Fairwood, a small town in the United States, becomes the battleground for a chilling slasher flick in the film “Founders Day.” While it adheres to the tropes of the genre, what sets this movie apart is its injection of femme queer weirdness, providing a refreshing twist on a historically male-dominated genre. The film introduces us to high school sweethearts Allison and Melissa, whose lives take a dark turn when they are targeted by a masked killer. As the body count rises, the town descends into chaos, mirroring the divisive political climate of the upcoming local government race between Melissa’s father and the incumbent mayor, Blair Gladwell.
“Founders Day” attempts to infuse meta-humor reminiscent of post-“Scream” whodunnit films, but unfortunately falls short in its execution. The film’s storyline becomes convoluted with too many characters and plot twists, leaving the audience craving a more cohesive narrative. However, the standout performances of Naomi Grace as the lesbian final girl and Catherine Curtin as Commissioner Peterson add depth and intrigue to the film.
Directed by Erik Bloomquist and co-written by Bloomquist and Carson Bloomquist, “Founders Day” showcases the filmmakers’ commitment to delivering quirky and off-the-wall concepts. While the kills in the movie fail to pack a punch, there are still enjoyable moments to be found, such as Grace’s charismatic performance and a particularly gruesome face-stabbing scene.
Despite its flaws, “Founders Day” manages to run a somewhat clean race. It may not be a winner, but it offers enough entertainment value to warrant a watch, particularly for fans of the slasher genre. Additionally, the film’s inclusion of queer women in leading roles serves as a positive step towards more representation in the genre.
“Founders Day,” produced by Mainframe, is currently playing in theaters.