The Tripper (2006)

A Ronald Reagan-obsessed serial killer targets a bunch of hippies who are heading to a weekend-long concert.

Director:

David Arquette

Writers:

David Arquette, Joe Harris

Stars:

David Arquette, Lukas Haas, Thomas Jane

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Arquette	...	Muff
Richmond Arquette	...	Cooper
Courteney Cox	...	Dog Lover Hippie (as Courteney Cox Arquette)
China Crawford	...	Paramedic (as China Raven Crawford)
Paz de la Huerta	...	Jade / Summer (as Paz De La Huerta)
Alan Draven	...	Kid #1
Norwood Fisher	...	Band (as John Norwood Fisher)
Ben Gardiner	...	Wilson
Rocky George	...	Band
Balthazar Getty	...	Jimmy
DeAndre Gipson	...	Band
Redmond Gleeson	...	Dylan / Father
Richard Gross	...	Cop
Lukas Haas	...	Ivan
Josh Hammond	...	Tyler

Storyline

In the 80's, after seeing his father and lumberjack foreman being hit by a protestor against the deforesting and arrested by the police, the boy Gus kills the protestor with a chainsaw. In the present days, Samantha, who is traumatized after being abused by her former boyfriend Jimmy, travels with her pothead friends in a van to the American Free Love Festival, a rock-and-roll concert in the woods. Near the location, they are assaulted by three local hillbillies, but they succeed to arrive in the festival. Meanwhile, Mayor Hal Burton and Deputy Buzz Hall try to give a minimum of organization to the event. However, a deranged psychopath serial-killer wearing a mask of Ronald Reagan uses an ax to kill the pacific stoned hippies.

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Plot Keywords:

festival | van | lumberjack | chainsaw | streaking | 

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Taglines:

On 4.20, Hippie Blood Will Trickle Down.

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong horror violence and gore, drug content, language and some sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

President Evil

Filming Locations:

Big Basin Redwoods State Park - 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$20,840 (USA) (20 April 2007)

Gross:

$20,840 (USA) (20 April 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Coquette Productions, NaVinci Films, Raw Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It rained so much during filming of The Tripper that director David Arquette, at the wrap party, gave each cast and crew member a personalized poncho. In fact, one of the few days it DIDN'T rain was when they shot the rain scenes. They had to make rain for these scenes.

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Goofs

When the old man gets his head chopped off in the tunnel he clearly screams long after his head has been detached.

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Quotes

Jimmy: [before being killed] But I'm a Republican!

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Crazy Credits

No hippies or republicans were harmed in this film

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Connections

References First Blood (1982)

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Soundtracks

"Nothin' No"
Written by David Vandervelde and Jay Bennett
Performed by David Vandervelde
Dude Camp Music (ASCAP) and You Want A Piece Of This Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Secretly Canadian Records ©2007

User Reviews

Jelly Beans, Purple Sticky Punch, Chainsaws and Ronald Reagan. Excerpt from The Horror Review

How does one label David Arquette's directorial debut? Possibly awe inspiring? No, too vague. I've got it…This film is a brilliantly executed politically charged homicidal satire of our generation.

David has created a new breed of a horror film. I'd liken The Tripper to early works by cult fave, George Romero. This film knocked my socks off. Crisp dialogue, great characters and enough scares to send shivers down your spine. Seriously.

The story, from my perspective, is a throwback to classic 70's and 80's horror romps fused with the trickle down ideals that Reagan gave to us.

The Tripper opens with an obscure kid watching his father arguing with "save the redwoods" activists and results in a very bloody end that gives little Michael Myers a run for his money in the opening scene of Halloween. From here the narrative blooms like cannabis and follows a group of twenty-somethings as they travel to a love and peace concert, hosted by an aged Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) in the very woods that the opening tragedy occurred. The group is led by the breathtaking Jamie King, Stephen Heath, Lukas Haas, Jason Mewes sans his Silent Bob but still with his rapid-fire one-liners and the always beautiful Marsha Thomason (Las Vegas). Thomas Jane (The Punisher) plays the local sheriff and David Arquette, well, his character's name is Muff and I don't think I need to say anymore.

Before one can scream Jason Voorhees, a killer donning a Reagan mask descends upon the locals with a sharp political tool; an axe. Balthazar Getty has one of the best lines in the film as he screams "But I'm a Republican!" And the stunning Mrs. Cox-Arquette appears in one of the funniest moments of the film that left me howling.

Arquette has written a dark satire that, thanks to Trickle Down economics, transcended the political climate for the past 20 years. Even the killer's motive is revealed in a bold way by referencing Reagan's poor decision to open up mental institutions and let the patients roam the streets. One chased me to my car last night after seeing this film.

This is a unique film experience like Natural Born Killers was back in 1994. The characters are rich and their personalities are extremely layered. As far as the dialogue, my goodness, Arquette seems to have left no political ideal untouched.

I have no idea how they're going to market and promote this film but it's one to watch when released nationally in 2007. A note to Hollywood…let David stretch his creative legs in the future and when he asks for a bigger budget, do not hesitate. He has proved himself as one hell of a filmmaker to watch.