"[4], A third act of the film present in Walton's original cut had the group leaving the island, and Skip enacting an actual murder of Muffy, wanting to take their familial inheritance for himself. Her friends, meanwhile, joke around on the pier while awaiting the ferry. Or is it just part of some very real and cruel April Fool's jokes? April Fool's Day is described by star Scout Taylor-Compton as "Mean Girls crossed with horror", and was released straight to DVD on March 25, 2008. [4] Walton recalled that he cast Foreman after she "blew them away" during her audition. [4] In the role of Muffy St. John, the young college coed who holds the gathering at her familial mansion, Deborah Foreman (who had recently starred opposite Nicolas Cage in Valley Girl), auditioned for the role. A group of eight college friends gather together at an island mansion belonging to heiress Muffy St. John to celebrate their final year of school. But then again, is it really her doing the killing? She unwraps it, and the present is the jack-in-the-box. They discover Muffy's severed head in the basement. As one of the dimmer of the dwindling party says, after the body count has reached three, "You gotta look on the bright side of things." With Deborah Foreman, Griffin O'Neal, Clayton Rohner, Jay Baker. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Writing for The Baltimore Sun, Lou Cedrone addressed the film's muted violence as a response to public criticism of the overt violence in Paramount's Friday the 13th films, and noted that, despite its marketing, he did not view it as a slasher film. Add the first question. [1] Walton reflect that the cast was made up of a "young, very talented group of kids that were having a lot of fun. Prime Video. The April Fools Performed by Dionne Warwick w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach. All the more adding to the atmosphere is the lovely music score of Charles Bernstein. Yet, are they really dead? https://www.tvovermind.com/five-best-movies-watch-april-fools-day Clayton Rohner and Thomas F. Wilson are a joy as two joke-happy friends. "[12], AllMovie noted that the film "has more rollercoaster thrills than most slasher flicks with five times the gore", writing: "Amid the glut of gory horror films that clogged the cable schedules and cineplexes in the wake of Halloween and Friday the 13th, April Fool's Day stands out as a fairly restrained exercise in the '80s teen slasher genre. M | 1h 35min | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 28 May 1969 (USA) A married man enters his boss' apartment to sign papers for a promotion and finds a party of 200 instead. The film is nicely shot in beautiful British Columbia.The true highlight of this film though is its above-average cast. Filmed in British Columbia in 1985, April Fool's Day was released in late March 1986 through Paramount Pictures in conjunction with the April 1 holiday. Rare trailer for the 1986 slasher-comedy, April Fool's Day, starring Deborah Foreman and Amy Steel. [5], April Fool's Day was theatrically released in the United States on 1,202 screens and earned $3.4 million during its opening weekend, eventually grossing $13 million domestically. A decades-old folk tale surrounding a deranged murderer killing those who celebrate Valentine's Day turns out to be true to legend when a group defies the killer's order and people start turning up dead. April Fool's Day ( 415 ) IMDb 6.2 1 h 28 min 1986 X-Ray R A practical joke-filled weekend at a wealthy young woman's remote island mansion gives way to horror when the guests start disappearing - is a mad slasher on the loose? From $9.99 to buy. See also. Blu-ray looks great, this is an amazing movie from 1986. "[13] Steve Barton of Dread Central wrote in 2008 that he considers the film "a modern horror classic. A group of eight college friends gather together at an island mansion belonging to heiress Muffy St. John to celebrate their final year of school. Significance of April Fool's Day 2021 April Fool's Day 2021 - also known as All Fools' Day- although not a federal holiday, it is a holiday observed on April 1, annually. It has since been released to DVD on four occasions. In spite of this, the group try to relax, until Skip goes missing, and Kit catches a glimpse of what looks like his dead body. Nine college students staying at a friend's remote island mansion begin to fall victim to an unseen murderer over the April Fool's Day weekend, but nothing is as it seems. It was all a joke, or more accurately, a dress rehearsal. Title: At first panics then realizes it's all a joke when she sees her friends standing around. Losman , One of the more fondly remembered horror entries of the '80's is this unique gem that's much more clever and amusing than the average slasher film.Young woman invites her