A masked killer stalks four teenagers, responsible for the accidental death of a little girl six years earlier, at their high school’s senior prom.
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I first came across this film when I was devouring anything that was labelled a ‘Slasher’, plus the fact that Jamie Lee Curtis is the lead character I knew I just had to see this film, she’d already entranced me with “Halloween” and “The Fog” so watching this was a no brainer.
Unfortunately this film never grabbed me in the way other films in the sub genre did, it has a great premise and had the potential to be much more but in all honesty it bored me. I tried rewatching it recently for this review and even though I did manage to finish it, it felt like a chore to do so.
Don’t get me wrong the film has some great moments but they’re few and far between and I just get irritated because I feel it was a waste of potential, not just Jamie Lee Curtis but the rest of the cast who id a great job, let’s not forget Leslie Nielsen starred in this aswell.
The film’s story jumbles around and tries to add too many sub-plots, it should’ve just been kept simple instead of just complicating things. It doesn’t help that the film tries to put in a twist even though it’s fairly obvious from the beginning who it is.
“Prom Night” is a film that is fondly remembered and it’s a reminder that some things are left in the past and remembered that way instead of rewatching it and realising how bad it’s aged.
Miscellaneous facts about the film:
In one of several scenes removed from the theatrical version of the movie, Principal Hammond takes his wife to visit Dr. Fairchild after a visit to Robin’s resting place at the cemetery. As Vivian is seated in the office and the men talk privately in the hallway, it is revealed that Robin and Alex are twins.
According to director Paul Lynch in the documentary “Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film”, he was having difficulty securing financing until Jamie Lee Curtis signed on. Once the film was shot, Paramount expressed interest in distributing the movie. However, they only wanted to open it in 300 theaters whereas Avco Embassy Pictures offered to release it in 1200 theaters. Avco Embassy released Prom Night as a result. That same year, Paramount released another independent slasher film, Friday the 13th (1980).
David Mucci, who played troublemaker Lou, had a serious medical condition. He was forced to be immobilized underneath the stage for the scene in which Lou is decapitated. He was terrified that something would happen while he was trapped there so director Paul Lynch held his hand for the duration of the scene to assure him everything would be all right.
Jamie Lee Curtis did her own stunts at the end of the movie.
Eve Plumb originally auditioned for the role of Kim Hammond.
The van that goes off the cliff was stolen.
Shot in twenty-four days.
The subplot about Leonard Murch was added late in the production of the film.
The shots of the killer tearing the photos out of the yearbook were shot by producer Peter R. Simpson after principal shooting on the movie had wrapped.
Composer Paul Zaza wrote all the disco songs in only five days.
Michael Tough kept the mask that he wears in the movie.
As gym teacher Henri-Anne Benton is giving decorating instructions to Biology teacher Monty Weller in the gym and Kim runs in, she apologizes for being late and Mr. Weller calls her “The literary Ms. Hammond”. This is related to one of several scenes deleted from the theatrical version (but returned to the network TV version) of the movie when the girls are dissecting frogs and are caught sneaking Jude’s note about her last-minute prom date, Slick. Mr. Weller wrongfully accuses Kim of possessing the note and forces her to read it aloud to the class.
When Ms. Benson says to Mr. Weller at the prom “I believe this is OUR dance, Monty”, he was in the company of Adele Cooper, the substitute secretary for Principal Hammond. She is a character whose scenes were removed from the theatrical version (but returned to the TV version) of the movie.
Producer Peter R. Simpson’s son Brock Simpson plays Young Nick.
Robert A. Silverman had just been in a serious accident and was still undergoing speech therapy prior to acting in this film. Moreover, Silverman came up with the idea to put tape on his glasses.
Film debuts of Jeff Wincott and Mary Beth Rubens.
Hamilton High custodian Mr. Sykes, albeit drunk on the evening of the prom, knew that a killer was loose because he was secluded in the same storage room that Wendy ran into when she was being pursued. You can see the camera pan left to his silhouette shortly after she enters the space to hide.
Anne-Marie Martin’s final appearance where she was billed as Eddie Benton.
When the raspy voiced caller in the room dials the residences of Jude, Kelly, Nick and Wendy respectively, the area code on the rotary phone begins with 614. Although the movie was shot in Toronto, Canada this area code is for Central Ohio.
Lieutenant McBride and his son Nick live in apartment 101 of their complex.
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