| The film opens
with a dream sequence: three years ago, teenager Donna
Keppel (Brittany Snow) witnessed the murder of her family,
so naturally, the event keeps repeating itself in her
sleep. Now an eighteen-year-old in therapy and living
with her aunt and uncle, Donna is about to graduate
high school. This, of course, means it’s time
for the senior prom, the one night she’s been
looking forward to since freshman year. Her friends
are also excited. Her best friend, Lisa (Dana Davis),
wants like mad to be Prom Queen, although not because
she wants the recognition; she just wants to upstage
Crissy Lynn (Brianne Davis), a nasty Little Miss Perfect
that can’t say anything nice to anyone. Donna’s
other friend, Claire (Jessica Stroup), is having a bit
of boyfriend trouble; he’s insecure about her
moving away to college.
Donna eventually admits that she’s stopped taking
her anti-anxiety medication because she doesn’t
want to be numb on prom night, especially since it will
be one of the last times she’s with her boyfriend,
Bobby (Scott Porter). Obviously, being un-medicated
would account for the dream sequence at the beginning.
She convinces herself that her world is falling apart,
but as it turns out, she does have something to be afraid
of--her family’s killer has escaped from the local
mental institution.
Click HERE to
read the rest of Chris Pandolfi’s theatrical review.
3/10
Special Features:
The main idea to take away from Prom Night is that
slasher films should not be rated PG-13. The intensity,
violence, gore and suspense is greatly lessened in this
film because of each element being implied as opposed
to shown. A great master like Hitchcock could get away
with psychological scares, but in today’s market
for teen horror, that level of intelligence doesn’t
exist. We’ve got to see the blood. And so even
though the film is released in both its original theatrical
version and a new unrated cut, it still fails to excite
the gorehounds or to thrill those looking for a good
chase movie.
Interesting enough to note is that aside from the alternate
ending, very little footage is actually added. Instead,
a few shots take place from different angles –
but no additional R-rated material is included, which
makes this cut seem hardly necessary. It would have
been better to simply see the alternate ending as a
standalone special feature.
A commentary track features director Nelson McCormick,
who gives the standard informative info on his motives
and reasons for certain shots. Star Brittany Snow joins
in to comment on what is taking place, as a sort of
narrator. The third commentator, co-star Johnathon Schaech
barely says much at all. Several deleted scenes are
included, being of the standard kind of superfluous
nonsense that was rightfully chopped. A gag reel is
present, which is typically more fun than many of the
scenes in the film, and four behind-the-scenes featurettes.
A video yearbook, an examination of the serial killer,
the designing of the Grand Hotel, and a making-of documentary
comprise the featurettes. As a Blu-ray exclusive, we’re
treated to picture-in-picture storyboard tracks. Apparently
the studios have yet to figure out how to make use of
all that extra space and advanced technology that we
hope is possible with Blu-ray discs.
4/10
- Mike Massie
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