Now, the said 1980 slasher pic 'Prom Night' was no great shakes. But at least it was competent in terms of suspense and gore, and affirmed Jamie Lee Curtis as the ultimate scream queen after 'Halloween.'
Twenty-eight years later, we get the glossily produced 'Prom Night.' Yes, it's another in-name-only remake whose title and conceit of a killing spree at a high school student's unforgettable social gathering are the sole similarities to its predecessor.
Brittany Snow takes the Curtis role as Donna, a squeaky-clean blondie who finds her whole family slaughtered by an obsessive, psychotic teacher (Johnathon Schaech). The film's opening sequence is actually the most effective piece of the film, as it builds a sense of foreboding after the camera flies over an ocean cued to a cover of The Zombies' 'Time of the Season.' Then the film flashes forward three years later after Donna's family is massacred, just in time for her senior prom. Of course, the wackjob escapes from the booby hatch (what kind of security exists in these movies?) to stalk the object of his obsession at the glitzy hotel where the celebration is held. Naturally, by slasher formula, he kills each of her nubile friends or anyone that gets in the way.
Slick Direction But No Scares
2008's 'Prom Night' is technically well-made, sure, but Nelson McCormick's direction is completely unimaginative. We get tired "gotcha!" scares in place of genuine tension; the risible "it's only a lamp" false alarm can get added to the list. And every slash is defanged by glaring its continuity problems with blood application that it seems the victims die from paper cuts. In one ridiculous, almost-parodic chase, the prom queen breaks her heel and stumbles down the stairs, hitting her head, and then runs through a blocked-off construction site, only to have the killer tear her dress, scream from being startled by pigeons, tripping over a stack of paint cans, etc.
Cast Serves Little Inspiration To Tired Material
Actress Snow has charisma and she does an adequate job of screaming/whimpering, and everyone's a pretty face. But the cops are moronic and there's not much the vapid teens can do except wait around until they're killed off by one by one. The actual prom does evoke a sense that these kids really are friends, and this is their night to remember, but the dance itself is staged right out of an Usher music video.
Since this 'Prom Night' will not please horror fans, it's squarely aimed at female teenyboppers--and to them, this will be an OK Friday night flick.
88 min., rated PG-13.
1 and a half stars out of 4.
 |
