April Fool's Day 4K Blu-ray Movie 
4K Ultra HD + Blu-rayKino Lorber | 1986 | 89 min | Rated R | Jan 21, 2025
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Movie rating
| 6.9 | / 10 |
Blu-ray rating
Users | ![]() | 0.0 |
Reviewer | ![]() | 3.0 |
Overall | ![]() | 3.0 |
Overview click to collapse contents
April Fool's Day 4K (1986)
A girl invites her college friends up to her parents' secluded island home, she just forgot to tell them it just might be the last time of their lives.
Starring: Jay Baker, Deborah Foreman, Deborah Goodrich, Ken Olandt, Griffin O'NealDirector: Fred Walton (II)
Horror | Uncertain |
Mystery | Uncertain |
Teen | Uncertain |
Comedy | Uncertain |
Specifications click to expand contents
Video
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Subtitles
English SDH
Discs
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Packaging
Slipcover in original pressing
Playback
Region A (B, C untested)
Review click to expand contents
Rating summary
Movie | ![]() | 3.0 |
Video | ![]() | 0.0 |
Audio | ![]() | 5.0 |
Extras | ![]() | 4.5 |
Overall | ![]() | 3.0 |
April Fool's Day 4K Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 10, 2025Fred Walton's "April Fool's Day" (1986) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Fred Walton; archival program with cinematographer Charles Minsky; archival program with Charles Bernstein; new audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
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We'll have a hell of a time.
The 1980s produced many genre films like Fred Walton’s April Fool’s Day. Some of them were spookier than the rest. Some of them were gorier than the rest. Some of them were funnier than the rest. However, regardless of what they did differently to impress, all of these films were tagged and are still described as slashers.
But during the 1980s (and most of the 1990s) all of these similar, somewhat similar, different, and very different genre films that became known as slashers could easily be placed into two groups – one for the films that took themselves very seriously, and one for the films that did not. What were the films that took themselves very seriously? They were modernized genre films that paid homage to the classic gialli Italian masters like Mario Bava and Dario Argento had done a decade or two earlier. These films were not part of an American trend and emerged on both sides of the Atlantic. In Italy, which produced the largest number of them, some of the best came from Pupi Avati and Michele Soavi. What were the films that did not take themselves seriously? They were hybrid projects that shared one very particular quality. All of them were great to see theatrically with a large group of good friends, whose chatter and noise did a lot to make them appear far more effective than they were. Perhaps unsurprisingly, virtually all of these films prioritized humor and/or nudity over the genre thrills the gialli had popularized, so technically they were not authentic slashers. Michael Ritchie and Mickey Rose’s Student Bodies is one such hybrid project that became very popular.
April Fool’s Day is another such hybrid project that was popular at the time and became even more popular after the 1980s ended. It pays tribute to the classic gialli but is not a slasher that takes itself seriously. In fact, this is its one and only big trick, so even though it produces several good curveballs, it is very much a one-trick pony.
Its narrative is a mish-mash of gotcha scenarios with numerous logical fallacies, arranged like domino pieces and treated as such until the final credits roll. Predictably, all of its nine characters move between these scenarios ignoring obvious solutions that could instantly terminate the domino effect. So, once it becomes clear that April Fool’s Day is a one-trick pony and the nine characters will prolong the domino effect for as long as needed, the viewing experience becomes a waiting experience, and this of course is why it is best to reach the finale as part of a group, preferably in a theater environment as well.
The nine characters, all college students, are placed in a closed environment, a posh mansion on a stunningly beautiful island. It is their final year in school, so they have gathered to celebrate and share their plans for the future. (Only one boy is not thrilled with how his future looks because a party of some importance has just made him realize that, contrary to his previous assumption, his IQ is quite underwhelming). However, shortly after they unpack their bags and choose a room to spend the night, a maniac killer transforms their seemingly perfect celebration into a horrific nightmare.
April Fool’s Day does not look cheap, but its visuals are impossible to praise. Its atmosphere is a mixed bag, too. In the second half, a few darker sequences look rather decent, but the acting destroys all emerging opportunities that could have produced a bit of proper atmosphere.
The only material that is somewhat effective features humor of the kind that the 1980s not only easily tolerated, but actively encouraged. It is too bad that the entire screenplay did not prioritize it.
*Kino Lorber’s combo pack introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration of April Fool’s Day, sourced from the film's original camera negative and completed at Paramount Pictures. However, the 4K restoration is available to view only on 4K Blu-ray. The Blu-ray disc does not have a 1080p presentation of it.
