Prom Night 2008 Asks the Question:
Take a Group of Shallow High School Kids, Add One Psychotic Killer on the Loose, and What Do You Get?
Horror Queen Says: Bloody Thumbs Down!
Written by BHM Contributor Horror Queen
April 11, 2008
Release: April 11, 2008 (U.S.)
Directed by: Nelson McCormick
Written by: J.S. Cardone
Starring:
Brittany Snow as Donna Keppel
Scott Porter as Bobby
Jessica Stroup as Claire
Dana Davis as Lisa Hines
Collins Pennie as Ronnie Heflin
Kelly Blatz as Michael
James Ransone as Detective Nash
Prom Night 2008 opens with our heroin teenager Donna recounting to her analyst a flashback of the brutal murder of her family at the hands of a killer who’s apparently obsessed with her. Since the killer had been looking for Donna and when he couldn’t find her lashed out (literally) at her parents and younger brother, Donna blames herself for the madman’s rampage. Fortunately for her he was caught and locked up “for good”.
Cut to the following year and Donna is living with her Aunt and Uncle. Plagued by dreams of what happened to her family and fears of the killer escaping from prison (where he is locked up “for good”), it is all she can do to pull herself together for the big senior prom.
Don't get me wrong. The storyline in Prom Night 2008 is decent, but the sappy prom clichés and shallow characters are almost too much to take (the scene where Donna's boyfriend Bobby awkwardly pins on her corsage made Horror Queen cringe). Of course there are the usual prom fixins – hotel room sex, couples fighting, the hated prom queen contender, drinking from flasks, etc. And as all this is going on we find the killer has�managed to escape from prison and is actually planning on attending the prom. He probably missed his own.
It always amazes me when these psychotic killers escape from maximum security prisons.
Apparently no one was looking when he miraculously offed a guard and stole his uniform in order to pose as a guard himself and escape. Because that happens.
And no sooner does the killer arrive at the hotel than he takes out a few of the staff. It’s okay though because the hotel manager doesn’t really notice they’re gone, even though a detective has stopped by and made him aware there could be danger. Oh and this is classic: The detective shows the manager a photo of the killer and although the manager just checked him into the hotel he shrugs his shoulders. Obviously not a face person.
As you would guess, more slayings take place including many of Donna & Bobby’s posse before Donna is face to face with the killer. Why is she face to face with the killer? Because as the hotel occupants are being evacuated after all the murders young Donna runs back… get this… to get her mom’s scarf. Too many anti-depressants or that bleach-blond head have obviously affected Donna’s judgment. Will she once again be saved from the killer? If so then… oops! Will he again slip away, stealing a worker’s uniform to escape, passing right by our daft hotel manager?
Where are Donna’s Aunt and Uncle during all of this you may wonder? They are at home because the killer who is obsessed with Donna “probably won’t go to the prom.” What a surprise they must have had while watching the evening news.
The chase continues until the bloody end. And does Prom Night 2008 have a happy ending? Let’s just say that the analyst should have no trouble filling her appointment book.
Horror Queen Says: Bloody Thumbs Down!
Questions or comments about Prom Night 2008? Contact us!
Take me to Horror Movie Reviews!
Talk About This on The Ossuary Forums!
Horror Movie Freaks is the FREE eZine from Best-Horror-Movies.com that will give you the new horror releases, the new horror news and the new horror reviews that you CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT!!
Subscribing is easy, painless and free.
Do it NOW!!
