Curtains opens with Samantha Sherwood (Samantha Eggar) an actress practicing her role for Audra. Stryker (John Vernon) tells her Audra would never do that and then somehow convinces her to check into an insane asylum. He tells her it will help her become Audra. But what Samantha doesn't know Stryker plans on leaving her there and casting another actress as Audra. Stryker invites six actresses to come to his place for the weekend for a casting session to see if one of them can be Audra.The first actress the viewer sees is Patti O'Connor a comedian she is telling jokes and then gives everyone the good news about her going to house to try to get the part. She says 6 actresses in one house competing for the part "Sounds like a lot of fun if you like bloodbaths" Next Brooke Parsons a well known actress angered that she has to audition for the part. Then next actress I had to look this next name up because her name is only used once during the movie, Amanda Teuther is in her apartment getting ready for her trip . Her name isn't mentioned too much because she is the first victim. She is killed in her apartment so she doesn't even make it to Stryker's place. The audience gets to see the killer here for the first time. Not only is the killer wearing a creepy hag mask, he/she places a doll down before he/she kills some of their victims.
(This is a picture of the killer right before he/she kills one their victims)Next we see all the remaining 5 actresses (Brooke, Patti, Tara, Christie, and Laurian) making their way to Stryker's place. After everyone is there, Stryker comes out and says someone is missing which is Amanda. He goes around calling all the actresses by their last names and asking them questions. Then Samantha enters to Stryker's shock she escaped the insane asylum and come to claim the part of Audra.
Now all the actresses are competing for the role. Some are climbing into bed with Stryker to land the role, while someone is killing off the competition one by one. Curtains has some great acting by John Vernon and Samantha Eggar. And has a great story and setting. There isn't much character development, but in a slasher film you really don't need it.The most important thing Curtains has is some great kill and chase scenes, which is a must for a great slasher film. Plus it has a great little twist at the end (multiple killers) I highly recommend this movie and think it's a must watch for any slasher fan. And now thanks to Synapse, you can see everything clearly. I thought highly of Curtains before, but like it even better with this transfer. I am giving Curtains 8/10. And it is in my top 25 stand alone slashers of the 80s.
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