[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Happy Hell Night (1991)

A slasher based around a fraternity dare which forces members of Pi Delta Sigma to go to the local asylum and take a photo in the cell of a notorious madman who slaughtered some college kids 25 years previously.

Happy Hell Night, despite it's very gory kills, is a film which lacks suspense. The killer, who looks a little like Mr Barlow from Salem's Lot is a decent creation until he opens his mouth. After every one of his ice pick murders he wisecracks in a helium infused voice "No shagging" and other lines like this, dragging the terror factor down to a sub Krueger levels.

Certainly watchable, with plenty of grue and gratuitous nudity, and a fairly well known cast - Darren McGavin, Sam Rockwell and Jorja Fox are all knocking about at times - but Happy Hell Night is a film of what might have been rather than a classic in it's own right.

Not one of my 'must watch' Halloween titles but one to return to every few years.