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A killer on the loose is murdering students and teachers from a cool high school. Now it's up to the popular kids and the most ignored of them, recently released from a psychiatric hospital, to solve the mystery behind the murders. In this almost ludicrous and predictable whodunit, everything is what appears to be and our fun is to see how foolish director and writer can get while coming up with obvious devices that doesn't even try to fool and impress the viewers. Maybe some of the violence was unexpected but they sure were looking for the laughs. And this is a barrel of laughter.

C'mon, it's not that bad. It's embarrassingly fun to watch a bunch of actors fully knowing they're stinking on scene, trying hard to look authentic and reliable, in this sort of parody of teen slasher flicks. A pretty good trash, now with a heavy cult following from Brad Pitt fans who are curious in seeing one of his earliest roles. And truth be told, he's the only one who worked the hardest to look good enough, in opposition to the cheesy acting from almost everyone. But Donovan Leitch steals the show in a weird way. As the troubled and lonesome Brian Woods, he's the most memorable face from this thing with his terrifying yet good looking eyes and face, a Ricky Fits kind of character - definitely not obsessed, just curious. But why does he have to dress like Frankenstein?

Although heavily inspired but countless (and better) movies, this one had its original parts. High point is when the killer challenges the math teacher to solve a difficult equation and discover which door from the classroom is the safe passage. That scene had me giving some nervous laughs.

It's enjoyable but only when you're in the mood to have fun and not take anything you see here in a serious way. But in the end "Cutting Class" shows us that skipping class is far more worse than killing people. Ouch. 6/10

I think it'd be fair to say that, if Cutting Class didn't have Brad Pitt, the entire would would have forgotten about it in '89.

On the surface, the concept of Cutting Class isn't terrible. It seems like it would have potential to be fairly fun. Plus, we're given the fabulous Jill Scholen as our leading lady and her track record with horror projects is pretty solid from The Stepfather to Popcorn. Surely, she wouldn't sign on to a turkey, right?

Sadly, this is wrong. Very wrong. Poor Scholen has very little to do, nor does the rest of the cast, including a very strangely placed Martin Mull and Roddy McDowell who must have owed someone a favor.

The tone varies between weird comedy and bland slashings, but neither work well by themselves and they certainly don't gel well together. Maybe the script read better than the film turned out. It's also shot with zero style and looks like an impossibly bland TV movie.

Cutting Class isn't worth a revisit. Bank some erasers together instead.

High school student Paula Carson is adored by her jerk of a boyfriend, Dwight Ingalls, but new eyes have caught her attention. Brian Woods, a quiet loner who has just been released from a mental hospital after being there for the mysterious death of his father. Not too long people are disappearing and bodies are piling up at Wurley High and Brian is first to be accused by Dwight because of his disturbing past. Although Dwight has been losing it lately and now Paula is put in the situation of finding out who is telling the truth.

Now the memories are flooding back. Think of homework, uptight teachers, a weird headmaster, obnoxious twits, a deranged loner and some… murdering? What in the name!? Yeah "Cutting Class" is a forgettable, been-there-done-that and lame high school slasher. Despite that suggestion at least it's never boring, and it's slightly entertains as it breezes by quite easily. The pain is virtually bearable, but a top cast with middling performances make little headway in this low-end 80s slasher effort. The main problem here is that it tries really hard for a funny bone and then it would turn all serious, but it just doesn't come off with the right results. It's just too stupid to be funny and ridiculous to be taken straight. It just can't win! What shaped it was the hopeless charm that scraped the surface with its campy frame and fine turns by the reliable Roddy McDowall and the extremely lovely Jill Schoelen ("Stepfather" and "Popcorn"). Martin Mull even appears in his own little (if meaningless)side-story as some sort of comic relief character. Donavan Leitch does fine in his spooky staring down poses.

Sure the main curiosity for this flick would be that of a young Brad Pitt. His performance is very lacking, but fans of his might still check it out as his a main lead. All he does is leech about and his cocky character is just too unlikeable to care for. The plot is weak; that's there's not much to hang a story off (and still there are holes!) and to throw you off track, as the red herrings are downright ineffective. Just who is committing these murders? Well, it doesn't take an Einstein to figure out, as it's basically telegraphed to you. It follows a derivative style of every other slasher flick. Clichés are not excused. The dialogues are lousy, despite it's tongue-in-cheek tone and hammy one-liners. Killing it is a funky 80s soundtrack that you don't want to purchase after hearing it.

The semi-professional production looked adequate and it sported a colourful and brightly lit decor. The direction by Rospo Pallenberg is stale and tensionless. Wait to your eyes see one idiotic climax involving power tools and an unbelievably rash decision by the killer. The cruel deaths are unimaginative and have little, if no blood and gore. Those looking for obligatory nude flashes have to cope with blink and you miss it moments.

A real lemon of a flick, but still I found this mindless slasher watchable… thank-you Schoelen.

