By Geno McGahee
I love the great mix of horror and heavy metal. Films like TRICK OR TREAT, ROCKTOBER BLOOD, BLACK ROSES and the 1980 film TERROR ON TOUR bring that blend to the screen. There was mass hysteria during the 1980s. Remember how parents noted that KISS stood for Knights in Satan’s Service? Yes, it was a stretch. They also said that Ozzy Osbourne was a demon and that Judas Priest was sending subliminal messages to kids to kill themselves. Yes, it was a strange time. TERROR ON TOUR brings some of that focus in a very amusing way in one of the best metal/horror flicks out there.
The film surrounds a controversial rock band “The Clowns” that have a unique show that has been attracting the crowds…well, maybe it’s not so unique. The Clowns are obviously inspired by KISS and Alice Cooper. They are dressed with heavy KISS-like make up and do decapitations on stage, much like Cooper. Considering the controversy that followed both KISS and Cooper, it’s a pretty good basis for a story about a rock band in a horror movie.
When you have a horror whodunit, you typically have a costume or disguise involved and this movie is no different. Of course, we have the villain dressed as a member of the band, which makes it very easy for him to frequent the Clowns parties and kill random groupies. This prompts the police to investigate and they have several theories and each is explained in a rather humorous way. One thing that I really enjoyed about this movie is just the over the top nature of it. Every character seems to push the issue and really deliver good performances. In one scene, an assistant, Herb (Jeff Morgan) to the Clowns is painting his own face and when asked why, he looks into the mirror and says “because it makes me feel good.” He is nearly in a trance when he says it. Herb isn’t right and dresses up like the Clowns to have sex with groupies under the assumption that he is part of the band. So he has no luck with women and dresses up like the band…suspect #1.
Although Herb is a suspect, there are quite a few to choose from. We have the detective that looks down upon the victims, the crazy assistant that has violent tendencies, the band members that have all said strange things, and then my favorite character by a mile, band manager Tim (Larry Thomas). Tim looks out for his band but also has motives to create controversy to help the chances of commercial success. Tim, in fact, came up with the gimmick and stage show, steering the band away from the wholesome music that they once played. He brought them to the limelight as The Clowns and they have enjoyed the benefits of success with the drugs and women that they have access to nightly.
Now this whodunit is predictable but that’s forgivable because it more than makes up for it with the execution of the film and the amusing characters. Also, this film has one of the more memorable and hilarious endings of all time that I had to rewind about a dozen times before I got my fill. I love PIECES where the guy gets his junk squeezed and he freezes in pain, screaming, and that’s still my favorite ending to any film, but TERROR ON TOUR has made the top ten. What a great ending to a film!
TERROR ON TOUR is a great 1980’s slasher/whodunit that delivers from beginning to end. I highly recommend it.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10. Very amusing whodunit.
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