary and memorable kills while honoring the classics.
- Fear Street Part 1: 1994 (2021): Modern slasher with a nostalgic ’90s setting, featuring a group of teens battling an ancient evil. A slasher with strong female characters.
🛒 The Slumber Party Massacre Related Products
- Slumber Party Massacre – Limited Edition Steelbook [Blu-ray]: This limited edition steelbook features a brand new 4K scan of the original film, commentary from cast and crew, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. A must-have for collectors and fans of the movie.
- Slumber Party Massacre: The Game – An Unofficial Tabletop Adaptation: A tabletop game where players try to survive the night as the killer stalks through the slumber party. Strategic gameplay and dice rolling determine your fate! Includes collectible character cards and miniature drill.
- Slumber Party Massacre: Russ Thorn Power Drill Replica: An incredibly detailed replica of Russ Thorn’s iconic power drill. Features authentic sound effects and realistic weathering. A perfect display piece for any horror collection.
- Slumber Party Massacre: Retro Movie Poster: High quality print of the original movie poster. A perfect addition for the walls of any collector.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Slumber Party Massacre features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
While originally conceived as a parody of slasher tropes by feminist writer Rita Mae Brown, the final product has been debated. Some view the female characters’ resilience as empowering, while others criticize the film’s exploitation of female nudity and violence. The film’s feminist intentions remain a subject of discussion.
Besides being written and directed largely by women, its distinctiveness comes from the killer’s weapon of choice: a power drill. This adds a unique and disturbing visual element, setting it apart from more traditional slasher films that rely on knives or machetes.
The movie was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California. Trish’s house, a key location, is located at 3664 Mountain View Avenue.
🔥 Bonus Content
The Slumber Party Massacre – The Cinema Snob
The Cinema Snob tears into The Slumber Party Massacre! Prepare for some laughs and maybe even some agreement, his takes are always pretty on-point.
Netflix and Drill at the Slumber Party Massacre!
Ever wonder if The Slumber Party Massacre has feminist undertones? This video dives deep, exploring its history and offering an interesting perspective on a B-movie classic. You’ll be surprised!
My favorite unexpectedly feminist film
Feminist film? Is Slumber Party Massacre the last thing that comes to mind? This short video will change your mind!
✨ Rate
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.





