Directed by
Amy Holden Jones
Made by
New World Pictures
In a suburban neighborhood of Los Angeles, chaos brews when a headline blares: “MASS MURDERER OF 5 RUSS THORN ESCAPES.” Eighteen-year-old Trish Deveraux (Michele Michaels) begins her day unaware of the danger lurking around her. As her parents leave for the weekend, she disposes of a collection of dolls, a seemingly harmless task that is soon disrupted when a mysterious figure retrieves one from the trash.
At school, Trish’s friends, including Neil (Joe Johnson) and Jeff (David Millbern), chatter about a slumber party planned for that night. The atmosphere shifts when a horrifying event occurs: a man abducts and brutally kills a telephone repairwoman, hinting at the presence of Russ Thorn (Michael Villella), an escaped convict renowned for his violent past.
During basketball practice, Trish plays alongside her teammates while the new girl, Valerie Bates (Robin Stille), is ignored by most. When Trish extends a friendly invitation to Valerie for the slumber party, she is met with rejection, a reflection of the social hierarchy at school. After practice, as the group discusses their party plans, the camera reveals Russ Thorn lurking ominously in a van, setting the stage for a night of terror.
As the evening unfolds, the girls gather at Trish’s house, festooned with laughter and carefree conversations. However, a sinister presence surrounds them. Mr. Contant (Ryan Kennedy), their neighbor, offers a false sense of security, blissfully unaware of the chaos about to unfold.
When a pizza delivery arrives, it’s an unexpected horror: the deliveryman is brutally murdered, leaving the girls in a state of panic. Unable to escape, they arm themselves with kitchen knives, preparing for confrontation. Each moment ticks away with suffocating tension as Jeff and Neil decide to split up to summon help, inadvertently sealing their fates.
Trish and her friends are thrust into a fight for survival as Russ Thorn picks them off one by one. The girls, engrossed in their own world, fail to perceive the lurking menace until it’s too late. With every horrific discovery—friends gone and screams echoing through the darkness—their hopes for a fun evening dissolve into sheer terror.
Efforts to escape lead to tragic encounters, with Diane’s last moments captured in chilling silence and John’s horrifying fate leaving the remaining girls paralyzed with fear. The struggle continues until only Valerie, Courtney (Jennifer Myers), Trish, and a few others are left to confront the monster that has targeted them.
In a climactic face-off, Valerie wields a machete with a fierce determination to protect her sister and friends. As the confrontation builds to a fever pitch by the poolside, the battle becomes a grotesque ballet of survival, where friendships are tested, and each choice could mean the difference between life and death.
In a final act of bravery, Valerie efficiently dispatches Russ Thorn, leaving the three survivors shaken but alive as the sirens of impending rescue wail in the distance. Their ordeal, punctuated by horror, has left indelible scars, transforming an ordinary night into a haunting nightmare.
News of Escape
The day begins with the chilling headline announcing the escape of mass murderer Russ Thorn, responsible for the brutal killings of five individuals. This news sets a foreboding tone for the events that will unfold in the suburban neighborhood.
Trish's Routine
Eighteen-year-old Trish Deveraux starts her routine by disposing of her old dolls. Unbeknownst to her, a shadowy figure watches as one of the dolls is retrieved from the trash, signaling the beginning of danger.
Slumber Party Plans
At school, Trish and her friends, including Neil and Jeff, excitedly discuss their plans for a slumber party. The lighthearted atmosphere is disturbed when news of a murder surfaces, raising alarm over the presence of Russ Thorn.
Trish and Valerie
During basketball practice, Trish extends an invitation to Valerie, a new girl at school. Valerie's rejection highlights the social dynamics at play, adding tension among the group.
The Ominous Presence
As the group discusses their party plans after practice, the camera reveals Russ Thorn lurking menacingly in a nearby van. This foreshadowing hints at the terror that will soon invade their lives.
