Fall Break (1984)

A teenager who accidentally committed matricide finds himself being hunted together with his girlfriend and mates by his now crazed father.

Directors:

Buddy Cooper, John Douglass (co-director)

Writer:

Buddy Cooper

Stars:

Matt Mitler, Ruth Martinez, Bill Hitchcock

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Mitler	...	Ed Jr.
Ruth Martinez	...	Pam
Bill Hitchcock	...	Ralph
Connie Rogers	...	Sue
Frances Raines	...	Linda
Morey Lampley	...	Mike
Jack Chatham	...	Big Ed
Ben Moore	...	Cop
Trace Cooper	...	Younger Ed Jr.
Pamela Weddle Cooper	...	Mother
Jimmy Guthrie	...	Bartender
George Sutton	...	Gentleman At Bar
Steve Davis	...	Student In Bar
Tom Outlaw	...	Student In Bar
Pat Jordon	...	Student In Bar

Storyline

A group of teenagers decide to take a vacation at the beach house of one of their fathers. The kid whose father owns the house just happened to accidentally kill his mother when he was a child. When they get to the house, the father has mysteriously disappeared. Hmmm...

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Plot Keywords:

sadistic murderer | walking on a beach | teenager | multiple homicide | car won't start | 

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Taglines:

By pick, by axe, by sword, bye bye!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Director cameo: Buddy Cooper is the bloodied man in the photograph in Big Ed's trophy room.

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Goofs

When Ed Jr. is talking about sacrifice, Pam's facial expression is changed so abruptly, that the change of shot is obvious.

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Quotes

Ralph: So my philosophy is, let's have some beer.

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Crazy Credits

Outtakes appear during the closing credits.

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Alternate Versions

In Vipco's UK release passed in 2000 (labelled the 'Extreme Version') the BBFC required 7 seconds of cuts to a scene where a girl is violated with a fish hook. This is the most complete version available in the UK, as the previous VHS release (1993) required 26 seconds of cuts. The film is available Uncut on Region 2 DVD from German Label 'Dragon'.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemassacre Video: Crazy VHS Tape Cover Art (2020)

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Soundtracks

Fall Break
Theme
Written by Michael Minard and Arthur Resnick
Performed by Peter Yellen and The Breakers (Sanchie Bobrow, Buddy Cooper, Marty Fogel, Anthony Franklin, John Hill, Matthew Hill, Gregg Hollister, Gary Solomon, Abe Speller, Neil B. Whitford (as Neil Whitford))
Associate Producer: Gary Solomon
Music programmer: Rick Stevenson

User Reviews

Another example of what the Horror genre used to be

I remember this movie clearly. The gory posters with the tag line "by pick, by axe, by sword, bye bye". What ever happened to BOLD independent HORROR movies? They don't exist any more, especially on the silver screen. Every horror film of the current crop is poorly distributed on home video, ignored by the press and shunned by the critics. By the time the film is actually released on home video everything scary or violent has been spliced out of the film in order to get the film actually into stores due to the hostile climate by the MPAA towards the horror genre, unless of course the film stars Anthony Hopkins, then you can show all the gore you want and get a theatrical release.

I suggest anyone who is young and did not witness the independent horror boom of the 70's-80's to get out there, track down all the great titles like The Mutilator, and see what I'm talking about. The Motion Picture Association Of America in combination with the 5 remaining movie studios Disney, Sony and Universal) have created an enviornment so hostile to no-holds-barred REAL horror movies, that there really is not HORROR anymore. If you call Scream or Valentine a REAL horror movie take a trip back in time and see what BOLD daring film-makers were doing 20 years before the internet and digital effects age. They were making kick ass GORE movies. All we have now are sarcastic teeney-bopper films that insult the great films of the 70's-80's, meanwhile there is not one American filmmaker who has made a REAL horror film since maybe 1989. when was the last time you were shocked or horrified in the theater? Unless your in your late 20's or older, you were NEVER SCARED IN A THEATRE. In the post-Colombine massacre age making an actual HORROR film is strictly Taboo to the studio executives who decide what you actually see. If they can't sell Mcdonald's cups with the movie name on it, the film is not worthy. When they actually do put out a HORROR film, it's more about marketing the pathetic Industrial-Heavy metal soundtrack, than the movie itself!

The Mutilator does not have any of those sad attributes of the current crop of films, therefore it is a worthy entry in the golden age of horror. Made to shock not to sell music C.D.'s and merchandice, The MUTILATOR is more worthy that ANYTHING put out by American studios in the last 11 years.

Long live the 70's-80's and everyone who reads this can make a change by boycotting today's lame horror movies, and by calling up studios and telling them, if it's not a REAL horror movie WE DON'T WANT IT!!! I'd rather never see another horror movie made than having to suffer with another Urban Legends or Bless The Child.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fall Break

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$450,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1