April Fool's Day 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 
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Kino Lorber's release of April Fool's Day is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. However, only the 4K Blu-ray has the main feature. The Blu-ray is used only for bonus features.
Please note that all screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.
The release introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration of April Fool's Day, sourced from the film's original camera negative and completed at Paramount Pictures. In native 4K, it can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision.
Even though I do not have any other home video releases of this film in my library, it is very easy for me to speculate that previous presentations of it cannot possibly match the quality of the new native 4K presentation. This is how impressive the 4K restoration is and how well its strengths are reproduced by the native 4K presentation. On my system, the entire film looked stunning, revealing visuals that highlighted everything I like about 4K Blu-ray, like great dynamic range, great color reproduction, and fantastic delineation, depth and fluidity. The Dolby Vision grade is wonderful, too. There is a lot of dark content that plenty could have looked flat or crushed, but darker nuances and all backgrounds are excellent. The density levels of the visuals are outstanding as well. The party that graded the new 4K master at Paramount did very well, too. All primaries and supporting nuances looked great on my system, plus they were balanced exceptionally well. As a result, the entire film has a very convincing and attractive authentic period appearance. Image stability is excellent. I did not see any age-related surface imperfections to report in our review.
April Fool's Day 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 
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There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
I viewed the entire film with the 5.1 track. In my opinion, this track has an outstanding dynamic amplitude and easily creates a wide range of terrific dynamic contrasts. However, it is quite easy to tell that certain areas of the film, where these dynamic contrasts are most effective, feature material that was incredibly well mixed to begin with. The dialog is always clear, sharp, and easy to follow. I did not encounter any audio dropouts, distortions, or other similar anomalies to report.
April Fool's Day 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 
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4K BLU-RAY DISC
- Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. The bulk of the important comments cover the production of April Fool's Day, its visual style and the type of tricks it uses to impress, its popularity, and the era it emerged from. The commentators also discuss their initial experiences with the film.
- Horror with a Twist - Part One - in this archival program, director Fred Walton reveals how he fell in love with cinema and consequently discovered non-Hollywood genre films, and discusses his decision to become a filmmaker, and his early work. There are some particularly interesting comments about the impact Alfred Hitchcock's films had on him. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).
- Horror with a Twist - Part Two - in this archival program, director Fred Walton discusses in great detail the conception and production of April Fool's Day and how certain casting choices were made. Walton also clarifies why April Fool's Day is not a slasher film, as well as why Paramount promoted it as one. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).
- Well of Lies - in this archival program, actress Deborah Goodrich discusses her background, her early dancing and acting gigs, involvement with April Fool's Day, and Fred Walton's working methods. Also, there are some quite interesting comments about the well sequence, some bits of which were apparently cut. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).
- Looking Forward to Desert - in this archival program, actor Clayton Rohner discusses his background and explains how he landed his part in April Fool's Day. Rohner also comments on his interactions with other cast members and Fred Walton, and reveals that his initial plan to become a commercial fisherman in Alaska. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).
- Bloody Unforgettable - in this archival program, composer Charles Bernstein reveals how he became a film composer and discusses the creation of his soundtrack for April Fool's Day. Bernstein also has some interesting comments about the earliest films he scored. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).
- The Eye of Deception - in this archival program, cinematographer Charles Minsky explains how he "fell into cinematography", how he evolved into a proper cinematographer, and what he did while working with Fred Walton on April Fool's Day. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).
- Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for April Fool's Day. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).
- TV Spots - presented here are a couple of vintage TV spots for April Fool's Day. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).
April Fool's Day 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 
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A double, maybe even a triple, dose of outrageous humor almost certainly would have transformed April Fool's Day into a far superior genre film. Its current version behaves like a bipolar psychiatric patient who only occasionally registers that its tricks are not as effective as he imagines they are. In an archival program, director Fred Walton reveals that Paramount did not know how to promote April Fool's Day and mishandled its publicity campaign quite badly, which I do not doubt is true. However, the film's most serious and consequential problems are not related to its publicity but its screenplay, which is not good enough. This combo pack release presents an exclusive outstanding 4K restoration, recently prepared at Paramount. If you decide to pick it up for your library, you should keep in mind that the 4K restoration is only made available on 4K Blu-ray. The Blu-ray in the combo pack has only a big selection of archival bonus features.