Having just finished filming, the director of an upcoming horror film hosts a special cast screening party to give everyone one more chance to say goodbye, but when someone dressed as the killer in the movie starts killing everyone off they must find a way to stop the deadly rampage from continuing.
There's quite a lot to like with this one. Among the brighter spots to be had here is the fine setup of what's going on that gets things off on a fun note. The whole idea of the self-confident-if-delusional director trying to hold the contained wrap-party for the cast who use the time to get to know each other better leads to plenty of intriguing conversations about their movie roles or other personal issues. This provides the kind of touch to give us enough to get to know them and get a suspect list going while setting up the location used here to great effect as the part continues. This allows for the high-end use of strong slashing scenes taking place throughout here. The opening shot of the actress stalked by the killer through the facility is a solid setup using the film's emerging proclivity for neon-lit scenery and lighting that generates a solid stylish ploy. That type of appearance and style becomes a prominent part of the film going forward as the backstage locations where each of the attacks takes place focus on using the bright red or blue neon surroundings that end up allowing the killer to hide in plain sight and strike due to how well they're hidden. That continues on to the later scenes where the extended chase scenes throughout the facility. With stand-out scenes such as a victim showering to clean up after a drink accident, a couple trying to get together in a darkened hallway, or another couple being intimate on one of the sets alone offering up some fun scenes, there's a nice mixture of genuine staking scenes with brutal, over-the-top gore gags. The other big confrontation between the last survivor and the killer is a solid offering as well, featuring some fine cat-and-mouse moments and a fun resolution to all come together nicely for quite a lot to like. The film does have some big issues that hold it down. Its biggest factor is the whole motivation and reveal of the killer, who not only seems incredibly obvious but is one of the lamest reveal motivations in the genre. The whole point of the rampage is laughably stupid to think it could be pulled off successfully and is justifiably written off only to generate a new twist that's slightly better if still outright terrible at being a motivation for going on a rampage. As well, the film's idea of comedy where characters make meta references to movies only to have that happen to them is insulting, being the issues that bring it down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Full Nudity, a sex scene, and drug use.
