‘One Hell of a party!’
Saturday the 14th Strikes Back is a 1988 comedy horror film, written and directed by Howard R. Cohen and produced by Julie Corman. It is a sequel to the 1981 film Saturday the 14th.
The Concorde production stars Ray Walston (Galaxy of Terror; Blood Salvage), Avery Schreiber (Dracula: Dead and Loving It), Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed; Crowhaven Farm; Silent Predators), Jason Presson, Julianne McNamara, Rhonda Aldrich, Daniel Will-Harris, Pamela Stonebrook, Joseph Ruskin. Horror icon Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes; The Devil’s Rejects; Self Storage) has a minor role as a mummy.
Plot:
Eddie and his family have just inherited a spooky wreck of a house. What they do not know about the house is that it was built over an evil passageway, but they are soon to discover the wacky evil it releases…
Review:
A cynical Corman couple’s attempt to cash-in on the surprising video rental success of their already feeble 1981 comedy horror. Thematically, this is a throw-it-all-at-the-screen affair from Herman R. Cohen (who’d previously given the world Vampire Hookers, the original Saturday the 14th and Deathstalker).
The self-reflective ending, i.e. excuse to re-use old footage, includes apocalyptic footage from previous Corman acquisitions and productions, including a bizarre one second shot of Johnny Ramone’s lower half and guitar from Rock ‘n’ Rock High School! Unless you are in a very charitable mood, or a die-hard Michael Berryman fan who must see his every appearance, avoid this.
Adrian J Smith, MOVIES & MANIA
Other reviews:
“The film isn’t completely terrible though. There’s some cool looking puppets as well as entertaining stop motion throughout. There’s something moderately charming about the fact that the film never takes a second to stop. It’s one bad gag and bad joke after another. While the film doesn’t hold the same level of “so bad it’s good” praise that a Troll 2 or Plan 9 will receive it’s probably the only film where you get to see a werewolf spy on an Olympic gold medalist in the shower.” Geekscape
” … few films are as entertaining as watching this movie try to be clever and fail. It’s simply that earnest and determined, and pity makes belly laughs deeper. Like a kid in socks trying to turn a corner on linoleum, like a drunken man hitting on a waitress, there is humor in watching repeated clumsy failure. For this, Saturday the 14th Strikes Back should be saluted.” Slasher Studios
“… not an improvement on the original but another series of weak gags … Neither a quintet of sexy young women nor footage lifted from Corman action films can save this fluff, and a good cast is wasted.” John Stanley, Creature Features
” … one of the most insane genre-related movies I think I’ve ever seen. If you’ve never experienced it for yourself, ST14SB basically makes Troll 2 look Oscar-worthy in comparison and yet, it’s really hard for me as a fan to hate on ST14SB because despite its numerous (and boy do I mean numerous flaws), you can tell it’s a movie with a horror-loving heart beating deep beneath its wacky surface and that’s something I can always appreciate as a fan.” The Misadventures of the Horror Chick
Cast and characters:
Ray Walston … Gramps Baxter
Avery Schreiber … Frank Baxter
Patty McCormack … Kate Baxter
Jason Presson … Eddie Baxter
Julianne McNamara … Linda Baxter
Rhonda Aldrich … Alice
Daniel Will-Harris … Bert
Pamela Stonebrook … Charlene
Joseph Ruskin … Kharis
Riad … Takatiri
Phil Leeds … Leonard
Leo Gordon … The Evil One (as Leo V. Gordon)
Tommy Rall … The Werewolf
Michael Berryman … The Mummy
David Workman … The Plumber (as Dave Workman)
Michael Lopez … Joey (as Michael Rich)
Christopher Franklin … Gregor
Peter Frankland … Burke
Tau Logo … Genghis Khan
Damon Roberts … Lord Fenley
Dorissa Curry … The Vampirettes
Kathryn O’Reilly … The Vampirettes
Victoria Morsell … The Vampirettes
Martha Mackenzie … Miss Flynn (as Martha MacKenzie)
Jeff Winkless … John Wilkes Booth
Lauren Peterson … Lizzie Borden
Linda Daniel … Vampirette Waitress
John H. Mayer … TV Anchorman (as John Mayer)
Meg Thayer … TV Reporter
Jeanie Moore … Soap Opera Woman
Bob Snead … Soap Opera Man
Julie Araskog … Sportscaster (as Julie Kay Araskog)
Rudolph Reinhardt … German Sailor
Howard R. Cohen … Mr Bleckner
Riad Galayini … Takatiri
Michael Joiner … Party guy
David Lady … The Bat Demon (uncredited)
Filming locations:
Venice, California
Technical details:
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: Stereo
