Club Dread (2004) // 2022 revisit

I remember watching this and Bubba Ho-Tep on the same night, both for the first time. I get that this is an exaggerated, often silly spoof of slasher films that perhaps believes it is a lot funnier than it is.

But, to be honest, I have such a fun time with it because the thought of being sexy and in my 20s while on a trip to a Costa Rican island where "good times" are certain manifests itself...it's too bad for the staff working on Coconut Pete's island retreat tourist destintaion.

A psychopath with a fruit machete uses a Coconut Pete song (and supposedly concert deaths due to trampling further inspiring the rampage on Pete's staff) as a calling card, leaving a body count and as terror builds for the remaining staff (with very expressive faces and body reactions).

There are pretty people all over the place, especially Brittany Daniel (who pretty much spends all her time wearing next to nothing as the gym instructor with a killer physique) and a bright-eyed, wacky Jordan Ladd who escaped to the island to let her freak flag fly.

Paxton leaves subtlety behind as the Jimmy Buffett knockoff still living his best life while often a bit unhinged as the pressure to find the killer mounts...losing his head of security (the guy really talks a big game until the killer slits his throat mid-sentence!) is Level 11 over-the-top; still while watching him, I let out a big sigh...I couldn't help but feel he still had a lot to offer, taken so prematurely.

Hefferman as the chill Lars, a master with his hands, is a lot of fun but so is the director of the film, often mocked and doubted, amusingly suspicious almost the entire running time. Much like slashers, there is ample nudity and violence, but the tone and presentation abandon any sense of suspense or horror...this is all party-hearty and goofy.