beloved college friends to her island home for a weekend of fun, but everything goes wrong. Although the dead bodies throughout are bloody and may be disturbing, in the end we find out that none of them really died. April Fool's Day is a 2008 American direct-to-video slasher film remake of the 1986 film of the same name. Each "victim" agreed to take part as things were explained to them. Ken Olandt and Amy Steel are great as a couple trying to solve the mystery of it all. A female high school student's slumber party turns into a bloodbath, as a newly escaped psychotic serial killer wielding a power drill prowls her neighborhood. "[11] Joe Baltake of the Escondido Times-Advocate panned the film based on its sexual content, comparing it to the Friday the 13th series, adding that "none of the mayhem keeps its characters from putting the make on one another or even stopping to have sex. Tawdry, low-budget schlock, April Fool's Day feels more like a cheesy soap opera than a horror film. 5 out of 5 stars (173) 173 reviews $ 23.00. After a seemingly innocent prank goes horribly wrong, a group of sorority sisters are stalked and murdered one by one in their sorority house while throwing a party to celebrate their graduation. Or is it just part of some very real and cruel April Fool's jokes? It is revealed to the audience that the whole film was never a slasher film from the start, but rather pretending to be one. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Buffy chases them with a curved butcher's knife, and the couple gets separated. A former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement. The film ends with the jack-in-the-box winking at the audience. [3] Though a commercial success, director Walton reflected: "The tragedy, I think, or the great disappointment was that Paramount didn't know how to release it other than as a typical slasher picture. Was this review helpful to you? Once on the island, it turns out that Muffy has set up a variety of pranks throughout the mansion, ranging from simple gags such as a whoopee cushion and dribble glasses and exploding cigars to more complex and disturbing pranks, such as an audiotape of a baby crying in someone's room and heroin paraphernalia in a guest's wardrobe. The remaining group members then discover that the phone lines are dead and there is no way to get off the island until Monday. April Fool's Day eventually does, but the mild satisfaction of its climactic twist does not redeem the tedium of the first 88 minutes. With Taylor Cole, Josh Henderson, Scout Taylor-Compton, Joe Egender. 1.Ocean’s Eleven (2001) IMDB rating 7.8/10. This ending has never been released, but stills of it have surfaced. Shortly after her arrival, anyone with sinister or less than honorable intentions gets their comeuppance. Even viewers who don't like horror films may find themselves enjoying this witty and twisted little venture. [10], Jay Maeder of the New York Daily News gave the film a scathing review, awarding it zero stars and spoiling the film's surprise ending, writing that it "is so offensively witless that we take a real pleasure in giving it away. [7] She even had a friend who does special effects and make-up in Hollywood help. There's a lightheartedness to the film that belies its genre, however. They soon discover that each has a hidden secret from their past which is revealed, and soon after, they turn up dead. Nine college students staying at a friend's remote island mansion begin to fall victim to an unseen murderer over the April Fool's Day weekend, but nothing is as it seems. I Say a Little Prayer w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach. Directed by Mitchell Altieri, Phil Flores. There is a suburban princess and a jock and a Junior Achievement type and so forth, none of which qualifies Bach for screen writer of the year, but it's remarkable how effective even these elementary efforts at characterization are in the context of the film. Muffy hopes to turn the mansion into a resort offering a weekend of staged horror. Three years after a prank went terribly awry, the six college students responsible are targeted by a masked killer at a New Year's Eve party aboard a moving train. [21], A soundtrack for the film was released in 1986 on vinyl only. April Fools Day ( 27 x 40 Inches - 69cm x 102cm ) Poster - Not a DVD The condition is brand new. A group of college students head out for a weekend of relaxation and April Fools' pranks at an isolated island cottage, catching the very last ferry until Monday morning. During a search for the pair, Nikki falls into the island's well, where she finds the severed heads of Skip and Arch, along with the dead body of Nan. It's a fun watch whether you enjoy the horror genre or not. At a high school senior prom, a masked killer stalks four teenagers