RUSH WEEK [1989]

 IT'S A PICTURE PERFECT COLLEGE WITH A PERFECTLY TERRIFYING SECRET. 

Tambers college journalism student Toni (Pamela Ludwig -- who we saw in LAST year's Countdown to Halloween in the film PALE BLOOD) is in search of a good story for the school newspaper.  One by one, busty college co-eds start going missing (usually right after engaging in some form of naughtiness) and Toni's nose for news is on the trail.  Kinda like a Nancy Drew mysteries . . . with a lot of boobs.  Toni becomes involved with the prez of the most Animal House-like frat on campus:  Jeff (played without moving his facial muscles as much as possible by soap actor Dean Hamilton)  who has recently started to act . . . odd. 

Roy Thinnes plays Dean Grail who doesn't want Toni to stir up embarrassing publicity for the school.  Then there's Toni's journalism teacher Cosmo Kincaid played by (I kid you not) Gregg Allman!  That's fun!  We are treated to a view of our slasher killer:  a hooded robed, cadaver-faced maniac wielding a double-headed axe.  There's not much blood, guts and mayhem on display; many of the kills cut away as the axe comes down to focus on the hooded killer instead of the victim.  

I'm not really sure how seriously we're supposed to take this film.  It's definitely NOT a horror comedy; however there are some parts which surely aren't meant to be taken seriously -- especially near the end of the film where we are treated to a running Toni being chased by the axe-wielding killer.  The camera cuts to a close up of Toni's running feet which shows her tripping over . . . nothing at all.  Either the director is incredibly inept here or else he's commenting on the slasher genre.  I prefer to think it's the latter.  RUSH WEEK is a competently-made late-80's slasher which is just not lively enough to generate much interest.  It's fine but not really top drawer without very much horror action and too much campus life.  RUSH WEEK is just one of those movies where just enough happens to keep you interested (if only mildly).  The young cast is actually rather engaging, I suppose, so that you don't mind watching them interact too much.  And just before you get sick of that, the director will usually provide something interesting to break the monotony.  There are a lot worse slashers you could watch which will bore you to tears so I guess this is a mild recommendation if you have nothing better to watch.