The Third Saturday in October Part V

As suggested, we watched Part V first and then watched the prequel. This was exactly what I expected and enjoyed every bit of it. The acting and storyline is true-to-form with the horror films of that era. The props and attention to detail to create that realistic feel of a movie made in the late 70's - 80s is fantastic. I enjoyed the familiar additions to recreate the boogie-man, babysitter, and unsuspecting group of friends. The diverse group of spectators for the "big game" make for amusing interactions and some instances of humor. There are several points in the film that we couldn't resist laughing at because it's just too ridiculous and that was by design; which makes it even more enjoyable.

Charmed by the sincere tribute to Grindhouse cinema with the Horror comedy The Third Saturday in October (2022-also reviewed), I was happy to find that the other film in the series was being shown at the Soho Horror Film Festival, this led to me counting down to the third Saturday.

View on the film:

Recorded as the fifth in a series where parts 2-4 don't actually exist, returning editor/writer/director Jay Burleson & cinematographer Chris Hilleke slam the franchise into the pre- Scream (1996) early mid-90's, which they wonderfully capture in flat, plainly lit for video, wide-shots, limited sides of Slasher set-pieces, and extended takes for attempts at Comedy sequences, which stumble on the dead-end that the Slasher had hit by this point.

Along with emulating the visual state of Slasher flicks from this period, the screenplay by Burleson sadly strays a little too close to the writing style of this era, with the playful riffs on Grindhouse from the earlier movie, being replaced here with plodding, witless dialogue tangled up in a Slasher series which had overstayed its welcome by the third Saturday in October.

The dude who directs these flicks has a lot of potential. He sets up the scenes real well and the edits work to keep the suspense.

Unfortunately, this sequel is plagued by the same problem as the first. The dude who plays the killer can't act. He's horrible.

In this film he walks around with a skull like plastic mask mugging inside it like an imbecile. It really brings the movie down bug time.

Too bad because this actually could have been a classic with better actors (especially the killer) and a wee bit more story.

Instead we get a thinly drawn storyline of some maniac killing people with a 2 inch pocket knife! WHAT?

Sad.

If you were expecting your steak to be seared at 1,700 degrees fahrenheit, you came to the wrong place. This flashback to a great decade in horror was ideal for those who enjoy a well-stocked buffet, however. Before you review this future cult classic, be sure to study up on the genre first. Understand the masterful way in which the producers not only filmed Harding's angst, but also the thematic touches from the early 80s. It was meant to be watched on VHS; not Blu-Ray.

The manner in which they intertwined "the big game" was outstanding, although I'm not sure any true football fans would leave for catfish or any upstairs hijinks. Hackleburg is a dangerous place for teenagers; IMDb is similar for those not privy to past slasher films and how well they captured the essence of the era in a mere 89 blood-soaked minutes.

Appreciate the steak and all the sides for what they are. I left the smorgasbord feeling quite satisfied and plan to return.

For Third Saturday in October part V

"Don't know that I've ever experienced a better homage to classic 80's slashers than when I watched Third Saturday part V. I was instantly transported back to the video store days of my youth. Bowling and Cunningham's on screen chemistry carries the movie full steam ahead, supported aptly by the Hilarious Bart Hyatt, Taylor Smith, and Robert Hill. Burleson's insistence on starting the franchise with Part V isn't marketing...it's pure genius"

For Third Saturday in October-

For a movie with a micro budget like this one, I was totally unprepared for my great experience..check out my review ...