The Slayer isn’t exactly top-notch 1980s horror as it is slow plodding and thinly written characters, but the atmosphere of taking place on a deserted island hold up in a house with a storm outside (and inside) approaches, it’s at least an entertaining experience.
The Slayer
(1981)
Genre(s): Horror, Thriller
Arrow Video | NR – 90 min. – $39.95 | August 29, 2017
Date Published: 08/25/2017 | Author: The Movieman
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THE MOVIE — 3.0/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Two young couples (SARAH KENDALL, FREDERICK J. FLYNN, CAROL KOTTENBROOK, ALAN MCRAE) set off to a secluded island for what promises to be a restful retreat. But the peace is short-lived; as a storm begins to batter the island, troubled Kay senses a malevolent presence in their midst, stalking them at every turn. Is she losing her mind, or are her childhood nightmares of a demonic assailant coming to terrifying life? Quick Hit Review: A little slow at times, The Slayer isn’t exactly a great horror film from the 1980s, but the atmosphere was effective and I did at least find the story to be interesting enough to capture my attention even when the characters aren’t exactly all that fascinating. If you’re a fan of this era, it might be worth checking out and honestly down the line I might give it another shot. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 4.0/5 |
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This release comes with a booklet. Inside is a standard DVD Copy. Audio Extras:
Nightmare Island: The Making of The Slayer (52:24; HD) is a new featurette which includes interviews with writer/director J.S. Cardone, writer/producer William Ewing, director of photography Karen Grossman, actress Carol Kottenbrook and others. Return to Tybee: The Locations of The Slayer (13:18; HD) – Here we revisit the original shooting locations in Tybee Island, Georgia. The Tybee Post Theater Experience – This is a screening of the movie at the Tybee Post Theater which was one of the film’s key locations. Included is a live Q&A with camera operator/second unit director of photographer Arledge Armenaki. We also get a Still Gallery (9:55; HD) and Trailer (1:56; HD). |
VIDEO – 4.5/5 |
| The Slayer debuts on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video presented with a 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 1080p high-definition transfer culled (based on the booklet) from the original 35mm camera negative and scanned at 4K resolution and thousands of instances of dust marks, scratches and instances of film wear was repaired or minimized. I was rather impressed with the picture where detail was sharp while colors are vibrant; although there is a heavy amount of noise, it’s not terribly distracting. I can’t think a film of this caliber has looked better, even at the theater. |
AUDIO – 3.75/5 |
| The movie has been given its original DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track which has also been restored. This isn’t a great sounding track yet still more than effective with clear dialogue levels and when the horror really picks up in the end, there is a modest amount of depth. Last, there were no discernible instances of pops or hisses. |
OVERALL – 3.0/5 |
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Overall, The Slayer isn’t exactly top-notch 1980s horror as it is slow plodding and thinly written characters, but the atmosphere of taking place on a deserted island hold up in a house with a storm outside (and inside) approaches, it’s at least an entertaining experience with some impressive make-up effects for the budget. As for this release by Arrow, the video and audio transfers are both impressive and there’s a nice selection of special features to peruse. |
Check out some more 1080p screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.