Savage Weekend

Savage Weekend
Theatrical poster
Directed byDavid Paulsen
Written byDavid Paulsen
Produced byAlvin L. Fast
Starring
CinematographyZoltan Vidor
Edited by
  • Zion Avrahamian
  • Jonathan Day
Music byDov Seltzer
Production
company
Upstate Murder Co.
Distributed byCannon Films
Release dates
  • September 21, 1979 (1979-09-21) (United Kingdom)
  • November 14, 1980 (1980-11-14) (United States)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$58,000

Savage Weekend is a 1979 American slasher film directed by David Paulsen and starring Christopher Allport, David Gale, William Sanderson, and Caitlin O'Heaney. The film follows a woman who retreats to upstate New York with her wealthy boyfriend, her sister, and friend, only to be stalked by a killer in a disfigured mask.

Filmed in 1976 under the working title The Upstate Murders, and initially marketed as The Killer Behind the Mask, the film was acquired by Cannon Films and released theatrically in North America in late 1979. It has been cited as an early prototype for the slasher film, predating both Halloween (1978) and Friday the 13th (1980).