The Tripper review

I have recently been journeying back through my extensive DVD collection and checking out some of the movies I haven't seen in a while. The Tripper stuck out in my mind, for I have fond memories of my first viewing of this film. Hoping to replicate that experience, I popped in the disc and away I went. Let me tell you, It was just as much fun this time around.

The setup is a familiar one, borrowing from many horror films past. A group of drug loving friends, one of which is Jason Mewes no less, pack into a van and head to a hippie music fest deep in the woods. As luck would have it, someone is determined to ruin their good time with a heavy dose of murder. One character has a psychotic ex boyfriend and the rest of the gang ran afoul of a group of local hicks, led by David Arquette (who also makes his directorial debut) so the suspects are plentiful.

We also have the hippie hating sheriff, masterfully played by Thomas Jane who seems to be loving his chance to ham it up. Then theres douche bag concert promoter portrayed by Paul Reubens, who is actually quite amusing the whole duration. Lastly, the killer: An axe wielding madman dressed as none other than Ronald Reagan!! That alone was worth the price tag of the film for me!

Performance wise, this film is nothing special. Everyone executes their roles well, but the characters are rather one dimensional. However, I felt that this was intentional as it is a throwback to the eighties slasher flicks of yesteryear. Jason Mewes is more or less Jay with black hair, and the rest of the gang are your typical stock horror characters.

The special effects here are pretty solid, minus one scene where someone (I won't ruin who) is bisected and it looks pretty damn cheesy. Again, this just adds to the films charm and makes it feel as if it were actually filmed some years prior. The killer requires no effects as it's simply a Ronald Reagan mask, a blue suit and an axe. This works in favor of the film in a "less is more" fashion.

There are some twists thrown in and all are executed well. Also, it's nice to have a little whodunit involved as we try to figure out who this psycho is, right up until the end. In addition, this film was a passion project for Arquette, who clearly showcases his love of horror and proves himself as a capable director. Is he the next Scorsese? No. But for this kind of film, he's right on the money.

In short, if you're looking for Oscar worthy material, look elsewhere. If you're looking for something psychological that has a deep, underlying meaning, sorry again. But, if you're looking for an old school slasher film with a mean streak to match its tongue in cheek humor, this is it. It accomplishes what it sets out to do: be a memorable horror film that gives us a new slasher to root for, and above all us, provide us with a good time. After all, that's what this type of film is for; having fun. There's no need to be so serious all the time and The Tripper proves that at every turn.

Highlight Scene: One party goer gets dosed with LSD and then gets ambushed by Reagan. What follows is a terrifying "trip" through the woods that would make Hunter Thompson's head spin! Also, there's a scene in which Pee Wee Herman opts to hide in a Porto-potty filled with shit. If you want disgusting, you got it!