Death Spa (1989)

A cool new Los Angeles health club opens, but the customers keep winding up dead. Featuring murderous bathroom tiles, killer tanning beds, and fatal saunas.

CHARACTERS

Priscilla (Alexa Hamilton) trainer

Marvin (Ken Foree) trainer.

David (Merritt Butrick), computer operator

Laura (Brenda Bakke)

Michael (William Bumiller), Laura's boyfriend

Linda (Cindi Dietrich)

Vicky (Tane McClure)

RATING: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 5/10

REVIEW: While this has a lot going for it with an overabundance of eighties vibe, it wasn't all that fun. And what about the characters of Marvin and Priscilla? They're introduced, then basically disappear. I'd have liked to have seen more of Ken Foree. On the plus side, we get to see Tane McClure naked, but it's not enough to overcome the dreadfully stupid idea of a possessed computer controlling a gym; the possession of David is beyond bad. Yes, there was a shower scene featuring murderous bath tiles... and yes, a woman is attacked by a blender at one point. But it sounds so much better that it actually is.

DOUBLE FEATURE - Tanning Beds of Death 

Death Spa (1989) and Slink (2013)

SYNOPSIS

The Starbody Health Spa is the gym everyone's talking about. The place couldn't be more eighties if it tried: bright colored spandex, neon, aerobics music, big hair... when Hollywood tries to recreate the eighties feel but overdoes it, this is what it looks like. Priscilla (Alexa Hamilton) is a trainer at Starbody. Marvin (Ken Foree) is another trainer. Starbody's high-tech computer system is overseen by David (Merritt Butrick). I primarily know him as Johnny Slash from Square Pegs, but he was in a lot of things. This was his last film before tragically dying of AIDS After a workout, Laura (Brenda Bakke) decides to go for a relaxing sauna. A toxic gas is emitted in the sauna, and she can't escape. She's not dead, but she's blinded. Her boyfriend Michael (William Bumiller) is at her side. Michael owns Starbody and blames David for Laura's "accident". [I swear this gym's computer system is more advanced than HAL.] The girls take a shower, when another strange accident strikes... Tiles start popping off the wall and hitting the girls.

At home, Michael nurses Laura back to health, showering her with romance. Michael is getting weird messages on his computer. "I Miss You Michael" Michael consults your neighborhood occult expert. He thinks it's the spirit of his dead wife, Catherine.Linda (Cindi Dietrich) receives a letter from Mike telling her to meet him in the gym's basement. Of course, it's not really written by Mike, and she is killed in the boiler room. [When Death Spa was initially filmed, there was a creepy janitor who served as a red herring. The janitor part was cut from the film, but doubtless was connected to this scene.]

David shows up at Mike's house and acts erratic and disturbed around Laura. Catherine was his sister, and he carries resentment against Mike's new flame. The funniest scene of the movie. Mike confronts a guy... by getting oh-so-close to his face, and just staring. I was sure they were going to kiss. It's Halloween, and Starbody is having a big party. Marvin is serving drinks.While the party goes on, one of the girls, Vicky (Tane McClure), slips away to the sauna with Tom.We find it's not really Tom as his face melts before her.

It's Catherine (Shari Shattuck) back from the grave, and she's taken over the gym's computer system. Evidently, Catherine has possessed David's body. Laura has been tied up to die on a tanning bed, but Michael has arrived in the nick of time to save her.. Marvin is thrown through a glass wall when he attempts to restrain David/Catherine. All hell breaks loose at Starbody. Blood is spraying everywhere as the party goers are under attack. Everyone is trapped inside as the place goes up in flames. The gym's sign goes from "Starbody Health Spa" to "Death Spa". THE END