Houseboat Horror (1989)

"I don't know what the hell is going on." - Grant

A bunch of yahoos get attacked by a killer while they're camping.
Starring: Alan Dale, Christine Jeston, John Howson, Louise Siversen

Link to IMDB

I hope these guys get killed soon

An Australian film crew is heading to an isolated lake for the weekend to make a music video with a rock 'n roll band. Counting the band, the film crew, and some campers that join the party, there are about 20 characters to keep track of and most of them are nameless idiots we know nothing about.
They'll all be staying on three rented houseboats, and none of them are aware that there's an axe murderer in the area!

We also meet a few locals who are lamenting the fact that loud tourists are around. There's a cranky guy with a big knife; could he be the killer? There's a weirdo gas station attendant; could he be the killer? And there's even an angry sheriff; could he be the killer?
(Obviously, none of them are.)
Anyways, everyone gets settled on the houseboats while the band's manager prepares for the music video. Rumours of previous murders being committed at the lake doesn't upset anyone, because it's time to get this rock 'n roll party started.

"My girls got curly hair, it's in her underwear." - song lyrics

Nothing happens for quite awhile, but at least we get to know a few characters a bit better while the guys and gals party, and there's definitely someone creepy lurking in the forest.
The actual filming of the music video is pretty funny though, as they flop around on a boat with their guitars, but no one is being killed so the movie is going nowhere.
Some backstory of the lake is revealed, and it's just ideas copied directly from Friday the 13th and The Burning... except it sucks... and there are houseboats.

Just die, already

I spent most of the movie being desperate for anything to happen, and even when the killer finally goes on a rampage it's rather lackluster, with just the occasional splish-splash of blood to add any thrills. The very small amount of suspense and spooky vibes that are here get completely drained away by the painfully dull pace and predictable plot devices.
The main redeeming factor was a few imaginative death scenes, and some laughs at how clumsy everything is. Other than that, I could barely keep my attention on the TV screen.

Hooray,  someone died !

Be sure not to miss:
- There were more mullets than I could keep track of.
- Someone refers to a cell phone as "The walk about phone thing."

Internet review:
"The lasting impression that this move will have on you is that you have seen the worst that Australia can offer, it can only get better from here." - ScaryMind

Should I watch it?
No.

Where can I find it?
Part 1/9 starts here on YouTube.

Houseboat Horror gets...