Prom Night

(1980)***

Prom Night opens in 1974 where 4 kids are playing hide-and-go-seek in an abandoned covenant (it would be an awesome place to play this!). When a younger girl, Robin, wanders into the building to see what the older kids are doing, they turn on her, as 12-year old brats are prone to do and chase her through the halls screaming, “Killers are coming!” Frightened, Robin backs up into a window and falls to her death. Wendy, the meanest of the group makes the others pledge never to tell (why are people named “Wendy” always mean?).


We're being mean to you for no reason because that's how 12-year olds are, bitch!

On the 6-year anniversary of Robin’s death her family mourns her at her gravesite including Mr. Hammond (Leslie Neilson!), who is also the principal of the Hamilton High School, Mrs. Hammond, daughter Kim (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her brother Alex. Later that day Hamilton High School will be hosting the senior prom (prom night!). Kim has been named prom queen.

On the day of the prom the 4 brats responsible for Robin’s death all receive phone calls where a scary voice asks, “Do you like to play games?” and “I’ll see you at the prom”. Ignoring such weird phone calls, as people in movies are prone to ignore significant moments that would be discussed in real life, the 4 go to school and engage in the usual bullying, backstabbing, etc. Wendy goes out of her way to say bitchy things to Kim.


Oh you can tell by the way I use my walk...

Prom night, finally! The theme of the prom is “Disco Madness”, which means we’re treated to approximately 45 minutes of the “kids” showing off their disco moves (I’m not kidding). As the prom progresses the 4 jerks responsible for Robin’s death are murdered as each one conveniently wanders away from the gymnasium alone during the course of the evening.


Don't call me Shirly!

Wow, Prom Night is a bad movie, but it’s so-bad-it’s-good. The main reason to watch this silly thing is for the endless disco dancing. I love movies that showcase music popular at the time that quickly becomes hopelessly outdated (I’m talking to you Breakin’ and Krush Groove!). The stalk-and-kill sequences are ridiculous. In one extended sequence the protagonist does everything wrong including; running away instead of toward the gymnasium where the prom is taking place, running upstairs where there isn’t a single person, then running downstairs to the auto shop where she hides in a car. She has PLENTY of opportunities to get away yet makes choices that ensure death. Prom Night’s greatest weakness (minor spoiler) is that the killer doesn’t turn out to be any of the red herring suspects. Once the mask is removed and the killer is revealed you’re left going, huh? I gave Prom Night an extra star because the disco scenes are a fun train wreck, especially when Jamie Lee busts some moves with the seriousness of a presidential inauguration.