Stagefright (1987)
AKA Deliria; Aquarius; Bloody Bird; Sound Stage Massacre. Michele Soavi's first real theatrical film, Stagefright is a slasher movie with a tinge of Argento. The basic plot: an ex-actor maniac manages to find his way to a sounstage where a bunch of actors are rehearsing for a play about a maniac. When the actors find the wardrobe mistress killed, the police are called and stake out the outside, while the director plans on rehearsing all night and opening the show early to capitalize on the publicity. To ensure no one leaves, he gets an actress to lock the doors and hide the key. While rehearsing, the masked killer in the play gets replaced by the real killer, who kills (on stage no less, while being directed) the actress that hid the key. Stunned by what's just happened and trapped inside, the rest of the characters try to figure out how to survive long enough to find a way out. This movie rises above the slasher crop with stylish scenes, great shots, some semi-intelligent characters, actual foreshadowing that you barely notice, genuine tension and suspense, some fun gore and creative kills, and a subtle sense of humor throughout. One of the best slashers of the late eighties by far, and it would make a nice double-feature with Intruder, since it's also about employees trapped in their workplace while being slaughtered in interesting ways (I think Stagefright is the superior film).
Tagline: The theatre of death.
Highlights: The gore and the kills, of course. Nearly everything after the killing starts, but notably the inclusion of a gun in a slasher plot, the inclusion of a probably gay character in a slasher plot, the deadpan comic relief of the police officers outside, and the great, somewhat surreal second ending (you know, when you thought the Final Girl just might be safe). There's a lot of good stuff here, and I highly recommend it.
Tagline: The theatre of death.
Highlights: The gore and the kills, of course. Nearly everything after the killing starts, but notably the inclusion of a gun in a slasher plot, the inclusion of a probably gay character in a slasher plot, the deadpan comic relief of the police officers outside, and the great, somewhat surreal second ending (you know, when you thought the Final Girl just might be safe). There's a lot of good stuff here, and I highly recommend it.
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on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at 4/19/2005 10:13:00 AM.
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