This forgettable slasher from the 80s unfolds on a reef island off the East Coast. A group of college students—three couples—decided to spend Fall Break at a beach house in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Unbeknownst to them, the protagonist's father (played by Matt Mitler) is nearby and planning something violent. "The Mutilator" (1984), originally called “Fall Break,” feels like a standard slasher compared to "The Slayer" (1982). Both films benefit from a great setting—an East Coast reef island and beach house—but "The Slayer" is more memorable and inventive. It includes the usual elements found in 80s slashers, and it’s noticeably bloodier than most, but it makes some serious mistakes, like including moments that are hard to believe. For example, a couple goes for a nighttime swim in an indoor pool with dim lighting, completely unaware that someone enters the water, swims around, and grabs one of them without the other noticing. There are too many scenes like this that make you roll your eyes, showing a lack of respect for the audience’s intelligence. Another problem is that the female characters, while acceptable, aren't as good as those in any Friday the 13th movie. Connie Rogers as Sue stands out, and Frances Raines as Linda has her moments, but the filmmakers didn't know how to make the most of their performances (and I’m not talking about nudity or anything like that; it’s more about just knowing how to film women effectively). The scene where one of the girls is murdered with a large fish hook—a gaff—is also deeply disturbing, and might be the worst example of misogyny in any 80s horror movie. Still, if you're into gore, it’s well-executed. It seems that the filmmakers focused their energy on creating good gore effects at the expense of developing a compelling story. The film is pretty dull and lacks depth despite some positive aspects. Any Friday the 13th installment is far better, which explains why that series was so popular. Even "Butchered” (2010), a low-budget movie also filmed on a reef island in North Carolina, manages to be more enjoyable. The film's running time is 1 hour and 26 minutes, and it was shot around Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. GRADE: C/C-

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