Unusual events begin to plague a modern fitness center in Southern California, unsettling the owner, William Bumiller, and prompting a police inquiry. The possible causes seem to be his difficult former brother-in-law, Merritt Butrick, disgruntled staff members, or perhaps the disturbed spirit of his deceased wife. "Death Spa," released in 1988, surpasses "Killer Workout" from the year before and should appeal to those who enjoy films like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984) and “Trick or Treat” (1986), though it doesn’t quite reach their level. It fits into the slasher category, but avoids the usual tropes of a masked killer wielding a weapon. The film's production in 1987 captures the distinctive aesthetic of the 1980s—the music, hairstyles, clothing, aerobics routines, and overall upbeat tone, contrasting with the later grunge era. The actresses are quite good, and Bumiller maintains control throughout the story with his strong presence. There are a few brief nude scenes included. Butrick is probably most recognized for portraying Captain Kirk’s son in “Star Trek II” and “Star Trek III.” This was his last film before he died unexpectedly from AIDS at age 29; he portrays the unstable relative convincingly. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 28 minutes and filming took place around Los Angeles, specifically in Sunset Boulevard, Newhall, and Simi Valley. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB