Cutting Class (1989)

A murderer is loose in a high school in this 'whodunit' movie.

Director:

Rospo Pallenberg

Writer:

Steve Slavkin

Stars:

Donovan Leitch Jr., Jill Schoelen, Brad Pitt

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donovan Leitch Jr.	...	Brian Woods (as Donovan Leitch)
Jill Schoelen	...	Paula Carson
Brad Pitt	...	Dwight Ingalls
Roddy McDowall	...	Mr. Dante
Martin Mull	...	William Carson III
Brenda James	...	Colleen (as Brenda Lynn Klemme)
Mark Barnet	...	Gary
Robert Glaudini	...	Shultz
Eric Boles	...	Mr. Glynn
Dirk Blocker	...	Coach Harris
Nancy Fish	...	Mrs. Knocht
Robert Machray	...	Mr. Conklin
David Clarke	...	Crusty Old Man
Norman Alden	...	Officer Fondulac
Tom Ligon	...	Mr. Ingalls

Storyline

High school student Paula Carson's affections are being sought after by two of her classmates: Dwight, the "bad boy", and Brian, a disturbed young man who has just been released from a mental hospital where he was committed following the suspicious death of his father. Soon after being released, more murders start happening. Is Brian back to his old tricks, or is Dwight just trying to eliminate the competition?

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Plot Keywords:

high school | school principal | woman in jeopardy | slasher flick | school | 

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Taglines:

Some People Would Kill To Fit In.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 February 1992 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Assassinato no Colégio

Filming Locations:

Excelsior High School - 15711 Pioneer Boulevard, Norwalk, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

April Films, April Productions, Gower Street Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Image Transform)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is a pun, based on "cutting class," which is skipping or not showing up for class for some unauthorized reason, and because a killer is running around cutting people's throats.

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Goofs

When Schultz (the custodian/janitor) is talking to Dwight and Paula, Dwight is holding Paula's hand with his left hand. When he walks away, it's his right hand that he removes so he can NOW grasp her hand with his left hand.

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Quotes

Dwight Ingalls: You know, Your fathers a lot bigger than I am. Of course, I bigger where it REALLY counts!

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Connections

Referenced in Grindhouse (2007)

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Soundtracks

MAN TALK
Written by Andy Prieboy (as Andrew Prieboy)
Performed by Andy Prieboy (as Andrew Prieboy)
Music Corporation of America, Inc. (BMI) and Skeek Music
Used by permission of MCA Music Publishing

User Reviews

It's the PITTS! (Get it? Because Brad Pitt is in it, and it's... oh, never mind.)

From that golden age of cinema known as the eighties comes this fiercely average teen slasher flick that seems tailor made to be shown on "USA Up All Night". This movie looks pretty glossy and professional, and therefore bland. The killings take a back seat to comedy scenes starring Martin Mull and Roddy McDowell, the latter of whom is pretty funny (Although McDowell often took crappy parts just for a paycheck- It's hard to imagine him getting excited over the script for "Laserblast"- he was never dull).

To the film's credit, the identity of the killer is kept a pretty good secret till the film's amusing enough climax in the school's metal shop. One of the main suspects is played by a young Brad Pitt, but he doesn't embarrass himself like future star Matthew McConnehey did in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4". Brad is merely lifeless in his role as a hothead basketball star and reckless driver. Creepy Donovan Leitch is the other probable suspect, and cute Jill Shoelen is the confused gal in a bland love triangle with the two. (Whatever happened to Shoelen? She's got a nice, early-Winona-Ryder vibe going in this and in "Popcorn". I think she's an okay actress, trapped in mediocre movies, like the Robert Englund "Phantom of the Opera").

And that is all I have to say on the matter of "Cutting Class".