Prom Night

"If he was any dumber, I'd have to water him," exclaims Crissy Lynn (Brianne Davis), Prom Night's snobby and rich queen-for-a-night nominee. That remark lovingly references her date, by the way. However, the prom in the film is Crissy's night. It resembles the VMA's more than your standard prom, but the filthy rich Crissy sponsored it, and she wanted it to "look like a club in LA." Even though she's a cursory character, she sheds light on the prom culture like few film characters have. It's a huge pile of nonsense, and that's what Crissy proves. For a schlocky teen horror flick, Prom Night's got something to say. That elevates it beyond the standard slasher Spring fare.

The premise is farily simple for this remake. A few years back a psychotic teacher, Richard Fenton (Jonathan Schaeach), became obsessed with a pretty young student named Donna Kepel (Brittany Snow). He murdered her whole family in front of her, was caught and ended up in jail. Until he escaped on Donna's prom night to wreak havoc on her friends and "Be with her forever." The action kicks off quickly with a dream flashback to Donna's fateful night, and the kills come fast and furious. Despte the PG-13 rating, there's enough skillful bloodletting to keep horror fanatics satiated. Also, director Nelson McCormick doesn't waste any time. 15 minutes into the film, we're at the prom and in the hotel, where the bulk of the story will take place.

Prom Night works because it's packaged tightly with quick scares, and it's aware of what it is, a faithful and fun remake. When the camera sweeps acros the red carpeted hotel entrance, there are spotlights outside and flashing lights inside. With every high school strata represented, from freaks to geeks, it's a real prom in a glossy MTV setting. Granted, the elevated DJ and lasers make it seem a little overblown, but Crissy Lynn went all out. Most real proms aren't that extravagant, but American culture emphasizes those auspices, so why can't this one be more like a Hollywood awards ceremony than the Trenton prom? The malicious Crissy perfectly represents that material world our high schoolers desperately aspire to. Davis also plays her with a sexy sense of evil. She of course is not the villain, that's the dry Fenton, but she's probably the film's most vibrant character.

Snow's Donna updates the tortured-slasher female protagonist archetype a bit as she rejects her prescription Klonapins and aims to "feel." However, Fenton as well as Donna's circle of friends come off flat and more stereotypical. Granted, it's still a slasher, but some of the characters just feel too understated and archetypal. Then again, that's the beauty of a horror film.

In the end, Prom Night is a fun hour and 28 minute diversion. Especially if you've never been to a prom and see the frivolity in it all.

—Rick Florino
04.14.08