RATING: A-

The Horror Collective presents a Slashercise Productions film. Written and directed by Ama Lea. Produced by Vanessa Decker, Lindsey Hearts, Ama Lea, Mike Gifford, Diana Prince, and Kira Von Sutra. Cinematography and editing by Ryan Valdez. 

Get ready for a killer workout…no, literally. That’s the premise of this nearly one-hour film from filmmaker Ama Lea and featuring some of the great names of the genre!

When Robbie, a workout instructor, is the latest victim of a serial killer who has been targeting gyms, a replacement is needed. Enter Vanessa, a young woman who arrives and has been hired to replace Robbie, much to the chagrin of Heather. Despite Heather’s reservations, Vanessa impresses with her workouts. However, in between and at one point, during a workout, the killer, named “Meat Head” has unleashed a killing spree. Will Vanessa survive the workout or will Meat Head kill her as well?

Part-workout video and part-horror film, Ama Lea has crafted a wild fun movie that will make you want to exercise and while cooling down, see people get killed in some crazy ways. One victim gets choked out so bad that blood comes out from her eyes and mouth and one gets chainsawed and disemboweled. There’s even one character who gets a double dumbbell to their skull. Kudos to Shane Morton’s great practical FX for these kills, paying true homage to the 1980s, where a ton of the best horror films were released and aerobic workouts proved to be a popular fad. 

Vanessa Decker is fantastic as Vanessa, your new workout instructor galore. When she starts the workouts, then get ready for a fun time. Sarah French is also great once again as the jealous Heather, who comes off as somewhat pompous but seriously, Robbie was wrong for saying someone was hotter than her. There’s also Sarah Nicklin, Diana Prince (known to many as Darcy the Mail Girl on The Last Drive-In), Joe Bob Briggs, and legends Lisa Wilcox, Felissa Rose, Tiffany Shepis, and Kelli Maroney all in on the fun!

Slashercise Volume 1 is your film if you love workouts and horror. It’s a well blended meshing of the two with a great cast involved!