Slaughter Studios

Plot synopsis:
The film begins with an egotistical film student named Steve (Stanovich) recounting to his girlfriend Madigan (Shelton-White) the history of Slaughter Studios. As a child he adored the horror movies that were produced there, but the studio closed down twenty years ago after an actor named Justin Kirkpatric was accidentally killed during a film shoot.
The next day Steve tells Madigan and some of his fellow students that he wants to use the abandoned studio to film one last horror movie. The catch is that the studio is being torn down the next day, meaning that they only have 9 hours to shoot the entire feature-length picture, whose script is titled Naughty Sex Kittens vs. the Giant Praying Mantis. One of Steve's friends, Trish (Frajko), says that some of the girls in her acting class would probably love to do it. Steve selects a young actor named Kevin (Read) to play the monster, and Madigan will be the production assistant, though she would much prefer to act in the movie, though Steve refuses to give her a part.
Later that night Steve and Madigan arrive at the studio, and they are introduced to the cast...snotty Portia (Killian), dim-witted Rebecca (Otis), floozy Darlene (Ellison), airhead Candace (McComas), and Chad (Keefe), who is playing the leading role. Also helping out is Olie (Chulani), who is there to work as the sound department. Steve explains to them that they have to be careful because every hour the security guard will do his rounds. They break into the studio (accidentally disturbing a homeless man in the process) and begin to set up for the shoot. It turns out that Chad is a truly lousy actor, so Steve sends him off to a secluded room to practice his lines so he will not disturb anyone. While going over his lines by himself a shadowy figure sneaks up behind him and kills him with a pick ax.
Believing that Chad decided to leave, Steve casts Olie as the leading man. Steve also improvises a lesbian sex scene to be included in the film, and gets Darlene and Rebecca to agree to it. The two become so excited during the scene that they end up actually having sex. Following this the two women go off to shower to clean themselves up; while finding their way back to the set they are murdered.
Steve is becoming increasingly agitated due to the disappearances and high levels of his stress medications. Madigan is finally able to secure a part in the movie because of the shortage of actors, and she and Kevin become attracted to one another. During this time Candace wanders off by herself to look for the ghost of Justin Kirkpatric (she is obsessed with him) and is killed. While getting ready for her next scene, Trish is strangled to death by the unknown assailant, but unbeknownst to the murderer, her death is recorded by a hidden video camera.
Madigan finds the hidden camera and confronts Steve with it, thinking that he had hidden it in the women's dressing room on purpose. It turns out the camera belongs to Olie, who was hoping to sell the footage to an online porn site for some extra money. Olie decides to leave the studio for fear of facing Madigan's wrath, but on his way out he runs into the security guard, who chases him back into the studio.
Steve has Gary (Roseman), the cameraman, hook up Olie's camera to a television to see if they can use any of its footage, whereupon they stumble across Trish's recorded death. Madigan realizes that there is someone hiding in the studio with them, and that this person has probably butchered everyone who has disappeared. Gary, Kevin, and Madigan all think it is best to leave, but Steve, who by now is half crazed with drugs and fear, is only concerned about completing his film. Meanwhile, Olie has discovered the bodies of Rebecca and Darlene and is being chased by the killer, who dispatches him with a spike through the head.
Portia, who is unaware of the evening's events because she was passed out after taking too much of Steve's stress medication, comes to and is angered when Kevin refuses to sleep with her. She storms off by herself.
Gary, meanwhile, has become separated from the others and is decapitated. Likewise, a delirious Steve has stumbled back to the sound stage and is crushed to death when the killer drops a piece of heavy equipment on him. Kevin and Madigan come across the security guard, who proceeds to chase them throughout the studio. Believing him to be the killer, they escape via car, but the guard gives chase. The two eventually overpower him, and it is discovered that he is not the murderer. In fact, he is the actor who inadvertently killed Justin Kirkpatric twenty years earlier. The three realize that the killer is still inside the studio...and so is Portia.
