Starring Jay Baker, Deborah Foreman, Deborah Goodrich, Ken Olandt, Griffin O’Neal, Leah Pinsent, Clayton Rohner, Amy Steel, Thomas F. Wilson, Pat Barlow, Lloyd Berry, Tom Heaton, Mike Nomad
Directed by Fred Walton
Expectations: Moderate. 80s horror is usually a good time.
During the 80s, few things were more reliable than the on-screen combo of teen fornication and grisly murders. It is the go to of virtually every horror movie made during the decade (and possibly upwards of 90% of horror films made after). So imagine my surprise upon viewing the hidden gem, April Fool’s Day, which not only features the combo, but does it in some of the most graphic and near pornographic scenes ever put to celluloid.
April Fool’s! Couldn’t resist.
Suspense. It doesn’t really hit until after the midpoint of the film, but when it does, it rips that rug out from under you with one intense pull. What had been a fun little teens-on-an-island tale, turns sours fast and director Fred Walton makes the shift quickly and with skill. He previously directed the genre favorite (which I still need to see) When a Stranger Calls, and he proves that he knows what he’s doing behind the camera with good framing and editing that increases the tension in key moments. There’s also some sections of the film captured on a home video camera that feel very ahead of their time, given the prevalence of handheld use in movies these last fee years. It is another touch that keeps the movie feeling modern, although I think a more mainstream viewer might just laugh at the quality of the footage, instead of drawing parallels to current cinema.
My only real criticism of the film is that it’s fairly easy to figure out what’s really going on beneath the surface. A couple of things are telegraphed well before any of the reveals, so an attentive viewer will most likely see them coming. Even still, I’ll admit there were a couple of times where they really surprised me though, so maybe I should give the film more credit. In any case, April Fool’s Day completely succeeds as a suspenseful horror film, especially within the final half hour when the suspense it at its height and everything is firing on all cylinders. It’s also a treat to see Thomas F. Wilson (Back to the Future‘s Biff Tannen) in another movie, even if he does play a similar thick-head character.
If you’re in the mood for a 70s style suspense film mixed with light-hearted 80s horror without too much gore, April Fool’s Day will be a perfect companion on this prank-filled day.