Some people look at Ronald Regan as a hero, an all-American cowboy made of awesome who rode in and brought our country into the "Regan-80's", and some look at him as one of the worst things that has happened to our country in the 20th century, with de-regulation and corruption and "Reganomics". David Arquette is after something a little more simple and direct in his film: what if he inspired a serial killer? And not just any serial killer, but the kind that traipse through the woods and goes after drug-addled and sex-crazed hippies in modern times? His debut feature as director, The Tripper, goes to wild and awesome lengths to explain that.
The film isn't always particularly great, not in the sense that your really 'great' horror movie will go. This isn't John Carpenter's Halloween, and it doesn't pretend to be. It's a slasher of a 'HELL YEAH' order, where it's just a lot of fun seeing Arquette have fun with his cast of young people (one of those a weirdly pro-Bush fiend played by Jason Mewes) and more recognizable folks in their 30's and 40's (Thomas Jane and Paul Reubens as a sheriff and a sleazy party promoter). It's not original either in its story of an insane mental patient who escapes and dons a Ronald Regan mask to hunt after his prey, all attending a rock music festival in the woods... well, maybe the Ronald Regan part. Perhaps it's one of a handful of horror-comedies to use politics in such a grab-bag of references and quotes (one victim says, pleadingly, "But, I'm a republican!"), and sometimes just as fodder for "damn you hippies!" jokes.
But there is invention and surprise in the film-making here, and even some impressive cinematography and shots out in the woods. Sometimes there's even just a weird line that is totally hilarious (when Thomas Jane as the officer is facing the audience of hippies at the concert, "Leave or you will all die!" in an official's capacity!), and when the Ronald Regan killer gets on a roll with his shtick, quoting himself like a fiend ("Good Morning, America!"), you might wonder why this concept hasn't really been done outside of Point Break. It's not too in-your-face as a satire, and Arquette doesn't mean for this to be taken too seriously- albeit some references to Bush in 2003 and 9/11 are a little blatant- but just enough as a farce of slasher movies with a gimmick. It's a self-conscious parody that works on its own as a decent horror movie, and better as a comedy, and combined it makes for a fun night of viewing.
The film isn't always particularly great, not in the sense that your really 'great' horror movie will go. This isn't John Carpenter's Halloween, and it doesn't pretend to be. It's a slasher of a 'HELL YEAH' order, where it's just a lot of fun seeing Arquette have fun with his cast of young people (one of those a weirdly pro-Bush fiend played by Jason Mewes) and more recognizable folks in their 30's and 40's (Thomas Jane and Paul Reubens as a sheriff and a sleazy party promoter). It's not original either in its story of an insane mental patient who escapes and dons a Ronald Regan mask to hunt after his prey, all attending a rock music festival in the woods... well, maybe the Ronald Regan part. Perhaps it's one of a handful of horror-comedies to use politics in such a grab-bag of references and quotes (one victim says, pleadingly, "But, I'm a republican!"), and sometimes just as fodder for "damn you hippies!" jokes.
But there is invention and surprise in the film-making here, and even some impressive cinematography and shots out in the woods. Sometimes there's even just a weird line that is totally hilarious (when Thomas Jane as the officer is facing the audience of hippies at the concert, "Leave or you will all die!" in an official's capacity!), and when the Ronald Regan killer gets on a roll with his shtick, quoting himself like a fiend ("Good Morning, America!"), you might wonder why this concept hasn't really been done outside of Point Break. It's not too in-your-face as a satire, and Arquette doesn't mean for this to be taken too seriously- albeit some references to Bush in 2003 and 9/11 are a little blatant- but just enough as a farce of slasher movies with a gimmick. It's a self-conscious parody that works on its own as a decent horror movie, and better as a comedy, and combined it makes for a fun night of viewing.