The Slayer

10/8/19821h 20m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ She searched through the dark corridors of the unknown only to find ... The Slayer ~

Overview:

Siblings, Eric & his surreal artist sister Kay, her doctor husband David, her sister-in-law Brooke along with pilot Marsh become stranded on a rugged isle face off against a supernatural beast drawn to Kay who dreams of its killings.

Director:

J.S. Cardone

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

island
beach
dreams
nightmare
artist
murder
slasher
fear
death
evil
video nasty

Cast

Sarah Kendall

~ as ~

Kay

Frederick Flynn

~ as ~

Eric

Carol Kottenbrook

~ as ~

Brooke

Alan McRae

~ as ~

David

Michael Holmes

~ as ~

Marsh

Sandy Simpson

~ as ~

Norman

Paul Gandolfo

~ as ~

Fisherman

Newell Alexander

~ as ~

Kay's Father

Ivy Jones

~ as ~

Kay's Mother

Jennifer Gaffin

~ as ~

Young Kay

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Wuchak
Written 6 year(s) ago
7
Undeservedly obscure atmospheric coastal horror

Two couples in their 30s take a vacation to a secluded isle off the coast when a storm hits and people mysteriously start dying one-by-one. Kay, a troubled artist (Sarah Kendall), says she sees everything in her nightmares before it happens.

I suppose “The Slayer” (1982), aka "Nightmare Island," could be classified as a slasher flick, but it’s more accurately a mystery-horror with haunting remote island ambiance, sort of like “The Shuttered Room” (1967), but mixed with elements of moody coastal horror, such as “The Fog” (1980). “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” (1998) took the stormy island setting to forge a more conventional slasher.

The filmmaking is top-notch for the time period, including the superb score. Carol Kottenbrook as Brooke is a highlight, lookin’ good in tight jeans. Kendall shows her acting chops as the haunted protagonist. Meanwhile the titular character is diabolically hideous, but you barely get to see him. Yet there’s a twist and, even then, the movie’s an enigma wrapped in a riddle.

The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot on Tybee Island, Georgia, and nearby Savannah.

GRADE: B