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Prom Night III: The Last Kiss 1989 ★★★★
I was looking for something silly and stupid and boy, did this deliver.
The concept? The closest thing that I can think of is: imagine if the blowjob dream scene from Ghostbusters came alive and was stretched into a 90 minute Prom Night sequel. What would that be like?
You would end up with a main character having sex with a ghost and then waking up naked, wrapped in the Stars and Stripes for no apparent reason. Or the inexplicable POV shot of a character being buried.
That should give you an idea of where this movie is heading, complete with a silly plot, funny and creative kills and hilarious dialogue. For one, listen principal Weatheroff's odd speech. He has nothing on Lassard. Or the main character calling his parents in the best “they're not even trying”-phonecall I have heard in a long time.
It should also be noted that the script was probably written by someone who clearly has (more than a few) frustrations about his time in school. What with lines like “Who will miss another science teacher?” or “It was not a person, just a guidance counselor.”
One more thing that struck me: a sequel to Prom Night only works up to said prom when they are over half way through. The prom itself is only the last 20-25 minutes, complete with a Guns n Roses knockoff, the zombies clapping for the Prom King and Queen and the death of tonight's Artie Ziff.
Well recommended for those in the mood of something they can cackle their ass off at and not take it too seriously. Because, hey... if you want something dumb, then at least have something that does dumb well.
Piranha 1978 ★★★½
As much as it is a cult classic in its own right today, Piranha started off as one of the many Jaws-knockoffs that the late seventies spawned. It makes no bones about it with among others the computer game in the beginning. Or the crooked business man replacing the Jaws-mayor. A suit with anchors on it? I would not put it beyond him. Would you? Much like its "muse movie", it also shows no mercy towards children.
That said, better well stolen than poorly made up. And this one does have qualities. The kills get more and more gruesome and bloody as the story continues. Some of the beats of the genre, like the scientist making the heroic sacrifice, are actually well done. Or the scarety cat kid ending up saving people.
And let's not mince words, the bit where the main characters try to get the raft to shore in time was genuinely scary. The piranhas eating away at the chords, the logs breaking off and floating away one by one,... Good stuff. The decisive sequence, though tension filled as well, even looks a bit pale in comparison.
Two thumbs up. Or at least as far away from the water as possible.
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