By the end of the 80s, the traditional slasher movie had pretty much run its course, the genre becoming too formulaic and over-familiar to its jaded audience. Rospo Pallenberg's Cutting Class is an attempt at sending up such conventions, but it's hard to poke fun at a genre that has already unintentionally turned to self parody, and the film winds up being virtually indistinguishable from the countless genuine films that it intends to mock.

Jill Schoelen stars as virginal and studious teen Paula Carson, object of affection for two ex-best-buds, overbearing basketball jock Dwight Ingalls (Brad Pitt) and creepy loner Brian Woods (Donovan Leitch). When Paula is left on her own for a week while her father, a district attorney, goes duck hunting, she promises to behave, but with rival friends fighting for her attention, the school principal (Roddy McDowall) perving over her ass, and a crazy murderer bumping off her schoolmates, staying out of trouble is going to be harder than she thinks.

Cutting Class certainly makes sure to pack in all the standard genre clichés, with red herrings and misleading clues a plenty (hands up who though that sodium chloride would actually save the day: I know I did), but veers awkwardly between silly humour (Paula's bumbling dad somehow surviving to the end of the film) and genuine attempts at horror (the killing of the school's vice principal), delivering crappy gore featuring patently rubber props and uninspired direction along the way.

The acting also does little to improve matters, with future A-lister Pitt being unmemorable, unlikeable and offering no hint of star quality, Leitch giving an equally unimpressive turn, and a performance from poor old Roddy McDowall that can only be described as extremely embarrassing. Thank heavens for the lovely Schoelen, who is as winsome as she was in Popcorn and The Stepfather, and makes the whole film just about worthwhile by simply showing off her magnificent butt.

Cutting Class is a late eighties slasher flick that delivers on the most pathetic of levels. It actually has a good cast featuring Jill Schoelen, Brad Pitt, Roddy McDowell and Donovan Leitch. But even with these actors the movie is a complete failure, in my opinion.

Leitch plays the part of Brian who has been released from a psychiatric ward for murdering his Father fives years ago. Upon return to School, his old friend Dwight (Pitt) decides he would rather humiliate him than to be his friend again. Jill Schoelen plays Paula who is Dwights girlfriend and is the love interest of Brian, also. Suddenly, teachers and students are turning up missing or dead and it comes down to whether Brian is the killer or Dwight is the killer.

I saw this film many years ago and had trouble sitting through it then. I don't know why things would be different now. The script is laughable and the actors try to do their best but still turns out bad. What Roddy McDowell is doing in this movie playing a perverted principal is beyond me. Such a great actor and to end up in trash like this is just sad. The actor that does the best with his character is Brad Pitt. He does a surprisingly decent job. The murder scenes are extremely weak with a few off screen killings and one killing with a very fake ax to the head. Just disappointing... 3/10

Cutting Class, what can I say about that one. After half a hour watching nothing really happened except for one killing that isn't worth watching. Other things I saw were bikini's and underwear and of course cheerleaders. And still there is a killer prowling around. If you are into horror you will immediately know who the killer is so no suspense there. Yes, they are trying to mislead you by solving who the killer is but it is too late. By then you know that it really sucks. It's not bloody or scary even as they have put some nudity in it and first person shots of the killer. It's really a flick you watch as a teenager and to see Brad Pitt in his earlier performances. But it is also a perfect example why the slashers killed their selves. If it wasn't for Pitt the movie surely would vanish in the VHS era and would never be released on DVD, watch the sleeves, it's Pitt on it and that's all. For the teenagers around '89 there was another reason to watch this flick. Jill Schoelen. She was one of the idols around then and here she shows a bit of herself and she also was a bit of a name in the PG13 horror of that time. She's also know for Popcorn, The Bite 2 and of course the original The Stepfather were she's nude too. Admit it, with all the tools seen at the end they surely could have made a real slasher but instead they choose to make a copier as a killing subject?! This one is easy to find in bargains so don't hesitate to see a cutting crap.

Terrible slice'n'dice film. Brian (Donovan Leitch) has just been released from a mental institution where he had extensive electroshock therapy. He falls for sweet lovable Paula (Jill Schoelen) but she loves "bad boy" Dwight (Brad Pitt). Then murders start happening. Is it Dwight or Brian? You won't care.

The murders are pretty bloodless--the story is stupid--the comedy horrible--the dialogue lame. One of the worst horror movies of its time--and that's saying quite a bit! It would be completely forgotten today if not for Pitt's role in it. He himself has said it's the worst movie he ever made. Also don't let top-billed Martin Mull or Roddy McDowall fool you--they're hardly in the move.

Abysmal. Only watch if you're interested in seeing Pitt embarrass himself. A 1.

