Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)

With Death Note being a bit of a downer, I decided that I would venture into something completely different. After searching my streaming services, I decided on the 1987 supernatural sequel Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II.

Plot/ Thirty years after her accidental death at her 1957 senior prom, the tortured spirit of prom queen Mary Lou Maloney returns to seek revenge.

I remember seeing this when it came out. As a fan of the original Prom Night with Jamie Lee Curtis, I was somewhat disappointed in the change of direction with the sequel. However, after watching it again, I found it a decent flashback to the classic 1980s cheese that seemed to become more prevalent as the decade wore on. While this one had almost zero connection to the original and was a complete mixture of multiple supernatural classics (The Exorcist, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Carrie for a start), this one was fun and mindless. Most importantly, it was not afraid of pushing the boundaries or limits of the rating system (something it seems like no films will do today). Sure, the looks are dated, the performances were uneven, it lacked the tension from the slasher craze, the storyline was unoriginal, and it was rather predictable, but there was a decent amount of blood and it created an interesting departure from what many would have expected. In the end, this is in no way a great movie and it is quite mindless, but it can serve its purpose as background fodder on a slow afternoon. Give it a shot; you could do worse.

Prom Night (1980)

As I continue to move through the Midnight Horror Collection (Volume 1), I decided to finally watch the 1980 slasher Prom Night. As a kid growing up, this was one of those films that left an impression on me, and one that I remember to this day.

Plot/ For six long years, Hamilton High School seniors Kelly, Jude, Wendy, and Nick have been hiding the truth of what happened to ten-year-old Robin Hammond the day her broken body was discovered near an old abandoned convent. The foursome kept secret how they taunted Robin - backed her into a corner until, frightened, she stood on a window ledge... and fell to her death. Though an accident, the then-twelve-year-olds feared they'd be held responsible and vowed never to tell. But someone else was there that day... watching. And now, that someone is ready to exact murderous revenge-on prom night.

I remember this from when it came out in 1980; I will never forget watching the head roll down the stage. This is not to mention Jamie Lee Curtis cementing her position as the Scream Queen of the day.  While, this is the typical slasher, full of cliché moments and trappings, this one succeeds where some others fail. It boasts some good characterization, solid acting, and a perfect soundtrack that creates a dark and eerie atmosphere throughout. Plus, the plot actually creates a decent mystery that builds and holds you from start to finish. Yes, there are some flaws such as lighting and uneven effects (not to mention disco, wow, I do remember those days). However, this is a much better film than the modern incarnation and one that can be found on the cheap. A must watch for slasher fans or true fans of 1980s horror.