Back at the set Portia is trying to find the others when the killer impales her. It is then that the murderer is finally revealed to be the homeless man that the students scared off earlier in the evening. He says, "It ain't right to fuck with a man's house." Beside him sits the ghost of Justin Kirkpatric, who shares his sentiment.
=== Unused ending ===
Director Katkin and composer Christopher Farrell state on the DVD commentary that the ending as originally written revealed the night's events were actually part of a film that was being shot at the studio, therefore the whole movie was a film within a film (within a film), and none of the preceding events were real. The film originally ended with a director yelling Cut! and the crew applauding. Katkin filmed this ending but didn't like it and edited it out.
Director Brian Katkin spoke highly of the writers and gave them respectful mention to their work while being interviewed by Fangora Magazine, but sadly, Fangora's editing department had to shorten the interview for print and edited out various parts of the interview including Katkin's 'nod' to the writers.

Tags: murder

Review:
While maybe the movie does earn those adjectives, it is not because of the stupidity of it's creators, on the contrary; the cast & crew made it stupid on purpose.
It's a spoof on everything cheesy about horror films.Director Brian Katkin and writers Dan Acre & John Huckert crafted a very funny comedy that parodies the cheesy 80's B-slashers while paying homage to the cheesy 50's sci-fi horrors.
The beginning sequence sets the tone of the story: Young filmmaker Steve discovers that Slaughter Studios, the place where his favorite B-Movies were filmed, is going to be demolished; so he gets a crew and decides to make a cheap horror film like those he loves in the night before the demolition.
Strange things begin to happen and they wonder if the place was cursed after the event that led to it's closure 20 years before: the death of a young star while shooting a scene.Sure, the movie is predictable, but that's the idea.
It follows every rule established by 80's slashers like "Slumber Party Massacre"(1983) or "Sorority House Massacre"(1987): silly jokes, lots of gore, and lots of nudity.
Everything that made those 80's slashers both enjoyable & silly at the same time.The initial sequence and the scene when Steve tells the story of the 70's murder at the Slaughter Studios is very original.
It's the crew's very personal homage to producer Roger Corman(the 70's director is named "Roman") and the names of Steve's favorite films are parodies of those of the likes of Corman's classics like "Attack of the Crab Monsters"(1957), "The Wasp Woman"(1960) or "Humanoids from the Deep"(1980).Also, the character of Steve has that Ed Wood spirit, the director that is so convinced that his movie is good that can't see the HUGE flaws in it.
I'm sure that many aspiring filmmakers will find themselves identified with him.The acting for the most part is OK, they play the slasher stereotypes to the letter.
Lorissa McComas is particularly funny in it's take on the actress obsessed with the 70's murdered star; and Amy Shelton-White steals the show, she could be more than a b-movie queen.Something worth the mention is the very good lighting and camera-work showed in the film.
While the SFX are very very poor, the direction makes good use of them and makes them work in the context of the movie.
Although there were scenes that look as if they had been shot with a DV while in post-production, most of the film is very well done.Overall it is a funny spoof on everything that made lovable those cheesy 80's B-movies.
If  "Slaughter Studios" has anything going for it, it is that it is much more bloody than the contemporary teen slasher flicks that we have seen lately.
Overall, I did enjoy the film.
Where the movie lost points is in the incredibly dull and dragging middle.
Yes, the movie also looses points because nobody in can act worth a crap.
Yes, we know you are in a no-name, low budget, direct-to-video horror flick, but at least TRY to act excited.
The plot centers around a group of young filmmakers who go to the legendary but now abandoned Slaughter Studios, where years before a popular actor was killed in a freak accident (or was it?) to finish the film that never was finished.
Of course, a killer shows up and starts mutilating the cast in very bloody ways.
Most of this comes at the end-the middle of the film is basically nothing but these actors trying to make the movie.
The end comes from left field too and I really, really enjoyed the simpleness and cleverness of it, though nobody will ever figure out who the killer is until he is revealed.
Slaughter Studios was left abandoned after an actor dies on the set of a movie decades back.
In the present day, Steve, an aspiring director plans to break into the Studios before it gets demolished.
