Curtains (1983)
Curtains is a slasher flic from 1983 directed by Richard Ciupka (as Jonathan Stryker) an Starring John Vernon and Samantha Eggar. Peter R. Simpson produced the film after his box office hit Prom Night (1980). Curtains was intended to be an adult slasher as opposed to teenage characters.
Plot
Samantha Sherwood, an actress and for director Jonathan Stryker, has herself committed to an asylum as a preparation for the titular role of a mentally unstable woman.
Once inside, she finds out that Stryker has left her there alone and lets a group of young girls audition for the role of Audra, she escapes to seek revenge.
One of the candidates has a weird dream. She spots a large doll in the middle of the road. 
The grabs her hand and when she wakes up something bad happens.
When a candidate goes skating she sees a doll an then a killer with a mask of an old woman comes after her with a sickle. Can the candidates escape the killer?
Notable scenes
The scene with the masked killer coming across the ice with the sickle is scary.
Making of Curtains
The opening credits give fictional director Jonathan Stryker credit as the films director. Richard Ciupka didn’t want his name on the credits.
The character of Jonathan Stryker was inspired by Klaus Kinski.
Lesleh Donaldson was doubled by a figure skater for the skating sequence on the pond.
Shooting started in 1980 but the production was plagued with problems. It was shelved for over a year during which re-writes, re-shoots, and at least one re-casting was done. The film was completed and released in 1983.
Our view on Curtains
Curtains a real 80’s slasher that is sometimes forgotten. Maybe due to the fact that it was independently released from Canada. It’s a thoroughly weird and unconventional low-budget shocker, the film has an atmosphere of creepiness and morbidity. Exploitflix recommended!
Trailer
Where to buy Curtains
DVD/VHS/Betamax/VCC
Where to stream Public Domain
Details:
Genre: slasher horror
Released in: 1983
Era: eighties
Actors: Samantha Eggar, John Vernon
Director: Richard Ciupka
Poster artist: unknown
Country: Canada
