PROM NIGHT
US, 2008, 88 minutes, Colour.
Brittany Snow, Johnathon Schaech, Idriss Elba, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis, Collins Pennie.
Directed by Nelson Mc Cormick.
The original Prom Night was from the early 1980s when Jamie Lee Curtis had made such a impact in Halloween that she was cast in some features cashing in on her status as ‘Scream Queen’ like Terror Train. This version takes some elements from the earlier Prom Night but has reworked most of them. In fact, this is a rather more audience-friendly slasher film with quite a number of slashes but not presented very graphically at all. To that extent, for the fans of gory slasher movies, it is not audience-friendly at all because it is so (comparatively) low-key.
After a prologue setting the scene where a dementedly obsessed man kills a teenager’s family because he thinks she is his, we find that he is imprisoned. Of course, he escapes on her prom night and comes to get her. And that is really what happens, a fairly straightforward story, no ‘supernatural’ explanations, just a madman eliminating those who stand in his way as he comes to take his beloved. Meanwhile she is at the prom which is interrupted as police clear the hotel, search for the killer who eludes them and everyone converges on the heroine’s house for the rather straightforward showdown. The aim is for more realism rather than more gore.
Brittany Snow (the spoilt daughter in Hairspray) proves an initially screaming lead but then shows that she is tough. Idris Elba is the detective and Jonathon Schaech, with no special make-up, clothes or masks but just a knife, is the killer.
1.A 2008 slasher film? In the tradition? Different? Milder? The acknowledgment of the original Prom Night, elements of the screenplay, differences?
2.The American setting, the town, homes, school? The hotel, interiors, the ballroom, the visitors’ rooms? The parking lot? Authentic? The musical score?
3.The prologue, Richard Fenton, his obsession, Donna returning home, the discovery of her father dead, her brother? Hiding under the bed, seeing the death of her mother? The effect on her?
4.The background of the arrest of Richard Fenton, his being in prison? Three years passing? Donna being cared for by her relatives? The preparation for prom night?
5.The importance of prom night, the end of high school, the preparations, the dresses, the partners? Getting ready to go? Bobby and his escorting Donna?
6.Prom night, the friends, Lisa and Ronnie and their love for each other, Claire, Michael? Discussions about the future? The memories of prom night?
7.How well delineated were the characters? Stock characters – especially getting ready for them to be eliminated?
8.The news of Richard Fenton’s escape? The police, Detective Winn, his past history with Fenton, Nash and his associates? Their supervising the dance? Not disturbing the youngsters?
9.The progress of the dance, Lisa and Ronnie and their going upstairs? The jealousy clashes with who was to be Prom King, Prom Queen? The build-up to the announcement, the teacher? The sudden interruption and everybody having to evacuate the hotel?
10.The background, the maid being killed, the porter going to find her, his death? Richard Fenton and his ruthlessness? Discovering Lisa, her recognising him, his chasing her, her death?
11.Donna, her search for her friends, going up to the room? The encounter with Richard Fenton, her shrewdness, locking him out, bashing the door down? Her escape?
12.The police, enclosing the hotel? Everybody in the parking lot? The search for Donna? Getting her home? The discovery of the bodies, especially the man in the roof? Fenton’s escape, disguised as one of the staff?
13.Donna at home, with Bobby, safe? The family? Her nightmares, imagining Fenton and his looking in the mirror, attacking her? This being repeated in actuality? The news that he was not in the hotel, Detective Winn and his hurrying towards the house? The killing of Nash? The policeman?
14.Fenton in the house, his pursuit of Donna, killing Bobby? Her hiding under the bed again? Her taking the initiative, attacking him? Detective Winn arriving, shooting Richard Fenton?
15.The aftermath, sadness at the deaths? Donna and her having to cope with life?
16.A more straightforward slasher film, smaller focus? Plausible psychological explanation? A milder presentation of violence and blood?
