Bloody New Year (1987)

A group of friends take refuge in an island hotel that is decorated for New Years. The problem is, it's early summer, and soon enough, even the walls themselves are striking out against them.

Director:

Norman J. Warren

Writers:

Frazer Pearce (screenplay), Frazer Pearce

Stars:

Suzy Aitchison, Nikki Brooks, Daniel James

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Suzy Aitchison	...	Lesley
Nikki Brooks	...	Janet
Daniel James	...	Spud (as Colin Heywood)
Mark Powley	...	Rick
Catherine Roman	...	Carol
Julian Ronnie	...	Tom
Steve Emerson	...	Dad
Steve Wilsher	...	Ace
Jon Glentoran	...	The Bear
Val Graham	...	Housemaid
David Lyn	...	Interviewer
Rory Maclean	...	1st Expert (as Rory H. MacLean)
Nick Dowsett	...	2nd Expert
Steve Edison	...	Film Invader
Roy Hill	...	Flying Cadillacs

Storyline

A group of friends take refuge in an island hotel that is decorated for New Years. The problem is, it's early summer, and soon enough, even the walls themselves are striking out against them.

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Plot Keywords:

island | new year's eve | quicksand | zombie | poltergeist | 

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Taglines:

The last day of the year...or the last day of your life

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot on location at Butlin's Barry Island in Wales. Doctor Who story Delta and the Bannermen was also filmed there in the same year. That story, like Bloody New Year, has a 1950s theme.

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Goofs

When the tilt a whirl stops suddenly, the actors are obviously throwing themselves off the platform as opposed to it looking accidental.

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Connections

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! Part 2 (2006)

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Soundtracks

Boys Don't Cry
Performed by Cry No More

User Reviews

Enjoyably ridiculous.

Horror fans who delight in the cheesy and the silly may find a fair bit to appreciate with Norman J. Warrens' "Bloody New Year". Don't go into it expecting anything resembling a coherent plot, but be prepared for a lot of insane nonsense.

The story has three young couples up to a whole bunch of tomfoolery at a carnival who afterwards find themselves shipwrecked on an island. This island features a hotel that not only is celebrating Christmas in July, it's celebrating Christmas circa 1959, and is eagerly anticipating 1960.

Among the assorted crackpot ideas Warren and screenwriter Frazer Pearce throw at the wall are snow indoors, invisible pursuers, a furiously moving camera seemingly inspired by "The Force" from "The Evil Dead", a "table monster", and lots of hilariously, endearingly tacky special effects. The good thing is that Warren and Pearce do seem to be just having fun with the genre because this whole production has a heavy tongue in cheek feel. Now, some people may find this simply *too* cheesy and *too* silly, but others should find themselves smiling if not laughing outright.

The first 15 minutes quickly establish the irreverent tone, and the filmmakers do achieve and maintain a certain loopy charm and a "Just what the hell is going on?" sensibility. The actors do an impressive job of keeping poker faces throughout, and they're all reasonably appealing, although there will undoubtedly be viewers who will get sick of all the screaming that Janet (Nikki Brooks) does. One of the best routines involves some appearing and disappearing sets of footprints.

These 90 minutes of off-the-wall antics don't quite fly by, but enough amusing stuff happens to help people pay attention. The music, by Nick Magnus and a duo dubbed "Cry No More", merely adds to the appeal. All things considered, this is an interesting effort among Warrens' filmography.

Six out of 10.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 1987 (France)

Also Known As:

Time Warp Terror

Filming Locations:

Butlins Holiday Camp, Barry Island, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lazer Entertainment, Cinema and Theatre Seating Limited

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1