Villian(s)  Vampires

Actor(s):  Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Severn Darden, Jeffrey Tambor

Brief Description  Saturday the 14th (1981) is an American horror-comedy film that serves as a playful spoof of classic monster movies from the 1930s and 1940s, rather than a direct parody of slasher films like Friday the 13th. Despite the implications of the film's title. It was followed by Saturday the 14th Strikes Back in 1988. Julie Corman reflected, "The appeal seems to be from people who understand film history. That was definitely intentional from Howard and Jeff. They were aficionados of horror films and would get a kick out of putting in references to previous horror films. It’s also a horror film that kids can watch. People are still buying the DVD of the film."

Plot:
The story follows an ordinary family—John, Mary, and their two kids—who inherit a dilapidated, old mansion from a deceased uncle. Unbeknownst to them, the house contains the legendary "Book of Evil". When their young son, Billy, discovers and opens the book, he accidentally triggers a curse associated with the date of Saturday the 14th. Every time he turns a page, a new classic monster is unleashed, quickly swarming the house and neighborhood with creatures like vampires, mummies, and aliens. The family must band together to save themselves. Meanwhile, a resident vampire couple desperately tries to break into the home to steal the book back. Rated PG, the movie leans heavily into campy, low-budget, and lighthearted humor, making light of tropes found in films like Dracula, The Amityville Horror, and Jaws. While it received largely negative critical reviews upon release, it became a nostalgic, late-night cable cult favorite for kids growing up in the 1980s.