Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Saturday the 14th Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 20, 2019

When “Airplane!” was released during the summer of 1980, it became a massive hit (the fourth highest-grossing movie of the year), inspiring Hollywood to attempt to replicate the formula with other genres. The obvious choice for a prolonged pantsing was the horror genre, with another screaming success, “Friday the 13th,” managing to shock the industry and become something of an event film for teenagers. Slasher entertainment was ripe for the mocking, and one of the first titles out of the gate was…not “Saturday the 14th.” Despite its enticing, silly title, the endeavor offered a hard pass on all things Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, with writer/director Howard R. Cohen (“Space Raiders,” “Time Trackers”) electing to make an Abbott and Costello picture for the disco age, trying to revive dormant slapstick interests for a comedy adventure that utilizes horror, but doesn’t quite satirize it. It’s a very broad effort from Cohen, who seems convinced that all he needs to sell the wacky viewing experience is game actors and hoary jokes, leaving true sharpness of wit and timely targets to other productions.

John (Richard Benjamin) and Mary (Paula Prentiss) finally have a home of their own, inheriting a large dwelling that’s been neglected for years, requiring plenty of care to help restore it to working order. Trouble is, others want the house more, with vampires Waldemar (Jeffrey Tambor) and Yolanda (Nancy Lee Andrews) bitter that their perfect resting place to feed on victims has been taken. Moving in with kids Debbie (Kari Michaelsen) and Billy (Kevin Brando), John and Mary try to make the best of a strange situation, but trouble isn’t far behind, with Billy discovering The Book of Evil, reading its pages, which unleashes a curse inside the house, finding all sorts of monsters awakened, ready to terrorize the family. Mary is targeted by Waldemar, bitten by the bloodsucker, but John doesn’t notice. Instead, he prepares for a housewarming party on Saturday the 14th, with plans to invite family over to a house that’s already filled with creatures of the night, with Waldemar waiting impatiently to claim what was never his to begin with.

Cohen makes a smart choice and opens “Saturday the 14th” with cartoon main titles, presenting a primary colored world of monsters and mayhem right at the start of the endeavor, which does fine job setting the tone for the movie, getting the audience used to the silliness to come. And the screenplay certainly strives to be mischievous, setting the story in Eerie, Pennsylvania and hiring Jeffrey Tambor to portray a vampire, and one who’s quite upset when his chance to purchase a house is denied by John and Mary, who collect the dwelling during a will reading that only goes well for them. And that’s pretty much it for plot in “Saturday the 14th,” which quickly breaks down into little bits of comedic experiences for the characters, with Billy unknowingly unleashing all kinds of trouble when he cracks open The Book of Evil, giving monsters a chance to reclaim the property, starting slowly with various stalking sequences.

The screenplay aims to be gentle entertainment with an aggressive genre, hoping to be cute as John and Mary encounter strange events in the house, while the kids also endure a frontal attack from the invaders, with Debbie approached by a Gill Man-like creature in the bathtub (Cohen’s bizarre fixation on the teenage girl’s near-nude appearance during the sequence is best left ignored). While monsters are the main selling point of “Saturday the 14th,” Cohen is better off with weirdness, with the family television only capable of showing reruns of “The Twilight Zone,” and Mary keeps mistaking bats for owls, even when she’s attacked by an attic full of them. There are no major laughs in the movie, but the production is better off toying with oddity, which is far more successful than the vaudeville-style humor that fills “Saturday the 14th.” Benjamin is certainly skilled with a punchline, but such rigidity in delivery doesn’t encourage the level of genre chaos the picture needs to snowball into a properly bonkers third act.

Saturday the 14th Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation strives to preserve the bright, comedic look of the original cinematography, but Shout Factory appears to be working with an older scan of the movie, which carries some evidence of filtering. Colors are adequate, with comfortable primaries that emerge from period costuming and house decoration. Monster appearances are also true, showcasing darker, greener skintones, while humans retain their natural appeal. Detail isn't satisfying, battling waxy appearances, along with flatter costuming, and skin surfaces aren't textured. Delineation struggles with solidification, swallowing some frame information during shadowy encounters and black outfits. Source has some speckling and mild scratches, but no major damage.

Saturday the 14th Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles the limited sonic requirements of the picture, which offers more of a basic listening experience to best support the slapstick mood. Dialogue exchanges are defined, identifying individual performances as they make the leap from casual conversations to more aggressive acts of panic. Screaming and yelling doesn't push the track into distortive extremes. Scoring retains synth-laden weight, supporting silliness and faux suspense. Sound effects are identifiable. Mild hiss is detected.

Saturday the 14th Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Michelle O'Rourke and Erik Rouxbert.

• Interview (10:34, HD) with Julie Corman is a cautious discussion of "Saturday the 14th," with the producer discussing director Howard R. Cohen's health issues and his commitment to the screenplay, taking responsibility for most of the movie's gags. While Corman praises work from stars Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, she's open about their difficulties, which resulted in a few rules on-set, including the actress's absolute refusal to wear fangs to portray a vampire. The pair also didn't want to work with the 2nd unit, requiring a little push to keep the production on schedule. Corman assesses the supporting cast, pointing out their Second City ties, and she provides a clear understanding of producer responsibilities during film production, with her skills put to the test when "Today" visited the set.

• Photo Gallery (2:07) presents publicity snaps, BTS pictures, and poster art.

• T.V. Spot (:12, SD) is offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:15, SD) is included.

Saturday the 14th Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Saturday the 14th" soon brings in Van Helsing (Severn Darden) and transforms into party mode, with the Waldemar and Yolanda entering the house to join what becomes a monster mash, giving the tale the group participation it's been working towards. And yet, the material never matches the potential of the gathering, with Cohen refusing to come up with brighter jokes and more interesting near-misses. He has a cast that's willing to play (with the exception of Prentiss, who's tasked with playing a vampire but never commits to the transformation in full), but talented actors are often stuck with dismal material. "Saturday the 14th" is a title that promises so much, but Cohen doesn't have the vision to go bananas with his concept, playing a very careful game of one-liner checkers with a premise that all but demands a prolonged sense of comedic insanity, stuffed with all sorts of ghoulishness from a genre that's primed for parody.