KILLER YACHT PARTY

My early memories of Troma Films are not great. The flamboyant lime green VHS box of the Toxic Avenger with Toxie himself rising of the front in a bubbled cardboard 3d depiction promised much – but only delivered a BBFC shredded version of arguably their finest moment. And then there was Troma’s ‘presence’ at a Midnite Media film fair at Watford Leisure Centre in 1996. No actual ‘stars’ of the film attended, but there was an appearance by a young lady with the suspect title of Miss Troma. While the little minx was friendly enough, she was seemingly allergic to PVC if the angry red rash building on her enormous silicone enhanced cleavage was anything to go by! Over 15 years later Troma are still churning out horror schlock. So with baited breathe I sat back to ‘enjoy’ their latest DVD – KILLER YACHT PARTY.

The story starts simply enough with LA party girl Lacey and her more reserved friend from Iowa, Jane, attending a club night. While ‘getting their groove on’, the girls are invited to an exclusive party the next night on, yes you guessed it, a yacht!

Club promoter Brock has seen an opportunity to make a killing when he finds a cheap yacht to hire online. His luscious girlfriend Monica is a little concerned when she learns about its maiden voyage. It is alleged that the married owners suffered a tragedy, when the millionaire’s wife died on board in a suspicious fire. Brock is undeterred and has everything in place for the big event.

The night before the party though, a drug dealer named Chance, falls out with Brock. Chance is usually allowed to peddle his wares in Brocks clubs, but this time the hot head is barred from attending the next night’s exclusive aquatic bash. But Chance, determined to recover his confiscated stash of weed and get revenge has a devious plan to gatecrash the gig.

One dubious character that is not banned is Mike, Lacey’s ex-boyfriend. His jealously almost boils over the night before when he spots Brocks roving hand on his ex’s pert posterior.

The party boat sets sail and horror upon horrors, a murder takes place. Then another, then.. well you get the picture! Who could the fiendish killer among the party dwellers possibly be???

Well I have to say KYP was a pretty lame attempt at a horror movie. Clichéd characters, poor acting, hardly any gore and a very feeble ‘twist’ at the end. I sat through the commentary track included on the disc and have to say found this more entertaining then the feature itself. Not a good sign! I guess you could class this as a ‘slasher’ picture, but in all honesty there was very little slashing going on!

Fans of Elizabeth Fies’s fine movie, The Commune, may be interested to know that David Lago (who played Puck in her picture) also stars in KYP as Chance the drug dealer. His animated tomfoolery, along with the usually array of Troma eye candy, was regrettably not enough to save this anaemic tale.

The club scenes looked like a pub disco as oppose to the extravagant L.A. Party scene. And Chance dealing marijuana in a glitzy dance club? Come on! You score pills, coke and sometimes a little bit of Ket in nightclubs. Or so I have been told… Anyway erm… In summary: Not funny, not clever and definitely not gory!! Sorry Toxie!

Review by Marc Lissenburg