Between 1980 and 1983 a massive amount of Slasher films flooded the Horror film market. From 1980’s Friday the 13th and 1981’s Happy Birthday to Me, to 1982’s The Slumber Party Massacre, through to 1983’s Sleepaway Camp, there was a lot out there. With plenty more in-between and hiding behind dark corners, 1983 also saw the release of several other Slasher style films, and one perhaps less known is Curtains. Yes, dubbed a Slasher, Curtains had a very unique element to it that prior films of its type did not. For one, the film felt much more mature, and as a result, classier and elegant. And this is why we take a closer look at Curtains as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.
The story goes that Peter Simpson, who had produced 1980’s Prom Night, wanted to recapture that success in a new Horror film. Working with Writer Robert Guza Jr. (who was once the head writer of ABC’s hit Soap Opera General Hospital), together they developed the idea that would become Curtains. Clearly aimed to be more thoughtful than other Slashers of the time, in many ways, Curtains feels quite influenced by the Italian giallo style more than anything.
This in mind, Curtains put together a very strong cast that included classically trained Actor John Vernon (Dirty Harry 1971, National Lampoon’s Animal House 1978), Academy award nominated Actress Samantha Eggar (The Collector 1965, The Brood 1979), Lynn Griffin (known for her role in 1974’s Black Christmas), and Horror fan-favorite Lesleh Donaldson (Funeral Home 1980, Happy Birthday To Me 1981).
With the cast in place, they also called on Richard Ciupka (an accomplished filmmaker who actually made his director debut with Curtains). Seeming like everything was in place, the film was not without its issues, but at last in February of 1983 was released theatrical through now-defuncted distribution firm Jensen Farley Pictures (a company which had put out such films as 1982’s amination hit The Last Unicorn and 1983’s goofy Comedy Joysticks).
So, how did it do? Well, not terribly good… and this could be in part due to poor promotion and distribution. Quite limited in the theatrical release, Curtains despite everything still managed to earn $1,000,000 in North American box office sales. That in mind, the critics were not all too kind to it. but when have they ever been to Horror films?
These factors in mind, as stated, Curtains were rather different than anything else being put out domestically in the USA at the time. Relying heavily on the atmosphere, which is dark at times, it also stands up with the acting performances, which are actually very memorable. And while it is true Curtains can be a bit confusing to someone taking a casual view, the plot and subplots all connect together; creating an effective, overlooked Horror film.
Unfortunately time had almost forgotten Curtains, because after the 1984 VHS release via Vestron Video, it did not make it to DVD until 2010. Rather late to the DVD world, the initial introduction to this format was poorly done, and with a very subpar transfer as well. Thankfully Synapse Films dug deep and put out the best home viewing option of Curtain in 2014 with the release of a Blu-ray and DVD that was transferred in 2K from the original prints. Moreover, this edition includes plenty of extra footage and a documentary that is worth viewing for those more curious about the film. Additionally keeping the film’s legacy going, in 2022, Waxwork Records put out the Paul Zaza soundtrack for digital streaming, but better yet, as a pressing to vinyl too.
So, in the end Curtains is an intelligent, different Horror film that should have been given more exposure than it initially was in 1983. If anything, it is an example of how Slasher films do not need to be painted by numbers, and that should be recognized even 40 years later.
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