New Year's Evil (1980)

November 24, 2018

Directed by: Emmett Alston

Written by: Leonard Neubauer

Starring: Roz Kelly, Kip Niven, Chris Wallace

Quote: "I'm going to commit murder at midnight. I'm going to kill someone you know. Someone close to you."

Trivia: During the first call made by the killer it is mentioned that the voice modulation makes him sound like 'the phantom' this is a reference to the titular character from 'Phantom of the Paradise' (1974)


New Year's Evil is another of the dozens of slasher movies released in 1980 that was trying to capitalize on the success of Halloween. Of the movies made that year, it is neither great nor terrible. If you're an old punker like me then you'll like that the movie's setting is more-or-less a punk rock show (although it appears the filmmakers only had a cursory understanding of punk rock). There are a few great songs, but "Dumb Blondes" played live by Made in Japan is by far the best one. While the plot is a bit rambling and the big reveal a let down, the killings are consistent, keeping my attention and making it an overall fun film to watch.



The film entirely takes place on the night of New Year's Eve where a local Los Angeles celebrity, named Blaze (played by the woman who played Pinky Tuscadero on Happy Days), is hosting a televised countdown to midnight punk rock concert. During the show some guy with a sound effect modifying his voice (think of Peter Frampton's guitar in "Do You Feel Like I Do") calls in, saying his name is Evil, and that he is going to kill someone at the stroke of every midnight for all American time zones (I forget if Hawaii is included, but it might've been a plot element at the end of the film... I zoned out the ending... and this movie got me drinking... so, yeah) and his final victim is going to be Blaze. The rest of the film has him killing women every hour as he dons silly disguises. For whatever reason (needing more time I guess?) there is a chase scene with the killer and a biker gang. In the end, the killer is unable to kill Blaze who was his wife and commits suicide. Then Blaze's son puts on the mask. Sequel! No.

Let's get right down to brass tax. The killings. The movie has some good kills. The killer's weapon of choice is a switch blade that he kills most of his victims with. Being 1980, there isn't a lot of blood but some classic Hitchcock style shadow murdering (like Psycho). In one great scene, a person is choked out with a giant weed bag. Also, along with the previously reviewed Slaughter High, the first person to be killed is the only Black character. I don't want to get into racial politics, I've just been curious about whether Black characters are really the first ones killed in horror movies since someone on Twitter said this was just a myth. I'm still not sure if this is true, but it is interesting to note.

Alright, now the second act of the film. Damn, this movie has some serious second act problems. The straight forward plot of killing each hour is interrupted as the killer hits a person's motorcycle while kidnapping a girl (to kill at the top of the hour). What ensues is a very long motorcycle gang chase. The killer runs through so many locations, wears disguises, and even pops out of a trash can with a lighter, I was confused at what movie I was watching.

Then there is the ending. What was the husband/killer's motivation for the killings? I guess it could be chalked up to jealous paranoia and insanity. It is never really revealed what his motivation is. And unlike Michael Myers, these aren't random killings, it is methodical and aimed specifically at Blaze. Like Halloween and a lot of slasher movies, the killers do not always need a motive. However, the primary victim in this film is so specific that it doesn't make sense without one. What is interesting is that the killer pulls a 180 on the masked slasher trope. In this film the killer is unmasked the entire film until the finale. That is pretty cool... I guess?

The film is not great, but not terrible. Some brief nudity, punks harassing Reagan votes, the pot bag strangulation. The highlight really is the Made in Japan "Dumb Blondes" song. Decent killings, meandering storyline. Meh.

...what's your thoughts?