Film Review: Killer’s Moon (1982)

Director: Alan Birkinshaw
Starring: Anthony Forrest, Joanne Good, Tom Marshall, Georgina Kean, Jane Hayden, Alison Elliott
Certificate: 18
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Release Date: 18 April 2011

Recently re-released, eighties exploitation horror, Killer’s Moon compares itself to both A Clockwork Orange and I Spit on Your Grave, setting the bar high from the offset. However the cover blurb also refers to ‘four drugged-up mad man‘ so it’s difficult to take seriously. Whether it’s the ambitious comparisons, the tasteless sexism, the poor acting or the inconsistent tone, Killer’s Moon has not stood the test of time. Given the relative brilliance of similar era films, Maniac, The Shining, The Omen et al, one has to seriously consider whether this was ever worth watching or if its cult status stems from a combination of laughs and outrage as per Troll 2 and The Room.

When four escaped psychopaths, wired on a cocktail of dream therapy and LSD, collide with a class of stranded teenage girls, the outcome is predictably messy. Initially this video nasty is frustrating as the promised brutality and violence is confused with comedy through off-hand remarks and ludicrous acting. The first indication that a killer is on the loose comes in the form of a three legged dog making itself known to Peter (Forrest) who simply remarks, “that cut’s too clean for a trap.” In the bonus interview with director, Alan Birkinshaw, he admits that this dog proved useful as it had been awarded the Victoria Cross award for bravery as it lost its leg in a shotgun blast whilst intercepting armed robbery. Birkinshaw candidly confesses this gave Killer’s Moon much sought after publicity in national newspapers.

This shock-slasher is little more than four men pursuing, raping and brutalising teenage schoolgirls, whilst believing they’re dreaming. The dream idea is rammed in viewer’s faces again and again as the killer’s repeatedly remark ‘this is only a dream’. This condescending approach does the film no favours. There is a measure of pleasure to be had in Killer’s Moon if it is taken as a wholly inappropriate eighties comedy. Indeed the caricatured clichés are much more likely to find themselves at home in Fawlty Towers (admittedly a seventies comedy) than Cannibal Holocaust. Yet despite nervous laughs at ‘Of course it’s a dream. And stuffed full of jailbait’ and guffaws at ‘You mean this criminal lunatic is walking around believing he is in a dream? In my dreams, I murder freely, pillage, loot and rape’ one can’t help but feel uncomfortable at some of the more sexist comments. Whilst it’s no secret that the slasher genre treats women as little more than sex objects, when one girl consoles another with ‘Look, you were only raped, as long as you don’t tell anyone about it you’ll be alright’ it is apparent that Killer’s Moon has gone a step too far.

It’s a sad reality that Killer’s Moon was never intended as a comedy, this much is evident when listening to interviews with both Birkinshaw and Joanne Good. Perhaps, most telling is that Birkinshaw’s previous film, Confessions of a Sex Maniac was initially entitled The Tit.

If you’re looking for laughs you’ll find them here, but ultimately they’re stifled and unrewarding. For an example of a well executed video nasty look to The Last House on the Left or opt for the recently remade I Spit on Your Grave. If it’s laughs you’re after indulge in Curb Your Enthusiasm or Super Bad. As for bad acting, try The Room, at least it’s a little more tasteful.

4/10

MICHAEL WILSON

Five Reasons to Read Horror

I mentioned a few blog posts ago that I’ve started up the new horror literature resource Read Horror. Since its inception into the world just shy of a month ago it has gone from strength to strength. I set this up as the definitive horror literature resource, and whilst I’d be kidding myself and everybody else if I were to claim it has become that, it is certainly starting to take shape. For those of you who have yet to jump on the Read Horror bandwagon, read on for five reasons as to why you should Read Horror.

1. Be a part of a growing community whilst it’s in its infancy. Since day one, Read Horror has attracted over one hundred unique visitors per day. Given a lack of paid for publicity and a launch that consisted less of a build up and more of “WE’RE HERE!” this is a reasonable achievement, added to which it’s growing every day. Speaking of growing each day Read Horror set up a Facebook group over the Easter weekend, why not join in the fun?
2. New content every day. Whether it’s reviews, news, interviews, features, previews or an introduction to one of the must-read voices in horror literature, Read Horror brings you fresh content every [working] day. Sometimes we out do ourselves and provide you updates at the weekend or on bank holidays. Take today for example, here in the UK it’s a bank holiday, but a few banks closing didn’t stop us running a quick interview with zombie hack Eric S Brown.
3. Meet The Writer. The popularity of the Meet The Writer section can be attested to through the growing number of readers and writers getting in touch and requesting various writers are featured in this exciting section. Meet The Writer provides a quick, fun, introduction to new and veteran horror writers. So far we’ve heard from Adam Nevill, David Moody, Wayne Simmons, Stephen Volk, Gary McMahon and many more.
4. We really care about horror. This isn’t just a resource, but a way of life. Horror runs through our veins, crimson splashes marking our path. Horror writer and journalist, Michael Wilson set this up because he wanted to reverse the mainstream trend, where literature is kicked to the kerb and the media concentrate on horror cinema. We are reversing the trend, one step at a time.
5. Because the best of horror literature is the best in literature. That’s what Jonathan Oliver, Editor at Abaddon Publishing, said when interviewed in the forthcoming Scream Magazine and do you know what? He was right!