The Slumber Party Massacre / Slumber Party Massacre II 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Slumber Party Massacre / Slumber Party Massacre II 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 16, 2023

Shout Factory released a combo pack of 1982’s “The Slumber Party Massacre” and 1987’s “Slumber Party Massacre II” on Blu-ray, and they return to the saga of young people torn up by a lengthy drill bit, this time upgrading the viewing experience to 4K with this double-feature UHD release of the Roger Corman-approved slasher films.

Click here for a review of The Slumber Party Massacre

Click here for a review of Slumber Party Massacre II

The Slumber Party Massacre / Slumber Party Massacre II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

See above for reviews.

The Slumber Party Massacre / Slumber Party Massacre II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

See above for reviews.

The Slumber Party Massacre / Slumber Party Massacre II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Slumber Party Massacre

UHD

• Commentary features director Amy Holden Jones, and actors Michael Villella and Debra de Liso.

Blu-ray

• Commentary features director Amy Holden Jones, and actors Michael Villella and Debra de Liso.

• "Sleepless Nights" (23:04, SD) is a 2010 documentary on the making of "The Slumber Party Massacre," with Jones recalling her industry rise, working with Martin Scorsese on "Taxi Driver" before meeting Roger Corman. Proving her helming worth after shooting a few scenes from the original Rita Mae Brown screenplay, Jones was offered a chance to make the movie, passing on a chance to edit "E.T." Jones goes into the meaning of "The Slumber Party Massacre," describing it as a metaphorical take on virginal fear, insisting there's comedic intent to the project. She also recalls the first preview screening of the film, joined by a delighted Corman, who realized he had a hit on his hands. Actors such as Brinke Stevens join the conversation, with Villella going into detail about his method acting approach, making sure to creep out his co-stars. Time is spent with superfan Tony Brown (an amusing video of him excitedly opening a VHS copy of the horror offering for Christmas opens the featurette), and house and school locations are revisited. The life and sad demise of star Robin Stille (who committed suicide in 1996) is also recalled.

• Interview (13:23, HD) sits down with Rigg Kennedy, and he's quite the eccentric. The actor recalls his early interest in acting, working through his education before trying to land roles, ending up with a part in "The Slumber Party Massacre," though he declined to use his real name. Kennedy shares some memories of the shoot, but he's more interested in performing one of his poems. And the interview producers allow him to do so.

• Alternate Title Sequence (:33, HD) is offered.

• Image Gallery (3:09) collects film stills, publicity shots, album cover art, poster art, and newspaper ads.

• And a U.K. Teaser (1:08, HD) and a Theatrical Trailer (2:05, HD) are included.

Slumber Party Massacre II

UHD

• Commentary features writer/director/producer Deborah Brock, producer Don Daniel, and story editor Beverly Gray.

Blu-ray

• Unrated Cut (85:23, SD) represents an attempt to assemble the most complete version of "Slumber Party Massacre II," using footage from VHS releases and even trailers to help fill out this patchwork endeavor, which adds roughly ten minutes to the run time.

• Commentary features writer/director/producer Deborah Brock, producer Don Daniel, and story editor Beverly Gray.

• "Sleepless Nights: Revisiting 'Slumber Party Massacre II'" (19:38, SD) is a 2010 making-of, featuring interviews with production coordinator Kathleen Courtney, writer/director/producer Deborah Brock, "Slumber Party Massacre" director Amy Holden Jones, assistant director Don Daniel, special makeup F/X artist James McPherson, Wednesday Week singer Kristi Callan, and actors Scott Westmoreland, Jennifer Rhodes, and Heidi Kozak. Production origins are recalled, with Jones passing on the project to make more respectable fare, allowing producer Roger Corman to offer Brock the gig. With the movie already presold across Europe, Brock was faced with an interesting creative challenge, tasked with creating a script for the sequel, free to take it anywhere she wanted. "Don't Let Go" was the original title of the project, with Brock emphasizing a sisterhood element in the story. Offered a tiny budget, the helmer had to work within typical Corman limitations, managing to find her own way through the process, including the hiring of a band to provide music for the characters. Casting challenges are highlighted, with the interviewees discussing character choices and nudity concerns, and the demands of makeup are revealed. Also included in the discussion is the fate of the drill guitar.

• Image Gallery (7:53) collects publicity shots, BTS snaps, film stills, and VHS art and ads.

• And a Video Trailer (2:02, SD) and a Theatrical Trailer (1:49, SD) are included.

The Slumber Party Massacre / Slumber Party Massacre II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Supplementary offerings remain the same as the previous releases of "The Slumber Party Massacre" and "Slumber Party Massacre II," but there's an some upgrade in visual potency with these 4K presentations, which handle the limited scope and big colors of these horror offerings.