posted
"It's gotta be better than nice. It's gotta be bloody unforgettable."
The 80’s could be classified as the decade of the slasher. Freddy came after you in your dreams, Michael had issues with his family, Jason was a little over protective of his territory, and there wasn’t a holiday on the calendar that was immune from the affliction of having a maniac killer stalking you and your friends. "April Fool's Day" was one of many, but was way better than most in my opinion.
The cast was beyond stellar with Deborah Foreman, Amy Steel, Deborah Goodrich, Clayton Rohner, Ken Olandt, and Thomas F. Wilson. Really enjoyed the reteaming of Goodrich and Rohner in this flick.
April Fool's Day starts with a group of college students that have been invited to a weekend gathering to celebrate their final year. The invitation comes from a fellow classmate and heiress Muffy St. John and the festivities will take place at Muffy’s family summer island mansion that is only accessible by ferry it seems.
Loved the beginning with the shaky camcorder and the infamous line by Deborah Goodrich.
I don't want to give way too much for anyone that hasn't watch "April Fool's Day" yet, but it is a hidden gem of an 80's movie.
Let the party begin!
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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80'sRocked Play it Loud, Play it Proud
Member # 6979
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I watched this for the first time ever a few months back when I heard all the hype about it on here. I thought it was pretty good and I will watch it again for the upcoming April 1st. The cast was awesome in this movie. I didn't think it was very scary though, but a cool flick nonetheless!
Posts: 3614 | From: Caught Somewhere in Time.... | Registered: May 2008 | Site Updates: 101
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It really isn't scary. But, it is my top favorite 80s movie, and I never saw it in the 80s.
I deliberately opened my B & B on April Fool's Day, because of this movie.
It's funny- I have that picture of the cast-several of my friends think that is me in the picture, because when Deborah Foreman has dark hair, I think she and I do look alot alike. I don't think we do anymore. But, there's a scene in this movie, where she comes down to meet them...at the boat...she has on a yellow and gray argyle sweater- and her hair is pulled up in a barette- that looked like me....I wore my hair like that all the time.
Even at the end when she has her hair pulled up in a ponytail , and she has a bathrobe on- I have a bathrobe identical to that one, and I looked alot like her.
I always have thought that the guys in this movie were really cute. I love Ken Olandt.
I LOVE the house in this movie.
I just love the scenery, and them all goofing around for the weekend, and cooking dinner together- that's the kind of stuff I do with my friends now, and I can totally relate to that.
I remember when I first saw this movie- I loved it so much, I watched it over and over, and made a quilt watching it.
It reminds me of spring, and the weather is perfect in this movie...and I love that...because it isn't really scary-but it didn't need to be.
I love the flow of the movie.
I can't wait to watch it again.
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posted
Back in the day I watched this on because BTTF's Biff was in it. Now, it's known more for Deb Foreman for me. I need to own this on DVD pronto.
Posts: 4413 | From: Where the streets have no name | Registered: Oct 2002 | Site Updates: 0
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
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Okay, so we are only a week away and the response to April Fool's Day seems kind of lukewarm at best.
I think I enjoy this movie because it is a tradition that reminds me of the late night in the 80's and I only watch this flick once or twice a year now. And I skipped it last Halloween, so it has been a full year since my last viewing.
I said before I didn't want to say too much, but here's why I love this movie.
This is a very clever 80's horror with a very memorable movie poster and video cassette cover of a girl with her back to the camera, hiding a knife behind her back in one hand, toasting her friends that sit around a table, with a glass of champagne in the other hand, with her long hair tied into a noose. I mention the cover because this was what first made me rent the film. It’s a great visual image.
The story revolves around a group of 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. They’re all going to rich girl, Muffy’s Spring Break party at her parents very isolated mansion on a deserted island.
On the way over to the island strange things start happening quickly. April Fool’s Day tricks are played, a very real accident happens, and each individual finds odd and macabre objects in their bedroom which somehow relate to them. Soon, one of the party members who has been acting strangely, disappears. The friends all come to the very certain conclusion that a killer is stalking them, and they need to get off the island. However, the boat doesn’t come for days, and who is the stalker that seems to be picking them off one by one?
The location is great, creating tension throughout the film with its creepy props. The movie constantly defies audience expectation and keeps you glued to the screen to see what will happen next. One of it’s greatest attributes is it’s darkly comic humor which makes for some great suspense.
Amy Steel is fantastic, as are all the characters, but Amy Steel has an incredibly real way of portraying fear, which sucks you in and makes you believe her performance. Deborah Foreman is also brilliant as Muffy, the head of the house, setting up her April Fool’s Day jokes and then changing in mood as things become all too real.
An excellent 80's flick!
[ 21. March 2010, 13:59: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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posted
Tim, I think we should get "April Fool's Day" on the New Bev schedule for next year. This movie would be blast to watch on the big screen.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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quote: I think we should get "April Fool's Day" on the New Bev schedule for next year. This movie would be blast to watch on the big screen.