I just can't help to feel that it would have been better if it were played straighter with less insanely stupid comedy.
As it is, I've seen much worse horror/ comedies then this, trust me.
Some of those said worse movies are used as stock footage in this one, by the way.My Grade: C- DVD Extras: Commentary by Brian Katkin and Christopher Farrell; Original Trailer; Trailers for "Stalled", "Shakedown" and "Lethal Force" Eye Candy: Serra Ellison, Eva Frajko, Lorissa McComas, and Laura Otis get topless; Tara Killian does full body nudity.
Best horror flick I have seen in ages!
There are a few things I look for in campy B-movie flicks: Hot, erotic chicks, violence and gore, and filthy humor.
This film went above and beyond my requisites for a horror movie!
Maybe some people rented it with the expectations of seeing horror similar to The Exorcist?
Anyway, campy B-movie lovers, rent it!
Could have been better as a pure horror film without the comedy.
I can't wait for LalaLand to finally give up on stupid political correctness and make horror movies that don't have to "justify" nudity and gore by appealing to comedy.
The story of this film is good overall.
There are, however, too many annoying characters: the film's director, the Indian guy, the snobby actress.
This is not a horror movie.
Its one of the funniest movies I have ever watched.
The chicks are very good looking, but most of them are washed up porn actresses.
Scary and Funny 'B' movie send up.
Finally, someone has made a send-up of 'b' horror movies that is both hysterically funny and scary at the same time.
The premise is simple: A group of young film makers (think hot, scantilly clad babes) break into a dilapidated movie studio hours from the wrecking ball (the studio was closed years before after the tragic accidental death of a teen idol)to make the last movie ever there.
Through the course of the night, the actors and crew are picked off one by one by a killer.
The fact that this was THE last film ever shot at Roger Corman's famous Venice studio is not lost, in fact the flim makers play up Corman's history with aplomb.
Director Brian Katkin stylishly designs scenes to play off the no-budget elements and raises the bar.
Again, playing off 'b' movie stereotypes, the audience is treated to an enjoyable romp.
The ensemble cast of mostly unknowns create funny, memorable characters that the audience genuinely cares about and their untimely deaths are certainly felt.
Although not quite a horror film and not quite a comedy, it melds the two genres and makes a rather decent film.
Think of Slaughter Studios as kind of a combination of Cover Me Babe starring Robert Forster and Susanne Benton with the off-the-wall zaniness of Re-Animator.This film centers on a group of aspiring filmmakers/actors who sneak into the abandoned Slaughter Studios to film their version of some hokey 1950s monster movie.
Steve (Peter Stanovich) is the dictatorial director who bosses around his girlfriend Madigan (Amy Shelton-White), belittles his clueless actresses and like so many film-school losers, is convinced of his own brilliance.
But everything that can go wrong does for the arrogant twerp, including a deranged murderer picking off his crew one by one.STORY: $$$ (Nothing splendid here but genre fans will like the references to B-Grade filmmaking throughout the picture.
We get lines like "I bet Eric Roberts didn't have to go through this," to a scene from one of the Sorority/Slumber Party Massacre flicks.
The screenplay adds plenty of laughs and guffaws while also giving us that favorite Agatha Christie motif: people trapped at a location with a killer in their midst).ACTING: $$$$ (A heckuva lot better than you'll see in most B-Grade movies.
You won't find any of those "actors" that Troma Studios or Fullmoon pictures employs, but a young, able cast that gives it their all.
Peter Stanovich is effectively arrogant as Steve and Amy Shelton-White is easy to root for as his ever put-upon girlfriend.
She is splendid in the role of the demanding blond actress, calling "cut!" when things don't go her way).NUDITY: $$$$$ (There is plenty of it here.
Almost every female cast member doffs her top in this film with the exception of Shelton-White.
Poking fun at the Sorority House Massacre genre, all the nudity is gratuitous which makes the skin come off more lampoonish in nature rather than sleazy)..
Surprisingly Enjoyable Slasher Flick.
