Michael Villella was an actor best known as the drill-wielding villain from the 1982 cult-classic horror film, “The Slumber Party Massacre.”
- Died: November 24, 2024 (Who else died on November 24?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 84.
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Michael Villella’s legacy
Viewers never saw power tools the same way again after Villella hoisted a drill in 1982’s cult-classic horror movie, “The Slumber Party Massacre.” The film was his debut as an actor, and though it was initially a flop, it developed a cult following over the years, resulting in two sequels and a 2021 remake.
Villella portrayed Russ Thorn, a serial killer who torments a group of girls in high school enjoying a sleepover. Initially meant to be a parody, “The Slumber Party Massacre” was instead turned into a more serious horror film, resulting in a memorable mix of humor and brutality that helped its reputation grow over the years. Villella often met fans on the convention scene, keeping the memory of Thorn’s drill-wielding on-screen murder spree alive in the hearts of horror-movie enthusiasts.
His acting work continued with appearances in the erotic thriller “Wild Orchid,” starring Mickey Rourke and Carré Otis, and its sequel, “Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue.” Villella also appeared in an episode of “Amazing Stories,” the made-for-TV movie “Gotham,” and “Getting Away with Murder.”
Tributes to Michael Villella
Full obituary: Variety
