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:

woman in jeopardy | girls' locker room | hands covering breasts | panties | bare breasts | 

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Taglines:

No one said surviving high school would be easy.

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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:

The Old Place - 29983 Mulholland Highway, Cornell, 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

Screenwriter Steve Slavkin went on to create and write the classic Nickelodeon television series, Salute Your Shorts (1991 - 1993).

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Goofs

When Dwight calls Paula from the pay phone it is night, but when Paula answers the phone it is daylight.

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Quotes

Dwight Ingalls: Fuck you, fuck you, FUCK YOU!
Coach Harris: Fuck you too.
Dwight Ingalls: You can't talk to students like that.
Coach Harris: Fuck you! Now suit up!

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Alternate Versions

The US Lionsgate DVD is advertised as the Unrated Version though it actually features a badly edited print. Missing are shots of blood spurts during Gary's throat slashing, the teacher with the axe in his head, Brian being hit with a hammer, and shots of a bloody Brian as he falls on the chainsaw. UK releases feature the fully uncut print.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Actors Who Appeared in Horror Movies Before Fame (2014)

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Soundtracks

FIGHT SONG
Performed by the John Glenn High School Eagle Band
Courtesy of John Glenn High School

User Reviews

On this occasion, cutting class sounds good.

High school student Paula Carson is adored by her jerk of a boyfriend, Dwight Ingalls, but new eyes have caught her attention. Brian Woods, a quiet loner who has just been released from a mental hospital after being there for the mysterious death of his father. Not too long people are disappearing and bodies are piling up at Wurley High and Brian is first to be accused by Dwight because of his disturbing past. Although Dwight has been losing it lately and now Paula is put in the situation of finding out who is telling the truth.

Now the memories are flooding back. Think of homework, uptight teachers, a weird headmaster, obnoxious twits, a deranged loner and some… murdering? What in the name!? Yeah "Cutting Class" is a forgettable, been-there-done-that and lame high school slasher. Despite that suggestion at least it's never boring, and it's slightly entertains as it breezes by quite easily. The pain is virtually bearable, but a top cast with middling performances make little headway in this low-end 80s slasher effort. The main problem here is that it tries really hard for a funny bone and then it would turn all serious, but it just doesn't come off with the right results. It's just too stupid to be funny and ridiculous to be taken straight. It just can't win! What shaped it was the hopeless charm that scraped the surface with its campy frame and fine turns by the reliable Roddy McDowall and the extremely lovely Jill Schoelen ("Stepfather" and "Popcorn"). Martin Mull even appears in his own little (if meaningless)side-story as some sort of comic relief character. Donavan Leitch does fine in his spooky staring down poses.

Sure the main curiosity for this flick would be that of a young Brad Pitt. His performance is very lacking, but fans of his might still check it out as his a main lead. All he does is leech about and his cocky character is just too unlikeable to care for. The plot is weak; that's there's not much to hang a story off (and still there are holes!) and to throw you off track, as the red herrings are downright ineffective. Just who is committing these murders? Well, it doesn't take an Einstein to figure out, as it's basically telegraphed to you. It follows a derivative style of every other slasher flick. Clichés are not excused. The dialogues are lousy, despite it's tongue-in-cheek tone and hammy one-liners. Killing it is a funky 80s soundtrack that you don't want to purchase after hearing it.

The semi-professional production looked adequate and it sported a colourful and brightly lit decor. The direction by Rospo Pallenberg is stale and tensionless. Wait to your eyes see one idiotic climax involving power tools and an unbelievably rash decision by the killer. The cruel deaths are unimaginative and have little, if no blood and gore. Those looking for obligatory nude flashes have to cope with blink and you miss it moments.

A real lemon of a flick, but still I found this mindless slasher watchable… thank-you Schoelen.