A group of young adults attempting to enjoy life in a North Carolina town—attending a carnival, socializing by a river, and visiting an unsettling cemetery—find their leisure time cut short by the arrival of a machete-wielding killer. "Death Screams" (1982), also known as “House of Death,” borrows elements from films like "Friday the 13th" (1980), "The Funhouse" (1981) and "Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things” (1972). Although it doesn't quite reach the level of the initial two, it at least matches “Children” in quality and surpasses it in certain aspects. I found myself appreciating how pleasant and relatable the characters are; there’s a feeling of Southern kindness that reminded me of "Squirm" (1976). The film boasts some strong female performances: Susan Kiger is charming as Lily, while Jennifer Chase is striking as Ramona—her thick brunette hair evokes comparisons to Lynda Carter, though it's styled shorter. Jody Kay also makes an impression as Sandy during the carnival scenes. Monica Boston, who portrays Sheila, chose a different path and left acting to become Miss North Carolina and a contestant in the Miss USA competition. The killer’s reasons aren’t entirely clear, but careful observation allows for some understanding; it seems like certain clarifying moments were likely removed from the final cut. Despite its obscurity, "Death Screams" is recommended viewing for fans of slasher films. The initial portions are somewhat unremarkable, but the pace picks up considerably in the third act, so it’s worth seeing through to the end. The film has a running time of 1 hour, 27 minutes and was filmed in Shelby, located in southwestern North Carolina, as well as Lake Lure, which is about a 45-minute drive northwest toward Ashville. GRADE: B-

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