Decided to go with a classic tonight: 1980’s Prom Night, which still felt very entrenched in the 70’s, what with the disco prom theme and the unforgettable Jamie Lee Curtis dance number at the film’s midpoint.

After the initial hook, with some creepy kids yelling “Kill!  Kill!  Kill!” until a little girl falls to her death, the plot moves slowly and I spent most of it trying to figure out which of the group of murdering children was which (there were 3 girls and 1 boy, and all three girls had light brown hair).  That, and marveling at how teens used to be able to smoke in school hallways.

Finally the killing starts, and it’s mostly about the superbitch who convinced her classmates to pretend they had nothing to do with the girl’s death.  But then for the finale it’s back to Jamie Lee Curtis, who proves herself to be an even bigger badass than she was in Halloween.  I’m not sure I’d be willing to wrestle a dude coming at my own mother with an axe, never mind a high school boyfriend, but I’m no Jamie Le Curtis either.  The best moment in the movie, however, is the moment when Unibrow dies.  It is truly glorious.

For more high school nostalgia and murder, check out:

• Carrie (1976) – There will never be another prom massacre quite like this one.  Not even in the sequel or the remake.
• The Craft (1996) – Another take on the bullied getting revenge.  Odd how this movie often feels dated and firmly entrenched in the 90s, while the next on my list doesn’t seem to have that problem…
• The Faculty (1998) – Damn, I didn’t realize this movie was from last century!  Ughhh… BUT it has a great cast and that self-referential thing that all the movies were doing back then, and takes place almost entirely at a high school.
• Jennifer’s Body (2009) – I think I’m in the minority for liking this movie… more of a horror comedy.