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Prom Night

  • 1980
  • R
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
23K
YOUR RATING
Prom Night (1980)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:46
1 Video
99+ Photos
B-HorrorSlasher HorrorSuspense MysteryTeen HorrorWhodunnitHorrorMysteryThriller

At a high-school senior prom, a masked killer stalks four teenagers who were responsible for the accidental death of a classmate six years previously.At a high-school senior prom, a masked killer stalks four teenagers who were responsible for the accidental death of a classmate six years previously.At a high-school senior prom, a masked killer stalks four teenagers who were responsible for the accidental death of a classmate six years previously.

  • Director
    • Paul Lynch
  • Writers
    • William Gray
    • Robert Guza Jr.
  • Stars
    • Leslie Nielsen
    • Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Casey Stevens
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    23K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul Lynch
    • Writers
      • William Gray
      • Robert Guza Jr.
    • Stars
      • Leslie Nielsen
      • Jamie Lee Curtis
      • Casey Stevens
    • 279User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:46
    Trailer

    Photos174

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    Top cast34

    Edit
    Leslie Nielsen
    Leslie Nielsen
    • Mr. Hammond
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Kimberly Hammond
    Casey Stevens
    Casey Stevens
    • Nick McBride
    Anne-Marie Martin
    Anne-Marie Martin
    • Wendy Richards
    • (as Eddie Benton)
    Antoinette Bower
    Antoinette Bower
    • Mrs. Hammond
    Michael Tough
    Michael Tough
    • Alex Hammond
    Robert A. Silverman
    Robert A. Silverman
    • Mr. Sykes
    • (as Robert Silverman)
    Pita Oliver
    • Vicki
    David Mucci
    David Mucci
    • Lou Farmer
    Jeff Wincott
    Jeff Wincott
    • Drew Shinnick
    Mary Beth Rubens
    Mary Beth Rubens
    • Kelly Lynch
    • (as Marybeth Rubens)
    George Touliatos
    George Touliatos
    • Lt. McBride
    Melanie Morse MacQuarrie
    • Henri-Anne
    David Gardner
    • Dr. Fairchild
    Joy Thompson
    • Jude Cunningham
    Sheldon Rybowski
    Sheldon Rybowski
    • Seymour 'Slick' Crane
    Rob Garrison
    Rob Garrison
    • Sayer
    David Bolt
    • Weller
    • Director
      • Paul Lynch
    • Writers
      • William Gray
      • Robert Guza Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews279

    5.322.5K
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    Featured reviews

    7Nightman85

    clichéd, but still under valued slasher.

    One of the Halloween follow-ups that would give Jamie Lee Curtis the title of "scream queen".

    Children accidentally cause the death of a little girl, now years later they are in high school and getting ready for the prom. However, it seems someone else is planning on getting some murderous revenge on prom night.

    Prom Night is a formula slasher film, with plenty of the slasher trappings, but there are some elements that raise this film above some of the others of it kind. The director gives this movie a truly dark and eerie atmosphere, with the help of Paul Zaza's spooky music score. The plot remains engaging throughout and the creep-factor is kept high. One difference from the slasher "norms" is the fact that we ultimately have sympathy and even sorrow for the film's killer.

    While Prom Night is hardly a flawless movie, in fact there are a few scenes where the lighting is way too low and the disco prom dates the film, it does hold it's own. The cast gives good performances, especially Curtis, Eddie Benton, and the late Casey Stevens. There's also a few good rock numbers like "Prom Night" and the mellow "Fade to Black".

    Worth a look for slasher fans.

    *** out of ****
    5Sir_AmirSyarif

    A pretty mediocre slasher

    A pretty mediocre slasher - one of the duller and more forgettable entries in the genre. Paul Lynch's 'Prom Night' has too many characters and doesn't bother to develop any of them other than with a few rushed clichés here and there. You end up with shallow characters you don't care about. The buildup takes too long while the killings are really artificial and lacking suspense. None of the acting is worth mentioning. Not even Jamie Lee Curtis is good here.
    6Vomitron_G

    Disco dancing 'til death at Massacre High

    In truth, this is standard fair for a slasher. Only slightly above the level of many other slasher outings at the time. The killer only gets active during the last half hour of the movie, his identity easily guessed in the end (naturally revolving around a trauma from his past). The red herring is also very obvious. Lots of disco-dancing too in this one. At the time, I imagine it became mildly notorious because of one decapitation scene and gained a little recognition because of scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis starring in it. If you're a slasher fan, this is one you ought to see, even if it's not the most exciting watch you'll ever have.
    6lourdesmeinhold-750-590943

