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Blood Moon
(Psycho/Slasher) 5*****skulls
* Blood * Violent * Strong Language * Nudity * Sexual Situations *
* Gory *
1989/Color/104 Min./Live Home Video & Village Road Show Pictures & Michael Fisher Productions/Australia/Rated
Director.............Alec Mills (Deep Sleep)
Screenplay.......Robert Brennan
Music................Brian May
Producer...........Stanley O'Toole
Executive Producers.....Graham Burke & Gregory Coote
Special Effects by
Music Performed by Vice
Dramatis Personae
Myles Scheffield.....Loon Lissek
Virginia Scheffield..Christine Amor
Kevin Lynch..........Ian Williams (Bad Channels)
Mary Huston..........Helen Thomson
Matt Desmond.........Craige Cronin
Michelle.............Suzie MacKenzie
Scott................Christopher Broadway
Mr. Gordian..........Brian Moll
Sandy Desmond........Sueyan Cox
Kylie................Tess Pike
Sister Mary-Ellen....Hazel Howson
Mark.................Steve Bergin
Gretchen.............Samantha Rittson
Chip.................Chris Uhlmann
Jackie...............Jo Munro
Jennifer.............Anyo Molina
Critique: Pretty good production values. The intrigues of townies against preppies is not particularly stimulating (city/country horror). Is it the old nun who confessed her sins? Or is it some other high minded type who keeps pillaging the paired off post pubescents? The killer is pretty crazy and this goes a long way toward salvaging this film. There was some potential here. Given his domestic situation, many people would have resorted to erratic behavior. However, we spend so much time with so many sets of stupid teenagers, we begin to lose patience. There are several extended musical interludes here that you will be forced to endure. Filmed in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast of Australia. Why did the Aussies need to make a film about Americans? The sad fact is the hope of capturing market America's interest and escaping the limits of one's own market, a true horror film phenomenon.
Plot Summary: Cooper's Bay. There is just one very tough nun allowed to stay at the girls' school. Poor Jackie is in danger of being sent to another school by her father who has found out about her boyfriend. She decides to run away from the school, but when she steps out into the woods looking for Rich, he isn't there. She finds Rich with his throat cut and his eyes plucked out. Soon an eerie voice is whispering in the wood saying "Hello Jackie, I've been waiting for you" and she is garroted and soon eyeless as well. The nun confesses that Satan has tempted her again and that she has judged the sinners around her. Bodies are dragged eyeless into graves and sod is tossed. Jackie's roommate, Mary, is summoned from mass to answer questions from Jackie's irate father. At the big dance, liquor is poured into the punch. The film degenerates into a townie vs. preppie dash west side story scenario blow for blow. The scam works well and the academy types are humiliated. However, the real action comes in when sexual play is taking place outside the dance and someone is lurking around with razor wire. Mary calls mum back in LA with her Aussie accent and gets the rebuff. This sets up the late night meeting with Kevin. The late night pair offs continue to end badly for those in the bush. There's whispering about Gretchen going missing. A couple of girls head into the classroom to steal some answers and run into the odd Mr. Scheffield. One of the kids is having an affair with Scheffield's wife. Miles is obviously not pleased about being ordered about by his nymphomaniac wife. It's enough to drive one to murder. Kevin admits he has had trouble with his parents and tends to fantasies. What did he do during his long absences? Miles is looking at a picture of Mary. He does not look pleased. The picture is soon slashed. The nun finds a rosary on a bloody stump. She doesn't go to the authorities. A boy who disappeared has left his insulin and hasn't returned. This is ominous. The girls who are hot on getting the answers to the test are at it again and this time they get into the science room. The nympho continues to torment his wife, describing how good the young man was. The humiliated Miles stalks back to the science room and these girls look destined not to make the test. Just when they uncover some human eyes, in comes Miles. one of the girls gets away briefly but soon the matter is put to rest. This scene is nicely done. We actually liked one of the girls (Jennifer). Even Miles feels badly about that one. Well, when Miles sees Mary kissing Kevin it doesn't bode well. A slashed up Miles imagines Mary and Kevin in the shower and he's pretty sure of what he needs to do. The officer realizes that he is holding down the button on the phone as he talks to his wife. This is enough to make him suspicious. Miles is keeping an eye on Mary but she's been a good girl. Miles tells her that Kevin had called to say that Kevin had given him a message and wants to meet him in the woods. Meanwhile, the officer finds that Miles was supposed to have come from Boston but pictures in his wife's office say otherwise. Linda is forced by Miles to call Kevin and she is soon stabbed. A teacher and headmaster couple are being sought in connection with some murders that took place near a school. Meanwhile Miles returns home and it appears he's done it again. He had promised her never again. He admits he doesn't know how many this time. She says he's an idiot. That's a funny scene. She runs off and says she'll not help him this time. The sister comes and confronts Miles razor wire in hand. Miles simply smashes her to the ground. Kevin, Mary officer Desmond head toward the school. Miles' wife went home and packed. Apparently she wasn't aware of Miles' state. The sister comes to the rescue with a bottle of hydrochloric acid. Scheffield breaks into the Dean's office, now burned from acid, cut and gut shot, but has a shot gun. He returns to Virginia. There are two shots.
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