DVD Review: Slasher.com

Slasher.com is a horror film about a couple who, on their first date, rent a cabin for the weekend from a strange family in rural Missouri. It stars Ben Kaplan as Jack and Morgan Carter as Kristy, people who met online and now are finally meeting in person to see if they are right for each other.

The film starts with the sounds of sex while we see close-ups of a cell phone and clothes and so on. But the sounds of pleasure soon turn to sounds of terror, and we see that this date has taken a turn for the worse. We learn that the woman is the thirteenth victim of a serial killer who meets his victims through online dating sites. A spokesman for the investigation recommends that people stop using online dating services until the guy is caught. But another guy comments, “Some people just have a hard time meeting people.” Indeed.

We are then introduced to Jack and Kristy, who are meeting for the first time in person. Kristy meets Jack at his place, which initially makes us think Kristy isn’t all that bright. Yet it is he, not she, who seems nervous. She says: “It’s an adventure. Our first real date’s a weekend trip to a cabin, no menu to hide behind, nature, fresh air. It’s a great way to get to know someone.” Wow, she is certainly forward! A weekend in a cabin seems an insane choice for a first date, but she comes across as a take-charge, kick-ass kind of gal, which is actually refreshing. “Do you always take guys who you’ve just met out to the middle of nowhere?” Jack asks during the drive. But now Kristy has mellowed a bit and seems a bit more normal, and quite likeable.

The family that owns the cabin strikes Jack and Kristy as a bit odd, particularly Momma (Jewel Shepard), who immediately shoves some food into Jack’s mouth and urges them both to call her Momma. Her husband, Jesse (R.A. Mihailoff), is a big man who enters with a machete. He looks dangerous, of course, but what I love is that Mihailoff doesn’t play that up. Jesse actually seems quite affable and friendly when Jack and Kristy meet him. (Of course, you might remember R.A. Mihailoff from Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, and realize his character could very easily turn out to be not-so-nice.) Their daughter (Rebecca Crowley) Caitlin seems a bit off herself.

Jack and Kristy have a good time, and seem to hit it off quite well. But after a while, things turn darker. This is, after all, a horror movie, and they are out in the woods with some strange people. But I love that the film takes its time, building the atmosphere and developing the characters and giving us a chance to wonder just when and how things are going to go bad. And then we learn a bit more about Jesse and Momma’s relationship, which is interesting and unusual. Usually at that point in a horror movie, the viewer stays with just the perspective of those trying to get away.

There is some fun when Jack confronts Jesse, and then things get more interesting when Jack and Momma get to know each other. Momma sure is one kinky lady. This movie does borrow a bit from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and there is a nod to Halloween in that the family’s last name is Myers. There are a couple of problems, of course, a couple of questions that I had at the end. But this is a quirky, fun and fairly satisfying film. It’s much better than I’d expected from its awful title. And the cast is good. Morgan Carter in particular delivers an excellent performance that feels quite natural.

Slasher.com was directed by Chip Gubera, and was released on DVD today (March 7, 2017) through Cinedigm and ITN Distribution. The DVD includes the film’s trailer.