Alliance Films
Newmarket Films
When I was sent to see this remake of the 1980 Jamie Lee Curtis flick, I went unknowing of the events held by the original, as I had never seen it. My mind was open and my heart free to feel the events that were held in store.
From the minute the credits began to roll the scene was instantly set, visions of where the events took place and the characters involved. By having the back history of the main character Donna (Brittany Snow), the viewer is able to relate to what she has previously been through before finding out what will happen to her next.
There are a few reasons why this movie worked so well – suspense being at the top of the list. By having the viewer on the edge of their seat, not knowing what was waiting around the corner, the director has a way of playing on their emotions. By doing this, trivial things, like pigeons flying or tripping over something can startle even the toughest of viewers.
A big round of applause goes out to director Nelson McCormick, as without the creativity and visions expressed, this film wouldn’t be half as effective as it was. Imagery is another reason for the films success as it gets a viewer rolling with emotions. Starting from the first scene with a flashback of previous events to the stalker appearing from the darkness of the closet, like a mutant from the X-Files. A tingly sensation runs through your body as if you were apart of the film. At one point the lights flicker over the stalker, Fenton, emitting a crazed look with his eyes appearing to light up.
The music held within this flick brought back memories of the first time I saw Halloween. Much like in that film, music is used as part of the anticipation and anxiety created. As well as keeping scenes with little dialogue enjoyable, the music creates emotions and feelings that cannot be put into words; the melancholy of the opening music floats through the entire film. The sound effects also play a role in grabbing a viewer and pulling them into the screen. The build up to a stabbing scene for example keeps an audience on their toes as well as creates the occasional false jump.
Many of us like the 20th/21st century slasher films where blood pours from wounds and the more blood preset within a flick the better. This film is the complete opposite and is significant for the fact that it reverts away from such images, so the only horrific blood scene is when someone gets their throat slit; the cause can not be seen, only the effect.
This film has a wonderful cast behind it, the most incredible being Brittany Snow. She helps the anxiousness; disbelief and terror cross from screen to individual through her facial expressions. She has been transformed from a blond Barbie doll in Hairspray to a terrified young girl. From the heartbreaking moment she sees her mother killed, the contentment of her prom to the horror and distress towards the end, the audience connect with her character and feel her emotions; she has a way of putting everything she experiences through to the crowd just by the look on her face.
To top off an already amazing film is a car chase to save Snow’s character from sudden death. Prom Night is a must see this summer.
Michelle Moore