Because who doesn’t like a practical joke?!

“On a clear day you can see the Kennedys.”  That line of dialogue is one of the many clever lines in this cult classic from 1986.  April Fool’s Day, directed by Fred Walton and written by Danilo Bach, is an undeniable masterpiece of mood and mayhem that is largely ignored or at least underappreciated by a lot of Boils and Ghouls out there in Horror Land.

Fortunately, Kino Lorber is about to change all that with its Collector’s Edition release of this slasher by way of a murder mystery.  The spills and the chills are definitely alive in this release as one hell of a party is about to be unleashed. You just have to be a good sport about it all, okay?!

Starring Valley Girl’s Deborah Foreman, Amy Steel, Ken Olandt, Deborah Goodrich, Leah Pinsent, and Back to the Future’s Thomas F. Wilson, April Fool’s Day begins as most slashers do with a convergence of teenage fools getting ready to live it up on the weekend.  Except, these rich kids are headed to an island estate for the April Fool’s Day weekend. Sure, there’s a party in store, but - thanks to some solid acting - this whodunit gets its slasher on and these kids are more than just characters to kill.

The practical jokes begin almost at once as they are crossing on the ferry.  There’s a knifing incident, but that joke is soon forgotten as a real accident takes precedence.  Already freaked out, this group of teenagers - soon taunted by bloody Ken and Barbie dolls - will be staying at their friend’s mansion and it is loaded with lots of practical jokes.  Turns out, though, the jokes aren’t that funny . . . but they are deadly.

With a madman loose on the island, what started out as just fun and games (exploding cigars, drinking glasses with holes in them, whoopee cushions, etc.) soon turns into multiple struggles of life and death as water wells become scenes of gnarly chills, boathouses turn into floating coffins, and it all has to do with something that their host is hiding.

Muffy knows too much about all of them and is using their fears and their choices in life to haunt them all.  Every murder staging is punctuated with tidbits from their life and, as secrets are revealed, the truth about the past - especially from what is revealed in the basement - causes lots of heads to roll.

Keyed-up on nice practical effects, April Fool’s Day is both smarter and quicker than most slasher flicks from the 1980s.  Kino Lorber recognizes this fact with a glorious crisp 4K transfer that never lets the audience down . . . especially that snake in the woods scene which still gets my heart racing.

With this release now on 4K, Kino Lorber proves that the joke just might be on you!

4K Ultra HD Edition

Home Video Distributor: Kino Lorber
Available on Blu-ray - January 21, 2025
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

When Muffy St. John (Deborah Foreman, Valley Girl) invited her college friends up to her parents’ secluded island home for the time of their lives, she forgot to tell them it just might be the last time of their lives. Because as soon as the kids arrive on the island, someone starts trimming the guest list…one murder at a time. And what starts out as a weekend of harmless April Fool’s Day pranks turns into a bloody battle for survival. It’s just what you’d expect from the director of When a Stranger Calls and the producer of Body Parts, Species and several outings of Friday the 13th: a twistedly clever classic of the “holiday slasher” genre that’s essential viewing every April 1st!

VIDEO

With a new 4K scan of the original camera negative, fans of this cult classic have something to celebrate.  The images are crisp and detailed and retain their edges. Framed in a tight 1:85:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer is good, good stuff. Colors are bold.  Shadows run deep and the crisp textures in the walls and in the backgrounds of this slasher are focused. 

AUDIO

The 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio is perfectly suited for the film.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• With Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson

Special Features:

This new release from Kino Lorber comes loaded with some quality supplemental items, making it an essential cult classic viewing for April 1st!

DISC 1 - THE MOVIE (4KUHD):

• Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
• 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
• Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

DISC 2 - BONUS FEATURES (ALL-REGION BLU-RAY):

• Horror with a Twist - Part 1: Interview with Director Fred Walton (23:58)
• Horror with a Twist - Part 2: Interview with Director Fred Walton (23:02)
• Well of Lies: Interview with Actress Deborah Goodrich Royce (16:32)
• Looking Forward to Dessert: Interview with Actor Clayton Rohner (17:15)
• Bloody Unforgettable: Interview with Composer Charles Bernstein (26:00)
• The Eye of Deception: Interview with Cinematographer Charles Minsky (17:23)
• TV Spots (1:35)
• Theatrical Trailer (1:42)
• Dual-Layered BD50 Disc

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 89 mins
Director: Fred Walton
Writer: Danilo Bach
Cast: Deborah Foreman; Griffin O'Neal; Clayton Rohner
Genre: Horror | Slasher
Tagline: Guess who's going to be the life of the party.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I know you think I'm a hick, but I'd like to change your mind about that if you'd give me a chance."
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Official Site: https://kinolorber.com/product/april-fool-s-day-4kuhd
Release Date: March 28, 1986
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: January 21, 2025.
Synopsis: When Muffy St. John (Deborah Foreman, Valley Girl) invited her college friends up to her parents' secluded island home for the time of their lives, she forgot to tell them it just might be the last time of their lives. Because as soon as the kids arrive on the island, someone starts trimming the guest list…one murder at a time. And what starts out as a weekend of harmless April Fool's Day pranks turns into a bloody battle for survival.