 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Prom Night (2008)
- Review Date: April 11, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Horror
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Tedious slasher flick is both gory and boring.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this violent (yet curiously dull) slasher-style teen horror film -- which is a loose remake of the identically named 1980 Jamie Lee Curtis movie -- includes a constant stream of stabbings, stranglings, and other murders, all of which are committed without craft, tension, or any subtlety whatsoever. It's just a string of killings and gory bloodshed. There's also some discussion of sex and sexuality, references to underage drinking, and strong language ("s--t").
What's the story?
Donna Kepple (Brittany Snow) is haunted by nightmares; three years ago, her teacher, Mr. Fenton (Jonathon Schaech), became obsessed with her, and that madness turned murderous. After a series of killings, Fenton was caught, and while Donna is safe with her aunt and uncle, she's still troubled by what happened to her. Now it's PROM NIGHT, and Donna and her friends are off for the crowning evening of their high school careers -- which, of course, is when viewers find out that Fenton has escaped custody. Soon, Donna and her friends are all marked for death as a killer stalks the hotel halls. ...
Is it any good?
Prom Night is a fairly plotless film, even by the low standards of horror moviemaking. From the outset, we're told who the killer is and what he wants, so there are no red herrings or misdirection, just a series of slashings and stabbings as various prom attendees and innocent bystanders are picked off one by one. Schaech's Fenton is a shabby, thinly-drawn bad guy, and Snow's Donna is a plucky, standard-issue horror film heroine. Even the superb Idris Elba (The Wire) is wasted as a cardboard caricature cop who's infuriatingly inept. Prom Night feels more generic than anything else -- like it was assembled from a box labeled "Horror Movie Scenes."
Deeply flawed, Prom Night is a by-the-numbers horror flick that confuses mere violence with real vitality and substitutes shock for suspense. Compared to better-done examples of the genre (see below), it manages to be both violent and deathly dull.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the appeal of horror films. How would you describe the experience of watching them? Why do they so often put young women in peril? Families can also discuss the difference between shock and suspense and the difference between violence and tension. Main character Donna is dealing with a clear case of post-traumatic stress syndrome; families can talk about trying to recover from tragedy and violence.
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Teen, 13 years old
November 1, 2010
AGE
um common sense lied...... you do get to see someone get stabbed :P
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
July 26, 2009
AGE
perfect forolder than 10
this movie is great. the only thing i was scared of was things popping out.it was not that scary
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Teen, 15 years old
February 2, 2011
AGE
Pre teens movie.
this movie was boring plus i didnt like that a adult was obbsessed with her and that he follows her to her house. other than that mild violence and language
its ok for pre teens.
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Teen, 15 years old
July 11, 2010
AGE
From Gore to Giggles
I loved the unreasonable violence and gore because it made the movie soo bad that it was more like a comedy for me.
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Teen, 13 years old
August 8, 2009
AGE
The Film Doesn't Have Much to Offer
This remake features no connection to the original slasher classic, and is a disgrace to the slasher genre. There is very little suspense in the film, and the violence is minimal. There is no secret to who the killer is. There is no reason to see this movie.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 23, 2011
AGE
Good movie. I loved it.
I don't find anything wrong with the film. Not a slasher, isn't gory, and pulls you in with suspence, not horror. The role models are good, the protective boyfriend loses his own life ensuring Donna's safty. Friends (try to) help each other out. With the whole "sex" issue, I found nothing wrong with it, At most (appropriate aged) teens kissed, and older veiwers might notice a blit of an obsession the teacher has for the girl, but if you let a child watch this, they'll think nothing of it. Also, ther is no blood, guts, gore, or anything of the sort.
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Kid, 10 years old
September 11, 2010
AGE
so bad its for 9 year olds
let me tell u somthin
ONE MISSED CALL WAS BETTER THAN
THIS. and that movies= was pretty bad
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Kid, 11 years old
February 3, 2011
AGE
DONT EAT DURING THIS MOVIE!!!!!!1
Its a really good movie! I can kind of take all the blood... it doesnt really bother me. About a girl who has the older guy stalking her and he was just released from prison so the girl is getting freaked out.Alot of blood and killing. Not really scary. But a really good movie!
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Teen, 13 years old
May 5, 2010
AGE
Simply this is one of the worst "horror" films i have ever seen
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Teen, 13 years old
December 29, 2009
AGE
Perfect for teens and iffy for Tweens
Very good but I covered my eyes in parts so if you are planning to watch this with your kids be warned they may not sleep tonight!!!
Thanks...BaileyBoo44
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| Studio: | Screen Gems |
| Director: | Nelson McCormick |
| Cast: | Brittany Snow, Dana Davis, Johnathon Schaech |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 88 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 11, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | August 18, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and terror, some sexual material, underage drinking, and language. |
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