A new generation of filmmakers has snuck into the abandoned Slaughter Studios to make one last film.
and, you know, that's bad.Okay, so I had this DVD sitting on my "to watch" pile for a while, and I thought it would be a pile of trash, coming from New Concorde (who the heck are New Concorde?) and with a cover that seems like a ripoff of "Hell Night".
But, surprise, I actually really loved it and my girlfriend laughed hard.The plot, that this is going to be the last film shot at Slaughter Studios, is sort of true...
it was indeed the last film shot at Roger Corman's studio before it was torn down.
And it started off as a remake off "Slumber Party Massacre" before a script change, which I think saved it...Additionally, the DVD has a director's commentary (I haven't listened yet) and some trailers...
including a trailer for "Lethal Force" that is pretty funny.But not as funny as the film's ending (you really have to wait for it)..
You only care as to who gets naked, so here's the long and short of it: o Goth / Raver Chick: Yes!
Including a shower scene with another chick.o Bitchy Blonde Girl: Yes, however, the least number of times and the least quality of times when it does happen.
Spends most of the movie naked.
It doesn't seem like it at first, but trust ole Zeke on this one.o Flat Blonde With Nice Legs: Yeah, you'll get plenty of her in this.o Director's Girlfriend: No, sadly!
You warm up to her by the end of it, plus she ends up making some quality decisions as to who to really hang around which only increase her worth in this thing.I give this movie a 7 as the girls are nice and spend a lot of time naked, especially for a flick made in 2002.
I'm Surprised I Finished the Movie!.
I am sorry but this movie was so horrible.
First of all, if you want to make a good horror movie, cut down on some of the nudity and sex.
There are some B-Movies that are fun to watch but don't even think about this being one.
The music was so bad it didn't even set the mood for a good horror movie.
If you ask me, I could make a better movie than this..
spoofing horror films is something people think is easy.
throwing a bunch of naked chicks in the flick only makes me think of some porn i'd rather be watching.this is a bad movie that isn't scary.
ok me and my friend rented some movies that looked really stupid just for fun!!
gosh i swear im gonna have bad dreams about how stupid this movie was!
it was like the people who made this movie was trying to make it bad!!
i consider it more of a porno or something than a horror film!!!
I'll give it that it had good quality to it for being such a retarted movie and the ending was kinda a twist but over all it sucked big time!
pllzz go rent this and see how stupid it is ive seen better infomercials that are better than this movie!!!.
Missed attempt to be horror movie.
Slaughter Studios pictured itself a horror movie--it also tried to be campy and funny--unfortunately it missed on all counts.
Slaughter Studios starts as an actor named Justin is shot & killed on the set of his latest film, was it an accident or something more sinister?
Either way Slaughter Studios has remained unused & empty ever since...
Jump forward 20 years & aspiring low budget horror filmmaker Steve (Peter Stanovich) is going to break into Slaughter Studios & use the unused but still intact stages for his latest project.
To help him he has assembled a crew of friends, production assistant Madigan (Amy Shelton-White), Gary (Matthew J.Roseman) the cameraman, Ollie (Anand Chulani) the sound-man, & his cast of actors, Kevin (Nicolas Reed), Chad (Darren Reiher), goth babe Trisha (Eva Frajko), Rebecca (Laura Oatis), Darlene (Serra Ellison), Candace (Lorissa McComas) & Portia (Tara Killian).
Together they break into the abandoned Slaugher Studios & get to work, however it appears that they are not alone as a killer stalks the corridors of the once busy studio...Edited & directed by Brian Katkin I really liked Slaughter Studios.
On paper the script by Dan Acre & John Huckert looks pretty lousy, a horror comedy about a bunch of annoying teenagers being killed by a mysterious killer but in fact Slaughter Studios turned out to be a really likable & decent film.
I hated Ollie but I found the rest of the character's very likable & were quite funny with some nice witty dialogue.
The whole film-within-a-film, Blair Witch Project (1999) anyone?, has been done before but Slaughter Studios incorporates it really well & the whole self referential jokes & mickey taking is done with a certain affection for the genre.
