This movie to some has been deemed lost however that is perhaps the incorrect terminology to use, it’s more of a forgotten and obscure film, with some vivid artwork, that most fans never knew of its existence, and while it’s a complete story there are many aspects that the ‘woke’ culture won’t like and some others would want remove, nevertheless in cinema the past is just that to observe and either condemn or praise. The film was originally shot in the summer of 1976, over four weeks and entitled Class Reunion Massacre, as to play off the wording of ‘massacre’ such as The Texas Chain Massacre [1974]; Massacre at Central High [1976] and even Drive in Massacre [1976], the last one was significant since it was released by Dimension Pictures, the same firm to distribute this movie. A note though, this company has no relation to Dimension Films and went bankrupt in 1981, with most films later acquired by 21st Century Film Corporation. Some try to align the film to that of arthouse with a hidden messaging concerning a social dynamic hidden within the school system that demoralized students by having false representations of themselves – sorry there’s nothing that deep within the confines of this storyline, it’s just a low-budget horror slasher flick. Assigning anything more is a pipe dream, though there’s a bit of an attempt to deploy an odd leveling of morality yet it never clearly connects the dots, it is a strange movie, with bizarre jumps in logic a few fair kill scenes. The movie while filmed in 1976, then had a series of reshoots conducted in very early of 1978 and pushed back the release date, with a foreign release at France’s Fantastic Films Festival in March, however what is very interesting is its USA release premiered in Los Angeles, CA on October 25, 1978 while Halloween [1978] also had a wider release in Philadelphia and New York before stalking the entire nation. Then finally received a proper release on Blu-ray from Code Red in 2014, however none of this would have been possible if weren’t for the oddity of both the film and a strange small cult following. As for the director that was Constantine S. Gochis and his only credit to date, the same with screenwriter William Vernick who titled their project as The Redeemer: Son of Satan obviously a play on the flick The Omen [1976].

A young boy rises from a lake, fully clothed, a strange bus picks him up in middle of nowhere and travels to church where a Priest (T.G. Finkbinder) delivers a fire and brimstone speech about the sins of the world, to his congregation, signaling out six types of people. As to who the boy represents or becomes is a tad muddled, though not thoroughly confusing, one can surmise the pieces and clues. Then the film cuts to six people who have been invited to a ten-year class reunion among them is John (Jerry Lazarus), a lawyer without any scruples, then there’s Cindy (Jeannetta Arnette (Invasion [2005])), a promiscuous party girl, Terry (Nick Carter), who indulges in gluttony, Jane (Nikki Barthen), a wealthy immoral heiress. Finally rounding out the guest list is Roger (Michael Hollingsworth), a selfish actor and Kirsten (Gyr Patterson), a lesbian. They gather in a large, decorated room with libations for their enjoyment, and get reacquainted well until finding the murdered janitor’s maggot ridden corpse, which freaks everyone. Soon enough the slashing truly starts, one by one with creative homemade masks, changing each time to reflect the next victim and shockingly the usage of fake voices to assist in luring the victim into a false scene of security – still 18-years before Scream [1996] while equally a wink to Se7en [1995] though that film holds the upper grotesque manner for associating the murders to the punishment kill.

Before I move any further, one should be aware that spoilers are clearly defined herein, the Redeemer, both chose the victim, as they are pre-selected, a manifest-destiny due to their sins and serve as a warning and sacrifice to the rest of the world as they shall be forsaken to suffer for their sins. The actor T.G. really does his role incredibly well giving a religious enthusiastic performance as the One pure of heart, free of sins to cast controversy upon the screen, with religious this slasher based film. He delivers his lines with a boisterous vocal command, even in some of the wackiest set designs possible. Although the film incorporates some solid camerawork it lacks scenery to build tension, which then effects the typical slashing aspects, what does occur on the screen generates more of a cheesy production rather than impending doom. While the film tries to allude to the undercurrent of Satanism, it lacks a foundation from the opening scene to compel that sentiment to the audience, adding that is a true lack of any gore or for that fact any blood platter, typically associated with the slasher subgenre. The acting overall, weakens the film greatly, at times too much overacting appears goofy and never measures up to the individual preaching and doing God’s work maybe that is really the Devil’s desire. They did use both the Staunton Military Academy, which was shut down at the time, awaiting reconditioning/reusage of the land and the choir was the Staunton Baptist Church Choir.

While film provides both an eerie score and gives a hint of unsettling moments, it lacks the conviction of the filmmakers to have their killer embrace god-like complex for the murdering based from a sin-factor standpoint and make a leap to the Satanic realm. If the movie merely had The Redeemer, dispatching victims because of sinful deeds whether real or imagery, and made it more moralistic than it could achieve more infamy and controversial position in the early slasher genre. Unfortunately, it left far too many unanswered questions from the connection of the boy to the priest and the connection to the others, why the killings are taking place now, a foreshadowing of end times, and the meaning of the masks, just aren’t any solid answers to fix numerous plot holes. Hence the movie became a forgotten flick, with no lasting impact it drifts away quietly into the vast landscape of other stalk-n-slash creation, yet still gives the horror fans something to mull over of how to use the concepts mentioned herein to recreate this movie to new glories; especially when one realizes it didn’t have the tried and tested slasher formula.

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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130216/

IMDb Rating 5.1/10

Baron’s Rating: 4.5/10