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Rating
Synopsis
Young Ed (Trace Cooper) accidentally kills his mother with his father’s hunting rifle while trying to clean it. Years later, Ed (Matt Mitler), now in college, gets a call from his father to close up his beach condo. With Fall Break approaching, his girlfriend Pam (Ruth Martinez) suggests they and their friends spend it at the condominium. He agrees, and they bring their friends Ralph (Bill Hitchcock), Sue (Connie Rogers), Linda (Frances Raines), and Mike (Morey Lampley). Little do they know that a mysterious killer (Jack Chatham) roams outside, waiting to pick them off one by one. The victims die in increasingly gruesome ways, such as with a boat motor, a flounder gig, and a fishing gaff. A local cop (Ben Moore) tries saving the young adults, only to wind up being decapitated by the killer. Who will survive Fall Break, and how many will fall victim to The Mutilator?
Review
Whether you call it Fall Break or The Mutilator, this formulaic slasher film doesn’t have much to offer. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’re expecting something more, you will be disappointed. It has a basic setup: young people go to an isolated setting to party, and a killer stalks the area. In a way, it’s similar to the setup of Friday the 13th, except this came out years later. Also, that film intentionally hid the killer to build suspense, whereas this one immediately shows the killer. Then again, this movie isn’t concerned about building tension so much as it is about delivering the kills. Thankfully, Mark Shostrom (Evil Dead II, From Beyond, Forbidden World) and his crew delivered some gruesome set pieces. In particular, the scenes involving a boat motor and a large fishing gaff are more gruesome than many other slashers.
Sadly, for all of its bloody kills, the film lacks stellar acting and a compelling story. In this film’s defense, almost everyone involved was relatively unknown at the time and didn’t have much experience. Also, no one is so unlikable that you’re begging for their deaths, which puts it above most modern horror films. Matt Mitler, who later appeared in 1986’s Breeders, is a decent lead, though he comes off a bit milquetoast. The biggest standout is Bill Hitchcock as the comedic relief Ralph, who makes the most of his screen time. His carefree attitude and quick-witted one-liners make him a fun character, and he has a memorably goofy silent film-esque scene. While he doesn’t have much dialogue, Jack Chatham makes an imposing killer with his enormous stature and terrifying facial expressions. Even if the cast isn’t overly memorable, they get the job done well enough.
As formulaic as this movie is, some weird additions make it stand out from its contemporaries. The title song is so upbeat and cheerful that it feels more appropriate for a sitcom than a slasher. The end credits, which feature bloopers alongside the cast’s names with respective footage and the theme song, add to that. It adds to the sense that the people making this film were having fun, which I can appreciate. Regardless of how the final product turned out, I’m glad the cast and crew enjoyed themselves while making it. The homegrown, local feel to the film adds the kind of charm you’ll only find in low-budget horror movies. Plus, at only 86 minutes, the movie gets in and out without the need to pad things out too much. Overall, The Mutilator isn’t anything remarkable, but it offers the type of thrills you’d expect.
Buy The Mutilator from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WgDJRX.
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.