    Flashback to the Disco Age

    I saw Prom Night when it was released back in 1980. So in honor of my 16 year old son's prom this past week, I decided to re-visit this clunky classic and see if I can re-capture my youth. And you know what? I think I enjoyed Prom Night better the second time around. There was actually a pretty good red-herring or two thrown in the mix to "confuse" the viewer into thinking who the killer really was. As a matter of fact since it's been so long, I forgot who the really turned out to be (I was after only 16 myself when I saw this movie 30 years ago!) and was actually surprised at the reveal.

    Although there were and still are certain things that ruin the movie for me (like the fact that most of the actors look to be well in their 30s and that disco had already made a quick exit), it's kinda fun to see how campy the film really is. I recommend watching it at least once and enjoy it for what it really is: a time capsule to those lost years of the early slasher movies.
    5lost-in-limbo

    Killer moves on the dance floor.

    Six years ago four kids make a pack to keep a secret, which involved the mysterious death of child Robin Hammond. They thought that were the only ones who knew what had happened, but some else witnessed it to. Now that person strings them along, to eventually plan their revenge during Prom night.

    A real thank-you to the commercial success of "Halloween (1977)" and "Friday the 13th (1980), which saw the influx of slasher films and "Prom Night" was one of the first to step up. Too bad that we have here is an unspectacular so-so, if slick looking slasher effort that got caught labouring along with very little happening and providing us with corny school melodramatics. When it came to the crunch, most of the Prom Night sequences was about getting the groove on and listening to funky dory disco soundtrack. Oh it just makes you want to bogey; well it didn't stop Jamie Lee Curtis from strutting her stuff. However when it came to the good stuff, I thought the novel deaths were soundly executed, and there's a certain unpleasantness about them. When the black hooded killer (who's quite fast on their feet and would make for a good shaker too) is tormenting and stalking the victims (from be it to the phone calls or hanging about in the shadowy corridors) there's an ominous air to proceedings, which director Paul Lynch pulls off rather well. It's just too bad that most of the time is used setting this all up with ineffective red herrings and below par, drawn out script. Too many loose ends creep in, even though the premise is quite slight and you can find yourself laughing at its unintentional goofiness and picking up on it predictability.

    Robert New's stunningly vivid camera movements are atmospherically airy and Paul Zaza and Carl Zittrer's sorrowfully twisted musical score gets it cues right. The performances from the cast are acceptable with a likable Jamie Lee Curtis (earning her scream queen tag at the time) proves herself as an upcoming talent. Weak character, but well judged performance. Leslie Nielsen looks awkwardly distracted, and seems to duck off in a phone-in performance and George Touliatos gives the film some solidarity. Anne-Marie Martin is a delight as the scheming sexpot Wendy, David Mucci is perfect as the boorish brute Lou and Casey Stevens is modest as Curtis' prom date Nick.

    This post-Halloween slasher is familiar and slowly plotted, but its competent technical handling helps.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Casey Stevens had trouble keeping up with Jamie Lee Curtis during the filming of the dance scenes, as she was a well trained dancer who did all her own dance moves while he was inexperienced. A dance double had to be used for Stevens when the dancing got too difficult for him.
    • Goofs
      When Lou's friend and Alex begin fighting in the cafeteria, actress Jamie Lee Curtis accidentally screams actor Michael Tough's name instead of her character's brother's name. She quickly corrects herself and calls him Alex again.
    • Quotes

      Kim: You seem a little anxious, Wendy. By the way, who are going with tonight?

      Wendy: It's not who you go with, honey. It's who takes you home.

    • Alternate versions
      Finnish video release was cut by 14 min. 48 sec. in 1983 and still got K18 rating.
    • Connections
      Featured in Scream (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Fade to Black
      Written by Peter R. Simpson and Carl Zittrer

      Performed by Gordean Simpson

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Prom Night?Powered by Alexa
    • What is 'Prom Night' about?
    • Can you guide me through Wendy's chase?
    • What is the body count?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 18, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Graduación sangrienta
    • Filming locations
      • Langstaff Jail Farm, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada(opening scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Guardian Trust Company
      • Prom Night Productions
      • Simcom Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$1,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,796,236
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,796,236
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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