There are a few good laughs here including a pretty funny farting in a tent gag!
I really liked the ending as well, I definitely wasn't expecting it & was both a clever & satisfying way to round the film off.
Slaughter Studios never takes itself seriously, it moves along at a fair pace & is never boring or dull & makes for good entertainment.
Don't get me wrong as it's far from a masterpiece but believe me you could do a hell of a lot worse than Slaughter Studios when you compare it to the straight-to-video crap that litter video shop shelves these days.Director Katkin does an impressive job, the lighting is excellent with bright neon greens, blues & reds along side the dark shadowy corners.
The film looks great throughout & only the cheap looking digital video used to shoot it on gives it's low budget away.
There is plenty of nudity, some lesbianism including a funny exchange of dialogue with the director convincing Portia that going nude & participating in acts if lesbianism would make her a better actress!
The gore isn't so plentiful, a pick-axe in someones stomach, someones throat is cut with some film & someone has a pitchfork stuck through them & there's a decapitated head.With a supposed budget of about $50,000 the filmmakers have worked absolute miracles.
Slaughter Studios went straight-to-video but looks really good from start to finish & they obviously made that $50,000 go a long way.
Frajko as the goth bird Trisha is a bit of a babe & really easy on the eyes.Slaughter Studios surprised me, a lot.
I thought it was a highly entertaining & funny spoof comedy horror slasher.
But once in a while you are rewarded with a bit of an unexpected gem & Slaughter Studios was just such an occasion for me, definitely worth a watch..
It's yet another slasher movie which takes the goofy comedy approach.
The characters act stupid which is all well and good but the comedy was very flat.
It's very bad when a comedies funniest thing is a girl farting!
Slaughter Studios wins 0 points on the comedy scale.
Has a few really nice girls in their underwear and the oldest psycho maniac slasher in history (the guy must have been near 70).
Also the very end is very stupid but this is them trying to be funny again.
Steve Berg, (Peter Stanovich), wants to make his magnum opus, "Naked Sex Kittens meet the Giant Praying Mantis" or something like that.
The only place to film it is at the hallowed grounds of Slaughter Studios.
So much low budget horror was churned out there that Berg's masterpiece has to be a part of that tradition.
That's a wrap.It's very important that you approach this movie as a comedy and not as a horror flick.
If you come in thinking you're going to be scared, you'll be crying.
Weak horror film.However, the first hour or so is a fairly funny comedy about low budget filmmaking.
The shower scene was the sweet cherry on top.Unfortunately, the movie decides to try to be some sort of slasher/action flick in its last twenty minutes.
Get the girls...and some actresses too if you want." Funny stuff..
Slaughter Studios has a legendary reputation as the place where a slew of classic low-budget horror movies were made.
Long since abandoned and now in ruins, a group of aspiring filmmakers led by overzealous writer/director Steve (robustly played with lip-smacking hammy gusto by Peter Stanovich) decide to break into Slaughter Studios to make one last B-grade creature feature on the premises before it meets the wrecking ball.
However, Slaughter Studios proves to be the stalking grounds for a vicious psycho.Director Brian Katkin, working from a witty script by Dan Acre and John Huckert, keeps the entertaining story moving along at a constant snappy pace, pokes infectiously affectionate fun at cheesy dimestore schlock cinema, makes fine use of the cobweb-strewn rundown studio location, stages the murder set pieces with considerable style and flair, and delivers oodles of tasty gratuitous female nudity along with a handy helping of juicy gore.
Moreover, it's acted with tremendous enthusiasm by an eager cast, with especially lively and amusing contributions from Amy Shelton-White as harried production assistant Madigan, Tara Killian as stuck-up bitch Portia, Eva Frajko as foxy make-up girl Trisha, Anand Chulani as the hopelessly geeky Ollie, Matthew Roseman as earnest cinematographer Gary, Darren Keefe as idiotic and untalented wannabe actor Chad Daniels, Laura Otis as the klutzy Rebecca, and Lorissa McComas as the ditsy Candace.