FILM REVIEW: More than a few reasons to skip 'Prom Night'
by Andres Miguel | The Pitt News (University of Pittsburgh)
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Arts
(U-WIRE) — Among the most terrifying concepts a horror film can address is the corruption of the familiar.
This theme is best exemplified through the zombie movie—in which both familiar places and people suddenly become tainted and monstrous—but it also traces back to films like Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train," where a carnival becomes the site of a gruesome murder.
"Prom Night" attempts to follow Hitchcock's lead by adding a maniacal killer to the typical high school prom experience, but it simply drowns in the waters of stereotype and predictability.
The film opens with Donna (Brittany Snow) reliving the brutal murder of her family by her deranged teacher Mr. Fenton (Johnathon Schaech) via a dream.
This intro sets the film's tone perfectly, but it then ruins a scary, suspenseful scene with the revelation that it's just a dream —and it only goes downhill from there.
The story takes place three years after the murders. According to Donna's psychiatrist, a criminally underused Ming-Na, Donna has made "extraordinary progress," which conveniently enables her to plan for her prom just like any normal high school girl, conferring with her friends Lisa (Dana Davis) and Claire (Jessica Stroup) about boyfriends, dresses, corsages and other horrifically boring things.
In case that wasn't exciting enough, Mr. Fenton—still completely obsessed with Donna—breaks out of prison (without explanation, of course) just in time to ruin the party.
He also finds a way to travel thousands of miles in the three days it inexplicably takes for someone to warn Detective Winn (Idris Elba), the man who put Fenton in prison three years prior, that he's escaped.
These plot holes and completely illogical decisions are what "Prom Night" depends on to build tension and fear, and therefore the movie fails on both counts.
The film also portrays its female characters as idiotic and helpless, and it manages to throw in a dash of homophobia with a disparaging joke at the expense of the girls' lesbian gym teacher.
This theme is best exemplified through the zombie movie—in which both familiar places and people suddenly become tainted and monstrous—but it also traces back to films like Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train," where a carnival becomes the site of a gruesome murder.
"Prom Night" attempts to follow Hitchcock's lead by adding a maniacal killer to the typical high school prom experience, but it simply drowns in the waters of stereotype and predictability.
The film opens with Donna (Brittany Snow) reliving the brutal murder of her family by her deranged teacher Mr. Fenton (Johnathon Schaech) via a dream.
This intro sets the film's tone perfectly, but it then ruins a scary, suspenseful scene with the revelation that it's just a dream —and it only goes downhill from there.
The story takes place three years after the murders. According to Donna's psychiatrist, a criminally underused Ming-Na, Donna has made "extraordinary progress," which conveniently enables her to plan for her prom just like any normal high school girl, conferring with her friends Lisa (Dana Davis) and Claire (Jessica Stroup) about boyfriends, dresses, corsages and other horrifically boring things.
In case that wasn't exciting enough, Mr. Fenton—still completely obsessed with Donna—breaks out of prison (without explanation, of course) just in time to ruin the party.
He also finds a way to travel thousands of miles in the three days it inexplicably takes for someone to warn Detective Winn (Idris Elba), the man who put Fenton in prison three years prior, that he's escaped.
These plot holes and completely illogical decisions are what "Prom Night" depends on to build tension and fear, and therefore the movie fails on both counts.
The film also portrays its female characters as idiotic and helpless, and it manages to throw in a dash of homophobia with a disparaging joke at the expense of the girls' lesbian gym teacher.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Jenaee Johnson
posted 7/18/08 @ 4:28 AM EST
Yea, I could not agree more. I saw prom night, it was not very good.
Cindy
posted 10/13/08 @ 3:07 PM EST
I watched the movie recently, and actually enjoyed it. Brought back memories of prom night. All the things my mom and I went thru in choosing my prom dress. (Continued…)
Cindy
posted 10/13/08 @ 3:12 PM EST
I watched the movie recently, and actually enjoyed it. Brought back memories of prom night. All the things my mom and I went thru in choosing my prom dress. (Continued…)
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