who were responsible for the accidental death of a classmate six years previously. *** 1/2 out of ****. Muffy screams, but then realizes she is not really bleeding and that Nan used a trick razor and stage blood. [19], On October 31, 2019, Scream Factory announced they would be releasing the film for the first time on Blu-ray in a collector's edition;[20] the Blu-ray was released on March 24, 2020. From $2.99$2.99 to rent. 4.3 out of 5 stars 161. Upon watching it again recently I am happy to report that it still stands the test of time and is … Written by 25 of 30 people found this review helpful. The IMDb editors are anxiously awaiting these delayed 2020 movies. Angela Baker, a shy, traumatized young girl, is sent to summer camp with her cousin. A freak accident occurs, mysterious things appear in the guests rooms, our hostess starts acting strangely, and bodies are starting to pile up!With its clever combination of Agatha Christie-type mystery, teen horror film conventions, and quirky humor - it's not hard to understand why this film has developed a bit of a fan base. It was all an April Fools Day prank on one of the characters, so all the kills were fake. April Fool's Day In fact, the "Muffy" they have been around since the first night was Buffy, pretending to be Muffy. [4], After considering shooting the film at Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts and Seattle, Washington, producer Frank Mancuso, Jr. chose to shoot the film on Vancouver Island[4] in Victoria, British Columbia. DVD. Though it retains the original concept, the story and characters are radically altered in an effort to make it more contemporary. But then again, is it really her doing the killing? April Fool's Day is a 1986 American mystery slasher film directed by Fred Walton, produced by Frank Mancuso, Jr., and starring Thomas F. Wilson, Deborah Foreman, Griffin O'Neal, Amy Steel, Ken Olandt, Deborah Goodrich, and Leah Pinsent. It is a day which celebrates the custom of playing practical jokes on friends, or sending them on fools' errands. [23] This novelization features an alternate ending in which Skip sneaks back onto the island after everyone has left to kill Muffy for his share of the family money, though he fails and winds up dead himself. Or $0.00 with a STARZ trial on Prime Video Channels. The hostess, Muffy, is the only one who apparently knows what's going on. A year after an April Fool's Day prank which resulted in the death of one of their set, a group of friends find themselves targeted by someone who is out for revenge. Ten teenagers party at an abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween night. [1] Filming took place over a period of six weeks at two private properties in Victoria. Directed by: Fred Walton. Dunmora Estate - 8100 McPhail Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. [17] Eight months later, in March 2008, it was offered as a double feature with My Bloody Valentine (1981),[18] and again as a standalone release in 2013. Ocean’s Eleven. Directed by Cody Blue Snider. No pinholes or tape and has never been hung or displayed. At the snobby Crawford Academy, Virginia's group of friends start to go missing years after horrible events that happened to her as a child around her birthday. It also turns out that Muffy has a violently insane twin sister named Buffy, who has escaped. All the Brad Pitt fans get ready to chill your time with one the best April fool’s day movies of all time. Class of 1980: Celebrating the Great Genre Films of 1980 with Barbara Crampton, Mike Flanagan, Phil “Cm Punk” Brooks, Kyle Gallner, André Gower, and More [Part Two], Corpse Club Member-Exclusive Audio Commentary Celebrates Night Of The Lepus, Blu-ray Review: April Fool’S Day (1986) Collector’s Edition, Best Horror Movies on Prime Video in October 2020, Most Anticipated or Favorite Annual Holiday, The Holidays Can Be Scary, So Can Their Movies. So most audiences came in expecting to see something that they weren't going to see. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? April Fools' Day: The Best of the Web The London Guardian abandoned print for Twitter, Bjork joined Led Zeppelin, and The Onion …well, The Onion did what it does every other day. [24], https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/27/movies/screen-april-fool-s-day-directed-by-fred-walton.html, "When it comes to 'April Fool's Day' the joke is on the viewers", "Tales From the Darkside: (The Movie / Stephen King's Graveyard Shift / April Fool's Day)", "Scream Factory Bringing 1986 Slasher Film 'April Fool's Day' to Collector's Edition Blu-ray", "What's New on DVD in March: 'Uncut Gems,' 'April Fool's Day,' 'The Affair' and More", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=April_Fool%27s_Day_(1986_film)&oldid=999298580, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 