1998

Written, directed, edited, scored, and starring Jason Park, 1998, is a quirky take on the slasher. As a child, Michael’s mom sold his vocal chords to the owner of Bitch A*s Records. This obviously changes the now-mute boy’s entire life. For years, he spent searching for an outlet, and as an adult (Oscar Rockwell), he hit upon murder!

Charles (Park), Nikki (Haley Johnson), Mary (Maria Mae Lopez), Leon (Luke Dingess), and Bobby (Brandon Dunlap) are visiting a cabin in the woods. They drink, dance, and play truth or dare. Unfortunately, as the party rages on, the friends go missing one by one. Is it the Throat Killer striking again? Why did the friends go to the cabin in the first place? Will anyone survive, or will the killer get his twisted justice?

1998 does something no other slasher has done, and it is ingenious for it. The adult Michael does not start off being very good at killing. He goes after a lady jogging who beats him up because she’s the head of the HOA and knows Tae Bo. Such incidents occur one after another for an extended period. Happily, it is never not funny and puts the film into must-watch territory all on its own.

“…as the party rages on, the friends go missing one by one.”

The rest of the story works as well, for the most part. Charles keeps going on about being royalty. This is a strange bit that is never really paid off and doesn’t work. But the rest of the group’s interactions, especially when what is truly happening is revealed, are quite good. The characters are fun and feel like friends, especially when ribbing each other. Plus, the best joke of the entire film comes at the end and is so ridiculous that it is brilliant.

What works less is the setting. The titular year holds little to no bearing on anything that happens. It does explain why there are no cellphones, sure, but the killer cannot use one, and the core group would have no one to call, as they are all together at the house. Most, if not all, the music cues stem from that era, but it could simply be what the characters listen to, rather than being from the timeframe of the story.

1998 offers very little in the way of horror. But its comedic sensibilities are second to none. The cast is a lot of fun, and the ending is bonkers in the best possible way. I look forward to watching this again and again.