John Vernon

Samantha Eggar

Linda Thorson

Anne Ditchburn

Lynne Griffin

Sandee Currie

Lesleh Donaldson

Deborah Burgess

Michael Wincott

Maury Chaykin

Joann McIntyre

Calvin Butler

Kate Lynch

Booth Savage

William Marshall

James Kidnie

Daisy White

Shannon Tweed

Richie Pierce

William Gray

Robert Guza Jr.

Richard Ciupka

Peter R. Simpson

Roy Forge Smith

Robert Paynter

Richard Simpson

Paul Zaza

Michael MacLaverty

Colin Chilvers

Ilana Frank

Suzanne Benoit

Christine Hart

Gerry Arbeid

Jenny Arbour

Shonagh Jabour

Tony Thatcher

Karen Pike

Jerome McCann

Donato Baldassarra

John Pace

Greg Cannom

Dan Perri

Horror

Thriller

Curtains

Curtains Productions

Simcom Limited

Jensen Farley Pictures

Canada

**_Someone’s slaying wannabe actresses at an isolated manor in the wintry sticks_** 

A demanding director (John Vernon) rejects his aging muse (Samantha Eggar) for the role of a mad woman in his next film and so has six young lasses vie for a role at his mansion in the snowy woods of the Northeast. The problem is, someone in an old-hag mask is killing ’em off one by one. 

"Curtains” (1983) is an artistic slasher birthed from a troubled production. Shooting began in November, 1980, with original director Richard Ciupka wanting to make an arthouse thriller, which led to hostilities with producer Peter Simpson, who wanted a conventional slasher since they were in vogue. This caused Ciupka to abandon the project with most of it shot. The film was shelved for over a year with uncredited Simpson taking over; rewrites and reshoots were done (mostly the beginning and end), along with one recasting (the role of Brooke Parsons).

You might remember Vernon as Captain Fletcher in “The Outlaw Josey Wales.” He’s commanding here; very convincing as the arrogant director.

There’s enough good for those interested, with the skating sequence standing out, but it’s not as effective as the similar “StageFright” (1987), yet it’s not too far off. There are too many dull parts with not enough character development and the directors didn’t take advantage of the feminine resources (not talkin’ ’bout nudity or sleaze), not to mention some scenes are too dark. However, the climax is good and surprising.

If you’re going to view it, stay away from the lousy darker prints with washed out colors offered on some streaming channels. There’s a decent restored print currently available on Youtube.  

The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and, was shot in the greater Toronto area, including Muskoka, Caledon and Forks of the Credit (the gas station scene) with studio stuff done at Commercial Studios in Scarborough.

GRADE: B-/C+

English

Curtains (1983) Original Trailer [FHD]

Curtains ≣ 1983 ≣ Trailer

David DeCoteau on CURTAINS