Bloody Murder
A direct-to-video slasher set at a summer camp.
Bloody Murder, released in the United Kingdom as Scream Bloody Murder, is a 2000 American slasher film. Ralph E. Portillo directed it, and John R. Stevenson wrote the screenplay. The cast includes Jessica Morris, Crystalle Ford, Peter Guillemette, and Patrick Cavanaugh. Its story centers on a group of summer camp counselors at Camp Placid Pines who are hunted by a killer wearing a mask. The movie went straight to video. A sequel, Bloody Murder 2: Closing Camp, came out in 2003, and a spin-off, The Graveyard, followed in 2006.
The plot begins with teenage friends Julie, Jason, Dean, Whitney, and Tobe working as counselors. Their boss, Patrick, introduces them to other counselors: Drew, Brad, Jamie, and Doug. Groundskeeper Henry warns Julie about a danger in the woods, but Patrick dismisses him. That night, around a campfire, the counselors recount the story of Trevor Moorehouse, a camper whose face was disfigured by a prank involving a hockey mask. They then play a game called "Bloody Murder," which mixes hide and seek with tag. During the game, Jason and Dean play an annual prank on Brad, with Jason dressing as Trevor Moorehouse, accidentally injuring Brad. Julie scolds Jason, who promises to apologize. Later, Jason has sex with Whitney while Dean, Jason’s best friend and Whitney’s ex, watches in shock, knowing Jason is dating Julie. Jason is then confronted by an unknown figure.
The next morning, Julie worries about Jason’s absence and is told he took a few days off. The following night, while counselors watch a movie, Whitney is killed in the kitchen by someone in a hockey mask and boiler suit. The counselors report Jason and Whitney missing to the local sheriff. Patrick and Tobe suggest Dean as a suspect, leading to his questioning. Brad is killed at the archery range, and Dean is released. Julie is attacked in the woods, and Dean is killed with his throat slit. Julie finds a photo of her father at the camp with someone named Nelson Hammond and learns Nelson was nearly killed in an accident during a game of Bloody Murder. Years later, he returned and killed one of the counselors involved. That night, Julie is attacked again but realizes her attacker is Jason. She locks him in a freezer. Jason tries to explain, but Julie has him arrested.
The killer murders Doug. Julie’s father arrives and walks with Drew to the lake. Julie gathers her belongings and di
- Release
- September 12, 2000
- Director
- Ralph E. Portillo
- Writer
- John R. Stevenson
- Country
- United States
- Genre
- Slasher film
- Cast
- Jessica Morris, Crystalle Ford, Peter Guillemette, Patrick Cavanaugh
Lore & Background
The plot centers on teenage counselors Julie, Jason, Dean, Whitney, and Tobe working at Camp Placid Pines. After a campfire story about a disfigured camper named Trevor Moorehouse and a game of 'Bloody Murder,' a killer in a hockey mask begins murdering the counselors. The narrative includes twists involving mistaken identity, a revenge motive tied to a past accident, and a final reveal that the camp boss Patrick is actually Nelson Hammond, seeking vengeance for a childhood incident. The film ends with a cliffhanger as Jason is confronted by another hockey-masked assailant with a chainsaw.
Reader's Guide
Bloody Murder is significant primarily as a low-budget direct-to-video slasher that attempts to blend elements of Friday the 13th and Scream. Its legacy is defined by overwhelmingly negative reviews, with critics citing poor acting, confusing plotting, and lack of entertainment value. The film received a 1/5 rating from multiple outlets, including AllMovie, Arrow in the Head, and DVD Talk, with one reviewer calling it 'infuriatingly boring.' Despite this, it generated a sequel, Bloody Murder 2: Closing Camp (2003), and a spin-off, The Graveyard (2006). The film's production involved filming at three different California camps edited to appear as one location.
Did You Know?
- The film was released direct-to-video on VHS and DVD on September 12, 2000.
- It was followed by a sequel, Bloody Murder 2: Closing Camp (2003), and a spin-off, The Graveyard (2006).
- Filming took place in California at three different camps, which were edited to appear as one location.
- The film received a 1/5 rating from AllMovie, Arrow in the Head, and DVD Talk.
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