Pioneering a new genre, films like Bob Clark’s 1974 film Black Christmas and John Carpenter’s 1978 classic Halloween laid the foundation for the Slasher boom during the 1980s. A time where there were more Slasher films, perhaps than any other being produced in the Horror genre, it felt like a new masked killer with a blade was stalking theater screens every weekend through the latter part of the decade. Some were of better quality than others; the common denominator each had was a shroud of mystery, not knowing who the killer was, usually until the final moments. At the same time, some might view it as formulated and contrived. However, in 1980, one of the best Slasher films with a simple approach arrived by the name of Prom Night.
Celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2025, it is film directed by Paul Lynch (who would have a lengthy career in film/television going onto direct episodes of the ‘80s edition of The Twilight Zone and the ‘90s RoboCop series), it written by William Gray (who wrote such must watch Horror films like 1980’s The Changeling) from a story developed by Robert Guza Jr. (who went onto to be a head writer for the hit Soap Opera General Hospital).
Furthermore, it was produced by Peter R. Simpson (who continued Prom Night with a series of sequels, plus also directed 1983’s overlooked Horror film Curtains) and featured cinematography from Robert C. New (who did a superb job behind the camera with such films as 1986’s Night of the Creeps). A talented mix of names attached to Prom Night, it also had star power in front of the camera with Jamie Lee Curtis (who had come off success with Halloween and was busy becoming a Screen Queen icon with roles three 1980 Horror releases alone with The Fog, Prom Night, and Terror Train) and veteran talented Actor Leslie Nielsen (who was a hit in 1980 with Airplane!, paving the way for other Comedy roles such The Naked Gun in 1988).
Joining these stars you had another veteran cast members such as George Touliatos and Antoinette Bower, but also young, up and coming talents playing key roles such as Casey Stevens, Anne-Marie Martin (who went onto to a successful career in film, and also co-wrote 1996’s Twister), Mary Beth Rubens (who worked through the ‘80s regularly), Joy Thompson, and Michael Tough.
Altogether, Prom Night had a balance of everything going for it, including a decent budget for a Slasher film with Avco Embassy Pictures picking it up for distribution, even though Paramount Pictures was interested, but only wanted to give it a limited release, and ironically picked up Friday the 13th for distribution in its place. Funny how things turn out, Prom Night would go on to a broader release and become a formatable hit, grossing $15 million in the USA alone and going on to become Canada’s highest-grossing Horror film of that year. Impressive, in a year that produced a ton of memorable Horror films, Prom Night was only behind The Shining, Friday the 13th, and The Fog in terms of earnings.
One can be jaded and say that Prom Night’s initial success was only because Slashers were all the rage at the time, but if you peel back layers, you will see it is quite a solid Horror film with a straightforward, yet very effective attack. Breaking it down, the plot unfolds as five kids play a game called “The Killer is Coming” in an abandoned building. A bit disturbing, the kids are stalking one another, until they corner one of them, ruthlessly chanting at her until she accidentally falls out of the upper floor window to her death. Panicking, the kids make a pact never to tell anyone what happened and move on with their lives—clearly a bad approach. Fast forward to their senior year of high school; as prom night approaches, strange incidents start to happen, leading you to believe that someone else knew exactly what happened in a fatal childish game years earlier. Who is it? Will they exact revenge for it? Moreover, what is their motive?
The main gist of Prom Night, the story plays out as a bit of slow burn leading up to the big night, but if you follow it all, there is plenty that stands out. From soft focus and a hazy look in the main scenes to the character development of each of those involved, you soon figure out who the likable and unlikeable characters are.
All of this makes Prom Night a table setter for the beginning of Slasher dominance in the 1980s and the remainder of the decade. At this point, perhaps a little more obscure than other more mainstream films released at the time, like the aforementioned Friday the 13th, it is still well worth watching and should be on any Horror lover’s top ten list of Slashers.
Oddly enough, Prom Night became an unlikely Horror franchise, with Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II arriving in 1987, Prom Night III: The Last Kiss in 1990, and Prom Night IV: Deliver Us from Evil in 1992. Although they have no relation to the original film whatsoever, they have some redeeming values, but should not be considered real sequels. There was even a Prom Night remake in 2008, which tried to capitalize on remaking ’80s films, similar to The Fog in 2005 and Black Christmas in 2006, among others. Something that could be insulting to the senses of those who respect original films, the original Prom Night still reigns supreme.
That is why it is exciting to learn that 1980’s Prom Night can be seen in a superior resolution than the early digital era DVD release from 1998. While there is no official release date of a 4K Ultra HD edition of Prom Night just yet, it is indeed coming, thanks to Synapse Films. Announced in August 2025, the upgrade promises a new 4K scan with Dolby Vision, new bonus features, and will be a hot ticket for fans upon arrival. However, those eager to experience Prom Night in an improved format can also check out Synapse Films’ 2014 Special Edition Blu-ray release.
Released in September 2014, the special edition of Prom Night includes a fantastic 2K resolution transfer, 5.1 surround remix, plus many bonus features such as interviews, outtakes, and The Horrors of Hamilton High: The Making of Prom Night. Complete with a reversible sleeve featuring classic theatrical art on one side and newer, yet compelling art on the other, it is currently the best home media option for Prom Night.
Of course, this could change with the anticipated 4K Ultra HD edition of Prom Night, pending release from Synapse Films. Something to keep a tab on for more news: until then, do not sleep on Prom Night, because 45 years later, it remains a cut above the caldron of ’80s Slashers.
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