Written by: Jase Marsiglia
A group of high school friends, just months away from graduation, head out to their affluent friend Muffy’s island estate for an April Fool’s weekend filled with sex, booze, and pranks. There’s a mild sense of jealousy hanging in the air as they explore the remote island, taking in the mansion, its isolation, and the kind of amenities none of them could ever afford.
When a terrible boating accident leaves them stranded, they decide to make the best of it, trying to stay upbeat in a house rigged with collapsing chairs, exploding cigars, dribble cups, and other gags.
But just as things seem to settle and everyone starts having a good time, people begin to disappear. One by one, the once carefree group is picked off by an unseen killer. Their hostess ("Valley Girl’s" Deborah Foreman) starts to look pale and act increasingly strange. As their friends vanish, Kit ("Friday the 13th Part 2"’s Amy Steel) and her pre-med boyfriend Rob ("Summer School"’s Ken Olandt) begin uncovering clues—and bodies—that suggest Muffy may be hiding a dark family secret.
April Fool’s Day (1986) ⭐⭐⭐️
Look, we can argue about the sophomoric humor. We can debate how much suspense the film really delivers. We can question whether the mystery is cleverly constructed or a bit too obvious. But one thing that isn’t up for debate is April Fool’s Day’s final twist.
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "APRIL FOOL'S DAY BELOW
In a refreshing spin on the “holiday horror” formula, "April Fool’s Day" puts its intentions right out in the open—both in its tone and its brilliantly deceptive poster—and doesn’t care whether you’re in on the joke or not. Plenty of viewers likely saw producer Frank Mancuso Jr. attached, along with Amy Steel from "Friday the 13th Part 2", and expected a straight-up gore fest, despite Paramount Pictures clearly trying to distance the film from its Crystal Lake legacy.
There’s no denying that Danilo Bach’s script ("Beverly Hills Cop") and Fred Walton’s direction ("When a Stranger Calls") probably threw a lot of audiences off. Instead of leaning into the blood-soaked slasher trend of the time, the film plays more like a classic Agatha Christie-style mystery, with minimal gore and a focus on atmosphere and misdirection. "April Fool’s Day" had the guts to try something different, blending the ’80s slasher boom with an old dark house setup.
By jumping on the holiday-themed horror trend—alongside films like "My Bloody Valentine", "New Year’s Evil", and "Black Christmas"—the movie picked a holiday that practically dares you not to take anything at face value. The cast, including Deborah Goodrich ("Just One of the Guys"), Clayton Rohner, Jay Baker ("Toy Soldiers"), and Thomas F. Wilson ("Back to the Future"), bring both humor and genuine tension to the screen, delivering laughs one minute and convincing fear the next.
The isolated setting, the classic prank setups, the red herrings, and the committed performances all come together for a genuinely fun ride, building toward a final twist that still sparks debate. Love it or hate it, "April Fool’s Day" delivers exactly what it promises—just maybe not in the way you expect.
HOME VIDEO
Initially, "April Fool’s Day" saw several bare-bones releases through Paramount Pictures before finally receiving a long-overdue Collector’s Edition from Scream Factory in 2020. That release included an extended interview with director Fred Walton, as well as interviews with Deborah Goodrich Royce, Clayton Rohner, composer Charles Bernstein, and cinematographer Charles Minsky. It also featured TV spots and the theatrical trailer, making it a solid package for fans.
In 2025, Kino Lorber picked up the rights and carried over all of those features, while adding a brand-new audio commentary with film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. The release also includes a crisp 4K remaster from the original camera negative. If you’re looking for the definitive version, Kino Lorber is the way to go.
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Traum-A-Meter: 1 out of 4
Very little on-screen violence and minimal gore, though the opening boating accident is fairly intense. Within the context of the film, it works and fits the overall tone.
Today’s Jam:
The same weekend "April Fool’s Day" hit theaters, Falco was topping charts with “Rock Me Amadeus.”
THIS EPISODE’S MORAL
Relax, and learn to take a joke.
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