Slumber Party Begins
The girls gather at Trish’s home, excited for a night filled with laughter. However, an unsettling feeling looms overhead as a sinister presence stalks them, unnoticed.
Delivery Gone Wrong
An unexpected horror strikes when the pizza deliveryman is brutally murdered right outside Trish's house. The gruesome act sends the girls into a state of panic as they realize the danger they’re in.
Preparing for Confrontation
In a moment of sheer terror, the girls arm themselves with kitchen knives, steeling themselves for a confrontation. With time slipping away, tension escalates as they await an imminent attack.
Descent into Chaos
As events spiral out of control, Russ Thorn begins his sinister game, picking off the girls one by one. Each horrifying revelation—a missing friend—heightens their desperation and fear.
Tragic Encounters
In a terrifying turn of events, the remaining girls encounter one of their friends, Diane, in a chilling silence before her tragic end. The overwhelming fear leaves them paralyzed and struggling for survival.
Final Stand
With only a few girls left, including Valerie and Courtney, they band together to confront Russ Thorn. The atmosphere is charged with tension as they prepare for the ultimate face-off against their tormentor.
Valerie's Bravery
In a moment of fierce determination, Valerie wields a machete, ready to protect her sister and friends. The confrontation at the poolside becomes a battle for survival that tests their courage and resolve.
Russ Thorn Defeated
In a climactic finale, Valerie successfully dispatches Russ Thorn, bringing an end to the horror. Despite surviving, the emotional scars left by the night’s events linger among the three remaining girls.
Rescue and Aftermath
As sirens wail in the distance signaling impending rescue, the survivors are left shaken. Their ordinary night has transformed into a haunting nightmare, forever changing their lives.
Trish Deveraux
Trish is an 18-year-old high school student whose sense of normalcy is shattered when danger creeps into her life. Caring and social, she attempts to include the new girl, Valerie, in the festivities. As the night unfolds, Trish's character evolves from a carefree teenager to a determined survivor, showcasing resilience in the face of horror.
Valerie Bates
Valerie is the new girl at school who initially feels isolated from her peers. Her character development is compelling as she transitions from being overlooked to a fierce protector of her friends. With strength and courage, she becomes a central figure in the fight against Russ Thorn, showcasing profound resilience when confronting danger.
Russ Thorn
Russ Thorn is the main antagonist, an escaped convict with a history of violence. His menacing presence looms over the narrative, representing chaos and terror within the suburban setting. As he stalks the group of friends, he embodies the nightmare of a predator lurking beneath the surface of ordinary life.
Time period
The events unfold in contemporary times, reflecting a mid to late 20th-century American society. During this period, horror films began to embrace slasher elements, resulting in a cultural phenomenon that spoke to the fears and anxieties of suburban life. This backdrop enhances the tension of the storyline, as viewers recognize familiar social dynamics and vulnerabilities.
Location
Los Angeles
The movie takes place in a suburban neighborhood of Los Angeles, known for its quiet streets and close-knit community. This seemingly peaceful setting contrasts sharply with the chaos that ensues as a notorious escaped convict terrorizes its residents. Los Angeles, a city often associated with the entertainment industry, showcases a darker side in this thrilling narrative.
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Survival
The theme of survival is central to the movie, as the characters face a life-or-death struggle against a relentless killer. The film explores how fear can ignite instinctual responses and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect themselves and their friends. This theme resonates throughout the narrative, emphasizing courage and determination amidst chaos.
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Friendship
Friendship plays a pivotal role in the story, showing the bonds between the girls as they come together for a slumber party. However, the horror they face tests these relationships, revealing both strength and fragility. The dynamics of teenage friendships are highlighted as they navigate fun, betrayal, and ultimately, survival.
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Fear
The pervasive theme of fear permeates every moment of the film, as the girls grapple with the terror of being hunted. The juxtaposition of their innocent intentions with the lurking danger creates a chilling atmosphere, amplifying the horror of their situation. This theme illustrates how quickly safety can shatter and how susceptible youth are to fear.
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