Splatter University

"Earn a higher degree in terror!"

1984 1h 17m EN

💀

4.1

SKIP

★4.1TMDB · 61

HorrorMysteryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A sociology instructor finds her new teaching duties at a private college interrupted by the presence of a killer.

“Earn a higher degree in terror!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Forbes Riley
Julie Parker
Ric Randig
Mark Hammond
Dick Biel
Father Janson / Daniel Grayham
Kathy Lacommare
Cathy Hunter
Mary Ellen David
Mrs. Bloom
Laura Gold
Cynthia
Ken Gerson
Tom Scavelli
Sal Lumetta
Wolf

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Richard W. Haines
Writers: John Elias Michalakis, Richard W. Haines, Miljan Peter Ilich
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 77-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

42 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Richard W. Haines, shot by Fred Cohen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Christopher Burke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Forbes Riley and Ric Randig and Dick Biel carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Earn a higher degree in terror!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0125510 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 61 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Richard W. Haines directs. Fred Cohen behind the camera. Christopher Burke scores. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 77-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
242 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Richard W. Haines, shot by Fred Cohen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Christopher Burke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Forbes Riley and Ric Randig and Dick Biel carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Earn a higher degree in terror!".
7IMDB entry: tt0125510 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 61 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Classified under 11 themes, including "college", "knife", "murder", "rampage".

The technical file

Cinematography: Fred Cohen
Original score: Christopher Burke
Makeup / hair: Amodio Giordano
Runtime: 77 min · 1h 17m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Splatter University (1984)

Also by

Richard W. Haines

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

JPV8522020-02-04
★ 4/10
Has some okay moments, and kills, but it is poorly made, and some shoddy editing, coupled with how it was obvious who the killer was, though I wonder back in 1984 it would come as a surprise because that sort of stunt has been done numerous times over the years since. Not all together terrible but never lived up to the potential of being a fun 1980s horror film. 2.25/5
Wuchak2023-07-01
★ 5/10
Who’s slaying people at a Catholic school on the Hudson River north of the Big Apple? A teacher lands a job at a Catholic college in the New York City area where she discovers her predecessor was murdered and the assailant never caught. When more grisly bodies are found, she thinks she knows who the culprit is. Over an hour of “Splatter University” was shot in 1981, but additional scenes were filmed in 1982 with students to increase the run time by 13 minutes. It wasn’t released until 1984. I point this out because it has the vibe of 1981-82 as opposed to the mid-80s. Costing only $26,000, you have to have mercy on the low-rent production values in order to appreciate it. Thankfully, like (the superior) "The Majorettes" (1986), it has enough highlights to make it worth watching for fans of the genre despite its shortcomings (dubious acting and editing). For instance, winsome Forbes Riley works well as the protagonist and is convincing in the role. Denise Texeira (Denise) and Kathy LaCommare (Cathy) are other highlights on the feminine front. There’s also some welcome droll humor; and the early 80’s locations, décor and styles are interesting. The ending is surprising as well, even shocking (not the revelation of the murderer, but something else). The flick runs 1 hour, 18 minutes, and was shot in the greater New York City area as follows: Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, Sayville on Long Island and Peekskill (the drive-in theater). GRADE: C