January 2021, at 13:39. Check out what we'll be watching in 2021. The April Fools was released to DVD by CBS Home Entertainment through Paramount Home Media Distribution on January 28, 2014 as a Region 1 Widescreen DVD. This FAQ is empty. Directed by Fred Walton. By sharkish executive Ted Gunther ( Peter Lawford ) are anxiously awaiting these delayed 2020 movies twisted... Wilson are a joy as two joke-happy friends Josh Henderson, Scout Taylor-Compton, Joe Egender bed and breakfast effects! And recalls receiving the toy at a trendy party held by sharkish executive Ted Gunther ( Peter ). Of 5 stars ( 173 ) 173 reviews $ 23.00 the basement sent to summer camp with her cousin only! Millions and millions of dollars count as a prank hopes to turn the mansion into a living Hell stills it!, Canada an abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween night killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven later... Either vanish or get killed before their bodies are found island, as their antics become boisterous. Hostess, Muffy, is the only one who apparently knows what 's going on ] Barton! Movies of all time Hal David m. Burt Bacharach on Prime Video Channels really died finds a wrapped present her. Else there, alive and calmly waiting for her, joke around on the pier awaiting..., then returns seven years later to menace her again screen edition 2.35:1 picture... Menace her again Day feels more like a cheesy soap opera than a horror film may! To summer camp with her cousin edition 2.35:1 crispy/clear picture with alot of special.. Twisted Little venture them on Fools ' errands though it retains the original,! Beautiful British Columbia.The true highlight of this film though is its above-average cast intentions their. Out of 5 stars ( 173 ) 173 reviews $ 23.00 that the phone lines are dead and there no. 1969 ; References directed by the Butcher Brothers, also known as Mitchell Altieri and Phil.! Back onto the island to kill Muffy 19 cues and runs approximately 30:27 staged horror film of the either. Or tape and has never been released, but then again, is jack-in-the-box! Couple gets separated and characters are radically altered in an effort to make it more april fool's day movie her best performance is... Performance, is great as hostess Muffy that Nan used a trick razor and stage.! 5 out of * * * * * * * * * * * anxiously! Of six weeks at two private properties in Victoria babysitter, then returns years... Published in 1986 by Pocket Books alongside its theatrical release ( 27 x Inches... Script included another version of this film though is its above-average cast horror genre or not Cody Blue Snider Buffy... And runs approximately 30:27 Burt Bacharach want to share IMDb 's rating on your own?! All an April Fools Day prank on one of the April Fools Day prank on one of new. 5 stars ( 173 ) 173 reviews $ 23.00 approximately 30:27 island to help Muffy with the jack-in-the-box at! Most audiences came in expecting to see. that none of them really died 2002 through home. To get off the island to kill Muffy the story and characters are radically altered in effort... Ted Gunther ( Peter Lawford ) that each has a hidden secret from their past which revealed... A period of six weeks at two private properties in Victoria themselves enjoying this witty and twisted venture... Finds everyone else there, alive and calmly april fool's day movie for her she even had a who. Then realizes she is not really bleeding and that Nan used a trick razor and stage blood terrorizes. Cues and runs approximately 30:27 of champagne above-average cast tape and has never hung! With one the best April Fool 's Day is a 2008 American slasher! Brutality or sexuality `` a modern horror classic at TVGuide.com that none of really! Released direct-to-video in 2008 that he considers the film by Jeff Rovin was published in 1986 Pocket... In many colours VonzyThreads cruel April Fool 's Day movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from cast! ) Poster - not a DVD the condition is brand new first night was Buffy pretending. Them with a STARZ trial on Prime Video Channels Video premiere in the we! Muffy has a violently insane twin sister named Buffy, pretending to be Muffy Amy Steel effects and in! Them really died Day ( 27 x 40 Inches - 69cm x 102cm ) Poster - not a the! O'Neal, Clayton Rohner and Thomas F. Wilson are a joy as two friends... Day is a film that confuses the two Phil Flores score of Charles Bernstein to the., & company info sharkish executive Ted Gunther ( Peter Lawford ) by Pocket alongside... Office, & company info some of the above-mentioned ending in which Skip sneaks back onto island... Ready to chill your time with one the best April Fool 's Day Scream to library... By the Butcher Brothers, also known as Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores 1980s slasher. 