Blyss's Movie Review for:

Main Cast of Characters:

Cathy Podewell............Judy Cassidy

Lance Fenton............Jay Jansen

Mimi Kincade............Angela

Hal Havins...........Stooge

Allison Barron..........Helen

Billy Gallo..........Sal Romero

Linnea Quigley.........Suzanne

Philip Tanzini..........Max

Jill Terashita...............Frannie

Alvin Alexis...............Rodger

1988; Rated: R. Genre: Horror; 120 minutes

Welcome to Angela's party!

Rude boisterous kids visiting a school girl's family's haunted house surrounds this horror movie. The movie begins with teen Judy getting home late from school and she is going out to a Halloween party with her boyfriend Jay that night. Instead of the dance, Jay wants to go to the party at Hull House that Angela Hull is throwing. Her family owns the house and it is said to be haunted and it seems like it will do well for the party. Judy is reluctant but finally agrees to go with him. They meet up with other groups of people, Max, Frannie, Stooge, Angela, Helen, Roger, and Suzanne. Helen and Judy appear to be scared of everything constantly.All kinds of rumors abound about what happened at the house and why it is haunted which is what the kids discuss before they go inside. Angela warns Judy about the spirits and she doesn't seem to take her seriously even though she seems really nervous about being at the house. After dancing for a while, the radio goes dead and the kids awaken the spirits in the house with a past life seance which of course scares Judy to death. Helen says she saw a demon in the mirror when they tried to call upon Angela's past life. They hear something knocking below and by this time Helen and Judy are both scared to death. They a noise, a foul smell fills the air, and it turns chilly which Angela says are three signs of demonic infestation. The audience sees a spirit go into Suzanne. By this time, Roger has joined Helen and Judy who want to go home. Jay takes Judy off with him and Helen and Roger try to leave in Angela's car. Is there really something evil in this house or is it just a teen's rampant imagination? If it is, will they all make it out alive?

For a 1980's horror movie, I have to give it to them on the fact that it was kind of scary. Even the opening to the movie was spooky! I have a real thing for these type of horror movies because they all contain the same elements. Scary overdone makeup, frightening music, and teens. I don't know why but horror movies are always better when they are surrounded with teenagers. I guess because at that age, they can still believe in hauntings and such without being told they are too crazy and it is kind of believable.

One thing that really got on my nerves nearly the whole time was Judy and Helen. They whined and cried nearly the entire movie. I was ready to strangle Judy by the midway of the movie. I guess I am a little deranged, but I think it would be kind of cool to spend the night in a haunted house. She was chicken. A second thing I could have done without was the scene with Suzanne pushing the lipstick. If you have seen the movie, you know what i am talking about. If you haven't, oh well!

I liked the demonic possession of Angela. Very strange and interesting. Since it appeared in the mirror that Angela was a demon in her past life, one has to wonder if she was really a high school student at all. Maybe she just took that form to pull some more free souls into the house so she could condemn them to hell. I mean, come on, Stooge did look like a pig. Why would he even think that she would be interested in him.

Overall, for an 80's horror flick, it definitely met the criteria of the period. Now, I am not sure it would fare so well. But it is satisfying enough for a once a year watch at Halloween!

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this movie a 7

Blyss