Blades

Slaughter on the golf course. I guess it was inevitable that sooner or later someone would make a horror movie for golfers. The film centers on a series of grisly murders that takes place at the Tall Grass Country Club. There out on the course, maybe lurking just off in the woods, Blades lies in wait to rip you to shreds. "Blades" combines golfing as a setting for a horror/comedy that is a parody of the hit movie "Jaws". Replace the ocean with the greens and a killer shark with a killer lawn mower. This movie has similar characters and situations. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you can get some appreciation of movie. This is more of a comedy, a parody, and it is based on "Jaws". The lines are corny as are the situations but the actors do this all with a straight face. It's not your normal horror movie although there is a lot of gore. If you like golf, have watched the movie "jaws", want a bit of horror and a little bit of a laugh, this movie may be for you. To some it will be funny and others it will just be stupid. I saw "Blades" on a DVD I rented called Troma Triple B-Header. It contains three movies, "Blood Hook", "Blades" and "Zombie Island Massacre". As part of this 3 movie DVD, yes, it was worth the price of a rental and my time.

This one is a really fun flick that never takes itself serious even for a second. It's basically a spoof movie (like 'scary movie' or 'naked gun') that's a sendup of JAWS but with a killer sentient lawnmower.

I'm a big fan of troma and this one grew on me and is now one of my faves from them. I love that everyone seems to be in on the joke, and totally having a blast filming this.

If you like 80s cheese or so bad they're good type movies, this one may work for you if you know ahead of time it's basically a straight up comedy. Thank goodness for vinegar syndrome putting this out on blu ray finally, it looks great and they clearly put a lot of work into this zany flick!

This movie has exactly what you expect in a B horror movie; bad acting, low budget, and comedic horror that doesn't take itself too seriously. The added bonus on this tale of terror on the golf course is that it mirrors the plot of Jaws almost to a tee (pun intended). What otherwise would be a really, really stupid story becomes merely ludicrous and funny when compared to the plot from which it originates. If you are wanting a B-movie full of fun, poor golf humor, even poorer acting, and a possessed lawn mower, then your prayers have been answered. This movie is quality B shlock horror and should be seen for the cheese factor alone. I wonder if Spielberg knows that one of his greatest works has been brought down to this level...

In the exclusive, fancy and uptight Tall Grass golf club, bloody leftovers of nightly intruders as well as of loyal club members are found barbarically hacked up. This means bad publicity for the upcoming golf tournament, so resort owner Osgood is quite relieved when the angry mob captures former caretaker Deke Slade as the maniacal culprit. However, resident golf instructors Roy and Kelly correctly assume something much larger, diabolical and superhuman is on a rampage here.

All I ever read about this late 80s horror comedy is that it's a re-enactment of Spielberg's ultimate summer classic "Jaws". And that's true, of course. The parallel sequences, loving tributes and unsubtle references are unmistakably there. What you almost never read, though, is that "Blades" also parodies a large number of other classic cult movies. The uncontrollable murderous device is a machine with a will of its own, which automatically reminds me of "The Terminator". The setting, the cast of characters and many of the situational humor also almost makes it feel like a "Caddyshack" sequel. And a better one than the official "Caddyshack II", for that matter. There's even a guy with a hokey mask named Jason, so you certainly can't claim the writers of "Blades" don't know their landmarks.

Maybe because the film was distributed by the questionable Troma studios, maybe because there already was an overload of low-budget slashers throughout the late 80s, or maybe just because of bad luck; but I personally feel that "Blades" is an underrated horror comedy. It's cheesy and badly acted, for sure, but the concept is really fresh and inventive. Numerous sequences are also downright hilarious, like the redneck mob setting out a manhunt, or Deke's emotional flashback speech. Only the gore should have been slightly more outrageous, perhaps.

Blades is the kind of movie where you have a good time with it at the time, but probably won't ever watch it again. It's a fun reworking of Jaws with splashes of Caddyshack but with a killer lawnmower terrorizing the golf-loving members of a country club.