Ha! Anyone that has seen my schedule must have noticed that I'm OBSESSED with watching Deborah Foreman on the big screen (upcoming screenings of two of her less seen titles: Lobster Man From Mars on April 4 and 3:15 The Moment of Truth on June 2). I tried to play April Fool's Day this year but Paramount was sadly unable to find a print. I'll keep my fingers crossed that one pops up by next year.
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posted
Wow....I would go crazy to see April Fool's Day on the big screen.
I wrote on another thread, that Ken Olandt is coming to Chiller Theatre in April- and I wish I could go, but I am getting my friend to get me something from April Fool's Day signed by him, I am hoping he has that poster of the cover art...I love that picture too of the girl with the braid.
I can't wait to watch it.
Last weekend, the people that stayed here, it was one of the girls' favorite movies, she said I can't believe you have April Fool's Day, I said...it's my favorite all time movie! They watched it!
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Helen_S
Hiding behind the shower curtain.....
Member # 5804
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I watched it for the first time last April Fools Day. Really enjoyed it and will definitely be doing so again this 1st April Posts: 4056 | From: uk | Registered: May 2007 | Site Updates: 0
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I've just picked up a copy of this, so I'll be watching it on the big day as well.
I haven't seen this in about 10 years, so I'm looking forward to it.
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I'm starting to get over being bummed out my DVD is from a later production run and has the gray artwork, mostly since the first version didn't use the exact theatrical poster anyway.
Seeing April Fool's Day on the big screen would be amazing, I lament it will probably never happen.
A while back this movie was showing ondemand on cable and I got to record the theatrical trailer!! Darn Paramount for not at least including it on the DVD.
Enjoy everyone, and for those watching for the first time, you are in for a treat Posts: 400 | From: The 80's! Where else?! | Registered: Jul 2007 | Site Updates: 0
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I'm watching it tomorrow night, I'll probably start it right around 10pm EST. I thought about waiting for the weekend, but decided to go forward with the night of April 1st.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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posted
This film reminds me of Valley and Isis now....and will forever more Posts: 981 | From: If they dont kiss, they dont fall in love | Registered: Sep 2004 | Site Updates: 0
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
posted
"Back to the Future" totally reminds me of you Earth Angel. And of course, the alternate ending to "Pretty in Pink" where you are making out with Duckie Dale Winton.
Btw, since I'm the broken record for mentioning my love for the movie "Valley Girl", being associated with another flick might be kind of cool for a change.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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80'sRocked Play it Loud, Play it Proud
Member # 6979
posted
I contacted my friends and we are going to watch it Saturday Night.
We are making posters for the Easter Egg Hunt (which I am a nervous wreck over)...it has become so huge-I can't even believe it. My friend is going to video tape it.
I have all my rooms filled with friends coming from out of town for it.
It's crazy.
So, they are helping with that, and then we are watching the movie.
We decided that we need to get together for a movie night more often, because that was a blast last weekend.
We all ate dinner together, and everyone brought stuff, and it was a blast.
If I actually had the time this weekend, I would literally do a dinner like they did in the movie...with hot dogs and baked beans, and whoopie cushions on the chairs (which I should do at least that part). And have some Ding Dongs for dessert. That would be too cool.
There are certain movies that I connect to certain people on here too.
I definately connect Valley Girl and April Fool's Day to Valley.
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Helen_S
Hiding behind the shower curtain.....
Member # 5804
posted
Cool. I remember when I first saw it, I thought it was good, but I had to watch it more than once to get to loving like I do now. I totally love it, but I don't want to get sick of it, so it's cool to have an actual date that you will watch it at least once a year, and that makes you look forward to it.
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Had my first viewing of this movie yesterday. What an ending, haha. Deborah Foreman is such a creep-ball, complete opposite from her role in Valley Girl.
It was definitley a unique slasher! Was it even a slasher? I wouldn't know how to categorize April Fool's Day!
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
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That is the beauty of the movie...it plays as a slasher with a puzzle to solve. I pick up on more stuff everytime I watch it. And while Foreman is no Julie Richman in this flick, she is excellent just the same.
I wish Deborah Goodrich had more 80's movies on her resume.
TNUC, did you enjoy it or did it just make you fear clowns-in-a-box? Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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80'sRocked Play it Loud, Play it Proud
Member # 6979
posted
I liked it better the second time around too. I still don't have a great love of it like some of you, but it's still a good flick I think. I agree with Goodrich....wow back then. I kinda ruined it for me when I first watched this a few months back by figuring out the ending too soon.....I saw it coming. Foreman did an excellent job as a nut. It's funny because I didn't know anything about her before joining the rewind. You guys got me to watch April Fool's Day, Valley Girl and Sundown for the first time. 2 out of 3 were good....Sundown was terrible I thought, but she looked the best in that one. With all that said, April Fool's Day is well worth buying.
Posts: 3614 | From: Caught Somewhere in Time.... | Registered: May 2008 | Site Updates: 101
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
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80'sRocked, I'll suggest one more Foreman flick to you....add "Waxwork" to your list. I think you would enjoy it.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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I just watched April Fool's Day- with my friend, she loved it, she had never seen it before. It was fun. I love that house.
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