Prior to teaming up on Friday the 13th Part 4, Director Joseph Zito and SFX wizard Tom Savini previously collaborated on this interesting 80's slasher film about a maniac in an
army uniform terrorising a small American township.
Set in the fictional town of Avalon Bay, the townsfolk are preparing for the schools graduation dance, the first of its kind to be held in over 30 years. The last one was in 1945, and ended when young Rosemary Chattam and her date were brutally killed by a prowler brandishing a pitchfork and bayonet. Though the killer was never apprehended, he was believed to have been a local soldier who wasn't too happy about getting a 'Dear John...' letter just prior to his return from WW2.
With the events of that night now a distant memory, the townsfolk are looking at putting those grim events behind them. But, the high school prom dance isn't the only thing that's returned. It seems that our prowler friend is back, still dressed in WW2 style uniform and armed with a selection of various bladed instruments.
The rest of the film is your typical 80's slasher fair, with teens being bumped off in various nasty ways. Although what sets this one apart from the other films of this ilk is Tom Savini's expert use of special effects, showing young couples being graphically impaled together on pitchforks, stabbed through the head with bayonets, getting their throats slashed and even Savini's trademark exploding head making an appearance.
Definitely one for fans of 80's slasher films, would make an excellent companion piece with the film "Maniac".
