
The absolute definition of a 'Background Movie', 'New Years Evil' is a slasher that, AT BEST, could be described as 40% rock concert film and 60% middle of the road slasher fare. The fact that this takes place on 'New Years Eve/Day' and features a killer who can only commit his crimes when he hears a 'New Years Eve' countdown is about as original and unique as this picture gets.
Thats literally the plot by the way, It's New years eve, and we follow a young woman whos the TV host for this universes version of 'New Years 'Rockin Eve' as she hangs around on stage and behind the scenes of a live broadcast, when all of a sudden, a killer (who...we're told up front IS the killer, in a move that removes ALL suspense from the rest of the picture) begins calling into the shows hotline to torment the host. Using a recording from the live broadcast as his 'trigger' to go on an early new year rampage.
The first 30-40 minutes of this takes place during the live broadcast and basically cuts between live music performances and our killer on the prowl...with the two plot lines occasionally overlapping by way of the calls into the show to confirm another kill.
The remainder of the film is an ultra basic and inoffensive slasher picture that, barring the last 10 minutes or so, which WERE relatively interesting. Could best be described as beige.
The change in plot presentation to a more traditional slasher around the mid way of the 2nd act really was a bit off putting for me, it felt like 2 films had been unceremoniously 'smooshed' toghether. The pacing is a bit stop/start, theres not really much going on with the characters, tonally its a bit all over the place, feeling a bit like 'Terror Train' at times, but not comitting to the stronger kills that 'Terror Train' gets away with. It's just very very generic for the most part, which, isnt the worst thing in the world...but by the midway point, i'd pretty much lost interest in the thing when I realised that it was basically just doing the whole 'MTV' new years eve party thing and that...if I wanted that vibe, I could just run up youtube for that kind of cheesy goodness...
The cine and direction are both pretty middle of the road too, theres no real creative flare...nothing here that sets it apart from the dozens of other slashers that started to flood the industry at this time. The 'New Year' angle is quite literally all this thing has going for it in terms of set dressing and creative direction and cine. Outside of that its a pretty bland experience truthfully.
The editing is fine, but pedestrian too. We have safe cuts, a not unreasonable amount of B-roll...but theres no creative zeal really here barring the last 10 minutes or so and for the most part...this really isnt anything you havent seen before in ANY proto slasher or slasher flick 1978 - 1983.
The cast are fairly generic, with not a whole lot of depth or complexity, our killers motives are non descript for the most part and what he does give away isnt anything remarkable or memorable.
Honestly, the score is about as memorable as this thing gets...and even then, its not amazing stuff...its all music that sounds like hits from that era but as 'soundalike' recordings.
When I say this is a 'Background' movie. I guess what im trying to say is, if you were having a 'New Years Eve' party and you had a half decent sound system, you could put this film on in the background in place of a 'greatest hits' album or a spotify playlist and it'd pretty much do the job of being half decent background fodder to your party. Guests could hang around for the pretty solid retro 80s soundtrack and maybe get more invested as the film gets into its 3rd (and best) act.
It's not something I could imagine someone intently watching for it's subtleties and intricacies. Its really not that kind of movie. If it's the season (the main reason I'm watching it now) Then i'd say it makes a quite neat little seasonal movie...But its really nothing special and I absolutely wouldnt make time to check it out. Its fine...but thats about it.
source https://letterboxd.com/tytdreviews/film/new-years-evil/
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