Happy ‘Founders Day’

It definitely sounds odd to describe a slasher film as pleasantly surprising, but that’s the overwhelming feeling I had leaving the theater for Founders Day. Writers (and brothers) Erik and Carson Bloomquist created a completely unique script that has many familiar hallmarks of slashers we know and love, with its own special twists. In addition to writing the screenplay, both Bloomquists edited the film, and Erik directed and acted in it as well.

FOUNDERS DAY ★★★ (3/5 stars)
Directed by: Erik Bloomquist
Written by: Erik Bloomquist, Carson Bloomquist
Starring: Naomi Grace, Devin Druid, William Russ, Amy Hargreaves
Running time: 106 mins

I love slasher films, especially ones that feature astute social commentary and satire. Scream is one of my all-time favorite movies, and Founders Day shares some familiar tropes with it. Masked slashers, a troubled small town, vaguely incompetent law enforcement officials – all are now par for the course in most slashers. This does not make them any less enjoyable.

Like the recent holiday slasher Thanksgiving, Founders Day takes place in a small town with the action leading up to a very important day. For Thanksgiving, it was Black Friday, and for Founders Day, it’s the vote for the mayoral election.

Two self-important dweebs are running for mayor and ignoring their teenage children, and their campaign slogans could not be more basic or hilarious. Harold Faulkner (Jayce Bartok) is running on a platform for change and must spend hours daily getting his hair in an extreme and mildly emo side part. Blair Gladwell (Amy Hargreaves) is the incumbent mayor with a platform of … consistency. Who else has chills? Midway through the movie I was deeply confused as to whether I liked it, and wondering if there were craft services on set because it seemed the actors could not stop chewing scenery.

However, when things took a hard left turn, the film really started to cook. You might think you know who’s behind everything, but it will be a huge surprise for you at the end. Founders Day reveals that what seemed ham-fisted was actually pure campy entertainment, and the chaotic third act is a confusing but satisfying ride. Annoying characters die horrible deaths, a town hall meeting goes hilariously off the rails, and learning who is responsible for the mayhem is a truly confounding surprise. Also, the murder weapon used is a gavel with a switchblade for a handle, and that’s just perfection.

For a relatively low-budget film, Founders Day achieves a lot. The cast is talented, and it will thrill millennials to see William Russ (best-known as Alan Matthews, Cory’s dad from Boy Meets World) on their screens. Devin Druid, who plays Adam Faulkner, is, as usual, excellent at conveying deep inner turmoil with the slightest movement. I should know–I suffered through Season 3 of 13 Reasons Why.

My quibbles with the film are minor. The first 20 minutes or so are almost too confusing–while good movies start in the middle of the action instead of well before, this one was legitimately hard to follow at first. Multiple characters mumble their lines (some of which are key plot points) to the point they are unintelligible. Granted, I am not a paragon of youth, but I should still be able to clearly understand line reads in a theater with surround sound. Some of the acting at times feels a little stilted, and its way over the top at other times, but that may be a stylistic choice.

Overall, the creativity, talent, and penchant for the bizarre shown in this film makes me eager to see more from the Bloomquist brothers.