Trailer and film clip compilations are ususally a pretty safe buy. You can fit so much different stuff on a VHS tape that there's usually something to make it worthwhile. Tapes like these also have the advantage of showing just the good stuff, and not bothering with plot or exposition. Slasher Mania, on the other hand, comes close to dropping the ball.

I found this two tape set in the $9.99 section at Suncoast Video. It seemed like a good value until I got it home and realized each tape is only a half-hour long. I had mistakenly assumed the 60 minute running time on the box meant sixty minutes per tape. Oh well, live and learn. The box implies that these two tapes were once sold seperately. Had I been suckered into buying one of these 30 minute SLP recorded tapes at ANY price I would have been more than a little upset. As it is, the two tape package is of dubious value.

Another complaint, and I realize this is nitpicking, is with the title. The box cover refers to the compilation as Slasher Mania, while the label on the tape and the onscreen title say Slasher Maniacs. Discrepancies on box covers are not uncommon. Running times, release dates, and even actors' names are often screwed up, particularly with smaller video companies like this one. But, jeez, the title? Also, several of the films represented clearly do not fall into the slasher category, proving that the folks at Parade Video don't even know what a slasher movie is.

Once you've gotten past all this, chosen an appropriate malt beverage, and inserted the tape in your VCR, we come across yet another problem. Some of the films represented like Night of the Living Dead are easy enough to identify, but there are some lesser known films too. Since the clips are presented without identifying captions or narration, the viewer often doesn't know what he's watching. Of particular interest are some especially gorey scenes from Alice Sweet Alice. If you're only familiar with the edited version of the film that shows up on TBS and TNT from time to time, you'll be in for quite a surprise. There are also bits from a black and white Christopher Lee devil cult movie, but the film's title is never shown.

The trailers, of course, are self explanatory, and there are some good ones including Blood Feast, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Dr. Phibes Rises Again, but if you own any trailer compilation tapes you've probably seen these before. If you're new to the whole experience and you find this baby marked down to five bucks or so, I say go for it. Otherwise, take your business elsewhere.

For a worthwhile trailer compilation check out Grampa's Sci-Fi Hits.