30 September Slashers: Day 3 The Intruder

Day 3: Were Slashing Inventory… and Employees: The Intruder

Some of the best horror films can take a seemingly safe place/situation and turn it into a creepy viewing experience.  Hell, look at what Friday the 13^th did for camping, Jaws did for swimming, and Ice Cream Man did for going to the ice cream shop(on second thought, scratch that last one).  Nothing could be safer than a day at the super market, right?  Wrong, not if your at the Walnut Lake Grocer.  Day 3 of 30 September Slashers us takes us on a trip to the grocery store with Scott Spiegel’s The Intruder.

The story is simple, a group of third shift employees at the hometown grocer are informed that as of the first of next month, their services will no longer be needed (aka their asses are getting canned).  Also, right before the store closes for the evening, Jenniffer(a check out clerk)’s ex-con boyfriend causes a ruckus and is thrown out of the store and the police are called.  The doors are locked, the shelves are being stocked, and employees begin to disappear.

The Intruder is simply a no bells and whistles, no bullshit slasher that gets right to the point.  If someone wanted a recommendation for an 80’s “slasher 101” film that  perfectly sums up the genre, I would defiantly point them in the direction of this film.  Despite waiting until the 33 minute mark for a single kill, the film is always entertaining, has a high body count, and keeps the suspense level high.  The setting of a grocery store provided for some inventive kills and gave a logical reason for the separation of the characters(i.e. they didn’t have to use the “Lets split up and see what the noise was” device).

Since the film is directed by Scott Spiegel(of Evil Dead fame), it must be noted that fellow cronies Sam and Ted Raimi make appearances as supermarket employees and Bruce Campbell makes an appearance as a police officer.  Those of you Campbell completeists out there should note that he is only in the film for about a minute and if you are expecting to see the man in action and hamming it up, you will be surely disappointed.

Not gonna lie, I enjoyed the hell out of this film.  If you are looking to watch The Godfather or want to see an epic film, then this film isn’t for you but if you want to have a good time, turn the brain off and watch a meat and potatoes slasher flick, then this is just what the doctor ordered.  Well fiends, another day, another slasher down.

Tomorrow I will be treading into more familiar territory(pun intended) as we visit Friday the 13^th part 8 Jason Takes Manhattan.