Review: The Slayer
Blu-ray & DVD: The Slayer (1982)
Troubled artist Kay (Sarah Kendall) suffers with disturbing dreams and visions, which she also incorporates into her artwork. Her husband Eric (Frederick Flynn) decides to take her on holiday to a remote island to relax, along with her brother David (Alan McRae) and his wife, Brooke (Carol Kottenbrook). Once on the island, Kay believes that an evil force is stalking them all, and her fears just may well be true as the holidaymakers begin to disappear one by one in mysterious circumstances.
Released during a golden period for slasher movies, The Slayer ticks all the usual boxes: couples in a remote location, nudity, an unidentified killer, and of course the always anticipated (and much cheered) inventive kills. Previously only available on home video in either cut or full screen versions, this new release from Arrow Films showcases a brand new 4K transfer of the original camera negative and their usual host of amazing special features.
I have to admit that I prefer other movies from the slasher genre to The Slayer; The Burning immediately springs to mind (also available from Arrow Films), though that is not to say that The Slayer is in any way a poor movie. It does a good job of allowing time to build some empathy for the characters and set the scene at the remote island; which is featured in a couple of the special features…I’d definitely like to visit Tybee Island.
My main gripe is which the character of Kay. Sarah Kendall portrays her as what I can only describe as ‘a wet lettuce leaf‘; all simpering looks off into the distance and in a constant state of ‘oh poor me‘. I’d have loved to have seen a bit more fire in her character…especially towards the finale when she has numerous opportunities to ‘tool up’ and battle her demons.
Other than that it is very atmospheric and makes great use of its locations, which once again is the subject of another fascinating special feature where the movie makes its debut on Tybee island.
The kills are enjoyable without going too over the top, but are few and far between. This is more of a slow burn horror movie where the impending doom far overshadows the bloody payoffs of each kill.
Finally released in a version that fans of The Slayer have been waiting far too long for, it is a good evenings entertainment for all horror/slasher fans.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Lee Gambin.
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Review by Dave (co-host of 60 Minutes With) from a disc kindly supplied by Arrow Films via Fetch Publicity.