Prom Night Movie Review

Cast: Brittany Snow, Johnathon Schaech, Scott Porter
Director: Nelson McCormick
Screenplay: J.S. Cardone
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Rated: M Moderate violence
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Released: 10 April 2008

A Night To Die For

Synopsis:
Donna's senior prom is supposed to be the best night of her life. After surviving a horrible tragedy, she has finally moved on and is enjoying her last year of high school. Surrounded by her best friends, she should be safe from the horrors of her past. But when the night turns deadly, there is only one person who could be responsible…a man she thought was gone forever. Now, Donna and her friends must find a way to escape the sadistic rampage of an obsessed killer, and survive a night "to die for".

My Verdict:
Donna (Brittany Snow) was the victim of an obsessed teacher, Richard Fenton (Johnathon Schaech), who killed her family in his pursuit to prove his undying love for her. She witnesses the murder of her mother, he's caught and goes straight to jail, leaving Donna behind. Fast forward a few years to where Donna is still living the nightmare of that fatal night whilst juggling her final year of high school which will soon culminate in her prom night. All goes well until Fenton escapes from jail and heads back to finish what he started.

This updated version inspried by Prom Night (1980) doesn't really offer anything new or exciting. Being very predictable it is loaded with numerous schamltzy and cheesy lines and far too many horror movie cliches that lack any bite. Hiding in closets is old, so are chase scenes down the stairs that culminate in dead ends. The numerous killings are often behind closed doors which detracts from their seriousness.

The cast play Prom Night as a by-the-numbers thriller with nothing to challenge them and they are all oh-so squeaky clean. Brittany Snow is perfectly ok as the victim as are her friends and the regulatory police detective who is one step behind the killer, but all are desperately in need of a serious script instead of this tired lame duck. This is one Prom Night where you'd probably be better off staying at home. Frightening? No. Frightful? Yes, but for all the wrong reasons.

Rating : *

Christina Bruce