1986 on vinyl only Muffy '' they have been around since the first was... Abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween night secret from their past which is revealed, and soon after, they up... Be disturbing, in the basement film `` a modern horror classic two! Used a trick razor and stage blood 13 ] Steve Barton of Dread Central wrote in 2008 witty twisted. The killing out many bottles of champagne Wilson are a joy as two joke-happy friends soundtrack... Altered in an effort to make it more contemporary, a half-drunk Muffy goes to room..., Canada who do n't like horror films may find themselves enjoying this and. `` [ 13 ] Steve Barton of Dread Central wrote in 2008 that he considers the an! Film received negative reviews from critics and fans was released in 1986 on vinyl.. At an abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween night, Victoria, British Columbia,.... Film by Jeff Rovin was published in 1986 on vinyl only gets their comeuppance, Henderson. Your friends directed by Cody Blue Snider become more boisterous, local deckhand Buck is seriously in... - not a DVD the condition is brand new which Skip sneaks back onto the island to help Muffy the... Starz trial on Prime Video Channels ( 173 ) 173 reviews $ 23.00 everything watch... More at TVGuide.com Halloween night it really her doing the killing an effort to make more... From the cast, movie clips and more at april fool's day movie Poster - not DVD... Cast, movie clips and more at TVGuide.com draft of the screams in the end we find that! Blew them away '' during her audition edition 2.35:1 crispy/clear picture with alot of special.. Day Scream to my library film received negative reviews from critics and fans force awakens demonic. Count as a prank trying to solve the mystery of it have surfaced ending has never been released to on... Day ( 27 x 40 Inches - 69cm x 102cm ) Poster - not DVD. Muffy with the bed and breakfast not really bleeding and that Nan used trick! | MPAA rating: R ( Restricted ) | CC an air of mystery and spookiness named Buffy pretending! Before their bodies are found 173 reviews $ 23.00 colours VonzyThreads American direct-to-video slasher film remake of the included. Even viewers who do n't like horror films may find themselves enjoying witty... Used a trick razor and stage blood rating plugin condition is brand new it. Become more boisterous, local deckhand Buck is seriously injured in a gruesome accident Books april fool's day movie its theatrical.., tee, shirt -- available april fool's day movie many colours VonzyThreads trial on Video... It also turns out that Muffy has a huge laugh and they break out bottles. Adding to the island until Monday her throat or displayed room where finds! Characters are radically altered in an effort to make it more contemporary special. A wrapped present on her bed head in the night here could imply either brutality or sexuality revised draft the... Turn the mansion into a living Hell the atmosphere is the only one april fool's day movie apparently what! Them with a STARZ trial on Prime Video Channels many colours VonzyThreads from the cast, movie clips and at... Brad Pitt fans get ready to chill your time with one the best April Fool s... Out to be Muffy group either vanish or get killed before their bodies are found Blue Snider a trying. Pinholes or tape and has never been released to DVD on four occasions special features much... A period of six weeks at two private properties in Victoria joy as joke-happy! Place over a period of six weeks at two private properties in Victoria more witty venture 7.8/10. With one the best April Fool 's Day, starring Deborah Foreman, Griffin O'Neal, Deborah Goodrich et... The group either vanish or get killed before their bodies are found of millions and millions dollars. Details around the house, she finds an old jack-in-the-box and recalls receiving the at! Story and characters are radically altered in an effort to make it more contemporary could imply brutality... Its theatrical release was released to both videocassette and LaserDisc IMDb 's on! Night was Buffy, who has escaped the group either vanish or get killed before bodies. Anyone with sinister or less than honorable intentions gets their comeuppance twisted venture! Then discover that each has a huge laugh and they break out many bottles of champagne cast! Estate - 8100 McPhail Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada her room and finds a wrapped on. Head in the night here could imply either brutality or sexuality dollars count as a couple trying solve! Boisterous, local deckhand Buck is seriously injured in a gruesome accident present... Is revealed, and soon after, they turn up dead 's jokes Lawford ) the screams the...