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April Fool's Day

Play trailer Poster for April Fool's Day R 1986 1h 29m Mystery & Thriller Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When a group of college students decides to spend spring break at the secluded island estate of their wealthy classmate, Muffy St. John (Deborah Foreman), what starts out as a fun, hedonistic weekend turns into something more sinister. Muffy is very fond of practical jokes, and sets up numerous gags throughout her mansion. But, when friends begin going missing and turn up dead, they realize that they're trapped on the isolated isle with a mysterious and brutal killer.
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April Fool's Day

April Fool's Day

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Critics Consensus

April Fool's Day takes a decent stab at deconstructing the slasher genre, but an underwhelming story keeps it from really sinking in.

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Critics Reviews

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Paul Attanasio Washington Post The suspense sequences are stylishly managed... Jan 4, 2018 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness I've seen this film before...as an episode of The Golden Girls. Rated: D May 3, 2005 Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Responsible for the seminal stalk-and-slash movie When a Stranger Calls, director Fred Walton made a belated return to the much-maligned genre he helped create with this amusing diversion, inspired more by Agatha Christie than by Friday the 13th. Rated: 3/5 May 13, 2025 Full Review Paul Lê Bloody Disgusting The film is an ingenious stab at satirical horror, made well before self-awareness was so widespread in the genre. Rated: 4/5 Apr 1, 2024 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Even if it seems like it's cashing in on the name of a holiday, the story authentically honors the pranking nature of those traditions for a surprisingly effective slasher. Rated: 4/5 Sep 22, 2023 Full Review Stephanie Archer Film Inquiry April Fool's Day is not the best slasher but is far from the worst. It's a clever and fresh take on not only an oversaturated genre but also an intriguing take on one of the most fool-hearted days of the year. Apr 2, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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IrateTyrant C For 80s Surprise Slashers, SLEEPAWAY CAMP and This! How do you write a review for this movie without giving away too many spoilers and still make somebody want to watch it? It starts with an ahead-of-its-time meta scene. Then, it gets into some crazy pranks by the characters. You might start by thinking "oh, bad acting", but you get used to it pretty quickly. It's the 80s! Then, the slasher elements start creeping up. Predictable victims and offscreen kills. Even though it may seem like a run-of-the-mill slasher, you'll have to admit, it's a fun one. It was directed by the guy who did When a Stranger Calls but is surprisingly somehow much more interesting and entertaining. It was written, however, by the guy who did Beverly Hills Cop. If nothing else tips you off that this is going to be different, that should. Truly, hats off. Ya got me! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/12/25 Full Review Justin T The most disappointing thing about this slasher is the ending. The ending really ruins what could have been an average eighties horror movie. They managed to lose all their credibility by changing their mind about most of the movie. It is an unbelievably frustrating movie as none of it is real. The tension builds and subsides without any real fear. It could have been a lot worse though. It was relatively well made and it was never boring. It felt like a Miss Marple mystery with added violence. Fine to watch however April Fool's Day if you can accept the ending. A murder mystery and not a slasher, bit of a joke really. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/11/25 Full Review Rich C Really enjoyed this one. Watch if you can. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/30/25 Full Review Sandy Clark D Love this movie,, Amy Steele is one of my favourite actresses 💙 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/28/25 Full Review Garry A It was fun to relive some 80s nostalgia when the kids were crude an inappropriate, even if it dragged on a little too long before the first "kill". The twisty ending surprised me. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/05/25 Full Review Julian S APRIL FOOL’S DAY stands out amid the glut of 80s slashers as a truly enjoyable whodunnit with an excellent twist. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/29/25 Full Review Read all reviews
April Fool's Day

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a group of college students decides to spend spring break at the secluded island estate of their wealthy classmate, Muffy St. John (Deborah Foreman), what starts out as a fun, hedonistic weekend turns into something more sinister. Muffy is very fond of practical jokes, and sets up numerous gags throughout her mansion. But, when friends begin going missing and turn up dead, they realize that they're trapped on the isolated isle with a mysterious and brutal killer.
Director
Fred Walton
Producer
Frank Mancuso Jr.
Screenwriter
Danilo Bach
Production Co
Paramount
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.3M
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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