After producing the hit Prom Night in 1980, Peter Simpson teamed with writer Robert Guza Jr. for a new project. With slasher films continuing to be profitable, Simpson wanted this one to be more adult-oriented for an older audience. He hired cinematographer Richard Ciupka, whose prior credits included Ilsa the Tigress of Siberia and Atlantic City, to direct. They hired John Vernon from Animal House, Samantha Eggar from The Brood, and Lynne Griffin from Black Christmas. Unfortunately, the film was plagued with production issues, mainly from Ciupka and Simpson disagreeing with the tone. Due to these disputes, Ciupka left the project in 1981, having only filmed 45 minutes of material. Simpson finished the film, though Ciupka has his name replaced with “Jonathan Stryker,” a character from the movie. After numerous rewrites and reshoots, Curtains opened regionally in the US in February 1983 before opening nationwide a month later.
%
Rating
Synopsis
To prepare for an upcoming role, actress Samantha Sherwood (Samantha Eggar) feigns mental illness to be committed to an asylum. Unfortunately for Samantha, her director, Jonathan Stryker (John Vernon), plans to audition six girls for her part in her absence. Five actresses arrive, including Patti (Lynne Griffin), Brooke (Linda Thorson), Laurian (Anne Ditchburn), Tara (Sandee Currie), and Christie (Lesleh Donaldson). The sixth, Amanda Teuther (Deborah Burgess), gets killed on her way to the audition at Stryker’s rural New England mansion. However, Samantha shows up unannounced as she has escaped the asylum and plans to get revenge on Stryker. One by one, the girls are attacked by a mysterious sickle-wielding killer, whether in a jacuzzi or on the ice. As the bodies pile, it becomes a whodunit as the girls try to find out who the killer is. They better find out fast, or it’s Curtains for them!
Review
While not quite a slasher classic on par with Halloween or Friday the 13th, Curtains is nonetheless a fascinating watch. For one, the acting is better than expected from this kind of movie, especially Vernon, Eggar, Griffin, and Thorson. John Vernon does a great job playing a pretentious, somewhat sleazy director willing to push his actresses to the edge. Samantha Eggar is fantastic as an aging actress trying to stay relevant, and her scenes with Vernon are great. While the other main actresses do well, Lynne Griffin and Linda Thorson stand out in performance and character. Griffin is sympathetic as a comedian-turned-actress struggling to be taken seriously, and Thorson shows plenty of vulnerability in her role. Like any good slasher, this one has memorable kills, the most famous being on a frozen lake. While none are particularly bloody, they’re shot and edited well.
Unfortunately, the movie’s troubled production creeps in when certain characters and plot points are dropped. For instance, Samantha Eggar’s character somehow escapes the asylum, but we’re never shown how, but instead given a throwaway explanation. Also, without giving away any spoilers, the ultimate payoff feels so thrown together that it’s disappointing. That said, the theme of several young actresses willing to debase themselves for a role is still relevant today. These women will sleep with the director, endure humiliation, and be forced into uncomfortable situations just for a shot. While I’m sure this aspect was always intentional, the somewhat disjointed nature unintentionally makes the film stand out. Even if it’s not scary or bloody, it’s so bizarre and off-putting that it’s worth seeing. Overall, Curtains is confusing and disorienting, but the performances and unique kills make this a fascinating watch.
Buy Curtains from Amazon: https://amzn.to/45gigdu.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
