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April Fool's Day (1986)

R  |   |  Horror, Mystery, Thriller  |  28 March 1986 (USA)
6.2
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Ratings: 6.2/10 from 9,996 users  
Reviews: 122 user | 93 critic

A group of nine college students staying at a friend's remote island mansion begin to fall victim to an unseen murderer over the April Fool's day weekend.

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Title: April Fool's Day (1986)

April Fool's Day (1986) on IMDb 6.2/10

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jay Baker ...
Harvey
Pat Barlow ...
Lloyd Berry ...
...
Muffy / Buffy
...
Nikki
Tom Heaton ...
Mike Nomad ...
...
Rob
Griffin O'Neal ...
...
Nan (as Leah King Pinsent)
...
...
Kit
...
Arch
Edit

Storyline

A group of eight college friends gather together at an island mansion belonging to heiress Muffy St. John to celebrate their final year of school. They soon discover that each has a hidden secret from their past which is revealed, and soon after, they turn up dead. Yet, are they really dead? Or is it just part of some very real and cruel April Fool's jokes? The hostess, Muffy, is the only one who apparently knows what's going on. But then again, is it really her doing the killing? Written by Losman <losman@express-news.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

April Foooool's... See more »


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

28 March 1986 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Week-end de terreur  »

Filming Locations:


Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$12,947,763 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

A novelization of this film written by Jeff Rovin was first published in 1986. See more »

Goofs

At the end, Buck sticks the prosthetic to the side of Rob's face. But it's partially covering one eye when he runs into the room with everyone else. See more »

Quotes

Kit Graham: Oh Ha Ha. HA HA HA HA! That's really funny, you guys. Really funny! Fuck you!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

Mama Told Me (Not To Come)
Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Performed by Three Dog Night
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
An underrated gem from the 80s slasher cycle
13 September 2009 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

When a formula is worn out people tend to lose interest. If you use it without something new to say then why bother right? You could apply this to slasher films, many of which are cliché and predictable. There are some exceptions. If a film that's like so many others has talented people involved in front of and behind the camera then it might rise above that. Fortunately there are some filmmakers out there who don't want to lose their audience and try to keep things fresh and exciting with each project. After you've seen so many slasher films what else can they really do with the concept? By 1986 the number of these films made was overwhelming, but of course there were diamonds in the rough. Paramount, the home of the hit 'Friday the 13th' series is also responsible for a forgotten (Not by horror fans) film that would surprise those tired of the same old, same old.

Pros: Performances are good all around. A good fresh spin on the slasher genre. Plus the writing is quite good. A great sense of humor. A nice job done on the score, which is eerie. Beautiful shooting location and photography. Some good creepy sequences. Fast paced. Director Fred Walton and writer Danilo Bach do a fine job of keeping this from getting too predictable. Some nice surprises I wouldn't dream of giving away.

Cons: Some of the characters are not too likable and can be irritating. Most of the kills are off screen.

Final thoughts: Truly a breath of fresh air for the slasher sub-genre. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of 1980s slasher films I enjoy, good and bad, but so many lack anything new that hasn't already been seen in countless other films. A must see for genre buffs. I must warn you though, the 2008 remake is not at all worth seeing and will be no more than a waste of your time.

My rating: 4.5/5


9 of 10 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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