Review of The Tripper

Introduction

David Arquette, best known for having Patricia and Rosanna as sisters, marrying Courtney Cox and playing Deputy Dewey in the three `Scream` movies, wrote, directed, produced and starred in `The Tripper` - a play on Reagan`s nickname `The Gipper`. It seems his appearance in Wes Craven`s horror franchise has a little to do with his love of the genre as he marks his directorial debut with this slasher movie.

Serial killers in films have a tradition of wearing masks, think Michael Myers, Freddy Voorhees and Leatherface - these were all sinister and genuinely scary facial adornments. Ronald Reagan is slightly different as a former actor himself, he is more known to contemporary audiences as being the face of one of the Ex-Presidents in `Point Break` and now, also as a mask, as the face of the killer in `The Tripper`. As preparations begin for the American Free Love Festival in a small rural town in northern California, someone appears to have a strong dislike of hippies. Disguised as America`s 40th President and using a hatchet, knife and chainsaw, he stalks and hacks his way through festival goers, leaving jelly beans as his calling card.

David Arquette obviously cast those he knew, including his wife (albeit in a cameo), friends, his brother Richmond and himself.

Video

A sharp 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer, with great colours and clarity, particularly noticeable during the darker scenes.

Audio

A decent Dolby Digital 5.1 mix with clear dialogue over a decent soundtrack. Excellent English HoH subtitles are also available.

Features

Trailers for The Abandoned and Dead Mary precede the main menu, but are skippable. The only features are the theatrical trailer and `The Cast on The Tripper`. This is an 18-minute piece dominated by David Arquette, with contributions from most of the main cast, who talk about how they became involved in the film.

Conclusion

As a first-time director, David Arquette hasn`t set his bar too high, making this slasher homage with a strong political subtext. As an actor, he is predominantly known for his appearances in `Buffy the Vampire Slayer` and the three `Scream` movies, so he sticks to what he knows. Time spent with Wes Craven wasn`t wasted and he has picked up a few tricks from the horror maestro. The killings are effectively done and no cliché is left unused: the psychologically damaged killer; the teenagers being warned about the woods; the `sex = death` staple of slasher movies and the `final girl`.

The politics of the film will mean much more to an American audience, referencing Reagan`s tenure as Governor of California and his policies there and in the White House. This isn`t essential to your enjoyment of the film - the broadest political swipe is Arquette`s depiction of Conservatives and Liberals. There`s no middle ground: Conservatives are all rabid right-wing rednecks and Liberals are jobless pot-smoking hippies - exactly as each side portrays the other.

`The Tripper` does look like the work of an inexperienced filmmaker and it`s not the most polished of films you`ll ever see. Arquette is obviously an actor`s director and his casting is excellent - Thomas Jane is superb as Sheriff Buzz Hall, Jaime King perfect as the sensible hippie and Jason Mewes basically plays a variation of the Jay character for which he is known.

Whilst largely failing to make a political statement, `The Tripper` does provide laughs and gore, so two out of three isn`t bad.