The Slashening

Director - Brandon Bassham (Fear Town, USA)

Starring - Anna Callegari (CollegeHumor Originals), Samantha Reece Schecter (The Ghostening), and Elyse Brandau (Coming Out)

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I like to think that slashers can be tossed into three categories.  The classic slashers from the late 70s and early 80s that followed the same story.  The story usually involved someone that was wronged then puts on a random mask and then goes on a killing spree.  We then enter the mid-90s where we enter the second category of slashers that are self-aware like the Scream series and I Know What You Did Last Summer.  The third category can be combined with the others and that is the slasher comedy.  Sadly, we don't get a lot of slasher comedies but the last year or so has saw the numbers of these rising with one released almost daily.  Recently, I came across the Facebook page for the slasher The Slashening.  The film looked like a self-aware slasher with roots in the classic slasher style.  This really intrigued me so I had to check it out.  I reached out to the page and they were kind enough to hook me up.  Thanks for allowing me to see this!
     The film follows five girls as they have a little weekend at home alone drinking and doing drugs.  They start drinking while some of them does some heavy drugs when two boys decide to crash the party for a little booze and a game of hide the sausage.  However, they are not alone.  Someone, or something, wearing a rucksack on their head is slowly picking off each party goer one by one as the others sit ideally by unaware that their friends are being slaughtered.  As we make our way to our last remaining party goers we soon discover who the mask murderer is and their motives behind the savagery.
       My initial thought of this film was that I would be watching a slasher in the same vein as the slasher classic Scream.  However, when I started watching the film I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a slasher in the same line as the classic slashers that took place at slumber parties and sorority houses while adding a decent amount of humor to the film.  The acting in this film is phenomenal.  The entire cast is extremely talented and one of the reasons the movie is so damned enjoyable.  Each character was so easy to like while giving the viewer some solid humor.  Also, the women were just so damn beautiful!  Every female in the film was drop dead gorgeous with my favorite being Beth, the drug addict.  The story follows the slumber party slasher cliche that unfolds with a great twist and covered in humor.  The story follows the same as so many other slumber party slashers similar to Slumber Party Massacre where a group of girls is stalked and killed while trying to have a good time.  We then get some silly humor thrown in and then it finishes strong with a twist you will not see coming. However, the film does have a weak looking killer that almost takes away from the film.  Finally, the film has several kills that are your typical slasher-esque kills with nothing new.  However, they have some decent special effects and plenty of blood.  Slasher fans will not be disappointed,  Overall, The Slashening is a fun horror experience that has beautiful women, laughs, and plenty of blood.  Slasher fans will not want to miss this one!