The Tripper: A Mad Mix of Thrills and Nostalgia

Shoot, The Tripper had me all over the place, like I was on a rollercoaster at Gröna Lund after too much godis. David Arquette both directed and stars in this one, and who knew—guy’s got a mind for mayhem. Imagine a horror film where the killer’s dressed like Ronald Reagan. Yeah, you heard me, Reagan. It’s bonkers.

Paul Reubens and Jaime King are in the mix too. Felt like playing “spot the familiar face” through the madness. Reubens especially—I mean, that guy’s an absolute legend, and seeing him in a horror flick is like spotting a moose in Gamla Stan.

Now, about the plot. A group of friends heads out for a music festival in the woods. Sounds innocent, right? But then it turns into this blood-soaked acid trip… kinda like a Valborg night gone horribly wrong. The slasher aesthetic is there, for sure, with blood and guts flying around like strömming out of a can. I got chills—almost wanted to check if my own countryside festival nights were haunted after watching.

And the themes—political satire mashed with horror, it’s a bit on the nose but honestly, I just went with it and had a laugh remembering those discussions about politics my farfar used to have on Sunday dinners in Tyresö. Arquette might not be going for subtle criticism of government here, but that’s part of the joke, I think. Or maybe it’s just my sense of humor?

Honestly, it’s pretty fun if you’ve got a love for 80s horror vibes and some morbid gags. My advice, grab a kompis, some popcorn, and don’t take it too seriously. After all, not all films need to be Ingmar Bergman to leave a mark. But, fair warning, it’s not for the faint-hearted or for those who prefer their horror without a side of Reaganomics.

Check the trailer below