‘Pool Party Massacre’ Is Campy, Brutal, Mindless Fun [The Overlooked Motel]
Welcome to The Overlooked Motel, a place where under-seen and unappreciated films are given their moment in the spotlight. I hope you enjoy your stay here and find the accommodations to be suitable. Now, please take a seat and make yourself comfortable. I have some misbehaving guests to ‘correct.’
This week’s selection isn’t necessarily a cinematic masterpiece. But it’s fun, intentionally stupid, and ultra-violent. That trifecta sometimes hits the spot for me. What can I say? It’s clear that writer/director Drew Marvick has a soft spot for the gory excess of the ‘80s and he does a commendable job melding that aesthetic with campy humor, outrageous dialogue, and plenty of viscera in Pool Party Massacre.
The film sees Blair (Kristin Noel McKusick), a sharp-tongued and shallow young woman entertaining her equally unpleasant friends when her parents leave town for the weekend. The gal pals plan to enjoy some poolside fun, complete with fruity drinks and snarky commentary. Much to the surprise of Blair and her guests, the party is crashed by a crazed killer who violently dispatches the partygoers one by one.
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I should begin by warning you that Pool Party Massacre was clearly made for modest means. The film is obviously a labor of love that certainly shows some of its budgetary limitations. The cinematography and color grading are a bit rough and there are a few other issues that likely stem from a lack of monetary resources. But I think this campy effort should be commended for doing a lot with a little. So, I won’t spend any more time dwelling on its shortcomings.
Budgetary constraints aside, the film immediately won me over with a hefting helping of nostalgia. The opening credits look like a riff on the pixelated Friday the 13th game for NES. This properly sets the stage for what’s to come. It’s plenty clear that Marvick isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel or even really deviate much from the slasher movie template established by pioneering efforts like Black Christmas and Halloween. But what he is trying to do is pay tribute to the nostalgic output of years past while making the audience chuckle. And I would argue that the writer/director succeeds wholly in that conceit.
Marvick’s screenplay boasts some great dialogue and quirky characters. The fact that Blair’s parents do not attempt to disguise their disdain for her and jump at any opportunity to tell her how worthless she is leads to a couple of comical exchanges. And if I’m being honest, I don’t really blame Blair’s parents for hating her. She is pretty terrible. But her status as a garbage human gives viewers cause to cheer for her inevitable demise. The majority of her friends are just as bad as she is. So, there’s plenty of cannon fodder. With that said, Marvick gives the audience one relatable character in Blair’s long-suffering friend, Nancy (Margaux Némé). She’s not the most dynamic final girl but she gives the audience someone to invest in. Plus, she’s given a fairly satisfying arc.
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Another standout character is Nick Byer as Clay. He’s a complete creep; an over-grown man-child with no charisma. But his utter cluelessness and constant buffoonery make him almost endearing. He has some groan-inducing dialogue and helps segue the ladies into a comical conversation about the meaning of the term ‘vinegar stroke’. Additionally, he has a pretty iconic sendoff that cleverly calls back to the mention of the aforementioned terminology.
The film serves up some impressive kill sequences featuring an assortment of household tools. The killer doesn’t have a signature weapon, which adds some variety to the proceedings. Budgetary constraints often keep the point of contact from unfolding entirely in frame. But we still get to see the brutal aftermath in all its glory. Additionally, there are some comedic flourishes that seem to poke fun at the picture’s financial limitations. In one hilarious instance, Marvick employs the use of a string of sausages to double as intestines.
If you’re interested in checking Pool Party Massacre out, you can find it streaming for free (with ads) on Tubi, as of the publication of this post. If you’re on the fence, I would highly recommend giving the flick a shot. It clocks in at around 80 minutes, so it’s not a significant time commitment. Moreover, Pool Party Massacre is campy and comical, and never takes itself even a little bit seriously. If you dig a schlocky ‘80s homage, you’ll almost certainly find plenty to enjoy about this film.
That’s all for this installment of The Overlooked Motel. If you’d like to chat more about under-seen and underrated films, feel free to hit me up with your thoughts on Twitter, Threads, or Instagram.
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