This week, our reside horror geek and aficionado of edge, Jeremy Morrison, takes a look at a cult classic — KILLER WORKOUT (A.K.A. AEROBI-CIDE) 1986. First, let’s take a walk down memory lane with a quick synopsis:
Disclaimer: Killer Workout is presented using the best available elements provided by Slasher // Video. Not sourced from an HD Master; remastered from from PAL Beta SP and upconverted to BluRay and DVD specifications.
Going to the gym may be hazardous to your health. In fact, it could kill you.
Valerie, a model with a promising career, Valerie heads out to the local fitness club to use their sun-tanning bed. She needs to look her best for her Cosmopolitan magazine cover shoot. Alas, Valerie’s visit will end in tragedy when the machine malfunctions, burning her to death. Despite Valerie’s death being a public relations nightmare, things are back up and running at the club with the iron-fisted Rhonda (Marci Karr, Maniac Cop) in charge. But tragedy is lurking just around the corner when another club member is soon found stabbed to death. Enter Lieutenant Morgan (David James Campbell, Scarecrows), the cop on the case. Tasked with solving the crimes, he’s in for more than he expected as the body count rises. Who’s behind the grizzly slayings? What’s their motive? And, who will be the next victim?
Slasher // Video presents Killer Workout, directed by David A. Prior (Deadly Prey, The Deadliest Prey) and starring Ted Prior (Deadly Prey), Marcia Karr (Maniac Cop), David James Campbell (Scarecrows) and Fritz Matthews (The Deadliest Prey).
REVIEW: Well folks, good news and bad news… Killer Workout has made its way to bluray via Olive Films, however the transfer looks to be the equivalent of a VHSPS bootleg found at your local convention scene. Props to Olive though on putting a big disclaimer on how the transfer was actually remastered from a PAL Beta SP, converted up to bluray specs. While watching this lost slasher from the 80s, it is a bit jarring to see film quality jump from mediocre to dreadful in the middle of a shot, but I guess it is somewhat forgiven seeing as how they had to make the discs. At the end of the day I would assume only die-hard fans and completists of slashers relics from the era would actually shell out the cash to add this disc to their collections.
The film itself is a lot of fun if you can accept the flaws and move on. Taking advantage of the aerobics craze of the 80s, Killer Workout looks to cash in on some fun gore splashed across neon workout attire. At one point early on I asked myself what would The Toxic Avenger be without the worlds first hideously deformed super human hero from New Jersey, and the answer is: I think I was watching it. Released two years post Toxie, the set piece of Rhonda’s Work-Out is chock full of scantily clad men and women looking to get their sweat on while simultaneously avoiding (some more successfully than others) a crazed killer looking to use various gym equipment to dispose of the patrons.
The disc is given a few extras such as a photo gallery, original title sequence, and the trailer. In today’s age of bare bones releases, this disc feels as jam packed as it gets.
Overall, Killer Workout is a fun watch if you’re up for some cheesy dialogue, cool splatter, and boobs. Check it out through Olive Films and SLASHER // VIDEO.
Jeremy Morrison – Staff Writer
Co-creator/host of the Acid Pop Cult Podcast, film reviewer, screenwriter, Jeremy has more than eight years experience in television and film production. His childhood fascination with the naked breasts featured in the “Friday the 13th” franchise prepared him for absolutely nothing in life. J-Mo lives by one motto: #wecantallbezacksnyder
Twitter: @acidpopcult
IG: @almostgothim