High school slasher movie, both students and teachers are getting bumped off by an unknown killer. The Golden Age of the slasher movie was well and truly over by 1989 but there were still a few being made. Somehow Cutting Class passed me by, until I recently picked up an old copy on VHS. Although not particularly gory there are a few inventive deaths, though it takes a while to get going. There is a lot of humour to be found, very cheesy, but it helps make for easy, reasonably entertaining, simple viewing. Roddy McDowall puts in a decent performance but this movie is best known as being Brad Pitt's first major role. He was 26 when this was released but his boyish good looks almost make his teenage character believable. Don't expect too much from Cutting Class and you will not be disappointed.

"Cutting Class" is easily one of the most awful slasher flicks from the late 80's.Brian returns back to college aged 18 after spending five years in a mental asylum for killing his father.He tries to worm his way back into the lives of his ex-best friend Dwight and Paula his old flame.And suddenly a bunch of people start dying,in the most bizarre and stupid ways in slasher film history.There is for example death by pottery kiln,death by photocopier,but my favourite is the old classic,flagpole under a trampoline so the fascist Gym teacher gets impaled on the American Flag."Cutting Class" is a stinking piece of crap filled with silly jokes and a little bit of gore.The acting is downright horrible and the characters are completely flat.There is no suspense and the killings are lame.This film is clearly as bad as "Hollow Gate" or "Return to Horror High".Avoid it like a plague.1 out of 10.

This teen slasher flick doesn't try to be different from others in the genre, but it has everything to succeed : it has a hot female lead character, sex related scenes, and gore.

And for the girls : it features a young Brad Pitt.

The 3 main characters of the movie are well developed, and the ending may be predictable but it works. I don't recommend "Cutting Class" but it's a slasher flick, and that makes it watchable.

Someone is killing students and staff at a local high school. Cutting Class won't be the only crime committed in this fairly unknown late 80's slasher.

The film begins with introducing us to Paula, a young high school student who is dating a popular jock type named Dwight. A fellow student of theirs Brian has just been released from a psychiatric facility and we seen that he and Paula have a little chemistry with one another. This of course makes Dwight very jealous which leads to many fights and arguments between the two teen boys. As the movie goes on, an unseen assailant starts attacking and murdering members of the school faculty, all of whom have either upset or affected Paula in some negative way. Once the killer is revealed, it will be up to Paula to escape death and end their reign of terror.

Cutting Class was an average addition to the late 80's slasher genre, giving the audience nothing they haven't seen before. The whodunit plot was super predictable which took a lot of the fun out of watching the entire movie. Some of the scenes and dialogue were super corny, especially surrounding Paula's dad and his hunting trip gone wrong. I think the movie could've done without it honestly. In terms of positives, I enjoyed the Paula character (mostly due to Jill Schoelen and her final girl brilliance).

In terms of acting, we get Brad Pitt in his film debut (a film he no doubt wants to forget exists). I thought he was a great actor as the lead male, juggling the hero and villain role very well. Jill Schoelen was her usual awesome self, she really excelled in these "final girl" horror roles throughout the late 80's into the early 90's. Other than that, we get almost cameo like appearances from Roddy McDowall and Martin Mull. Nothing spectacular.

Overall, Cutting Class is watchable, but will definitely not blow your mind with entertainment and scares. It's a fun sleepy murder mystery at times and features a very young Brad Pitt, but can drag on a bit and the ending is ho-hum at best, very predictable. If you're a horror completist like myself, I'd give it at least a watch.

5/10.

Before the shop teachers could get a hold of me, before I was in college and my parents finally had time to be at home, this was the film that taught me "righty tighty, lefty loosey." Unfortunately that was about all it was good for at the time. Still, at least it had an effect on someone who watched it. At least it taught an unsupervised little 9-year-old boy something that he's used the rest of his life.

Yeah, other than that it's a throw-away film. I mean, you have a famous actor making a movie that famous actors NEVER seem to be in and that on itself is interesting and cool...

...but otherwise it's a throw away film. You watch it late at night, you watch it on a rainy Sunday afternoon...and otherwise you forget all about it until you mention to your friends from the 80s that, Brad was in it and then suddenly they click on that light and are moderately shocked he'd be in a trash thriller.

I can't tell you to stay away from it, because it does entertain and I can't tell you to watch it because, well, it is kinda a junker.

I recently watched the Brad Pitt '80s slasher Cutting Class (1989) on Tubi. The storyline follows a high school girl torn between two best friends vying for her affection. One is the perfect jock, while the other is a bad boy, recently released from a correctional facility for killing his parents. As people around town start turning up dead, it becomes clear that one of her suitors is the killer-but which one?

Directed by Rospo Pallenberg (Exorcist II: The Heretic), the film stars Donovan Leitch (The Blob), Jill Schoelen (The Stepfather), Brad Pitt (Se7en), Roddy McDowall (Fright Night), and Martin Mull (Clue).

This movie is quintessentially '80s in terms of its storyline, characters, and overall vibe. It features a young Brad Pitt before he became a household name, and he delivers a fun, somewhat comedic performance. The film also boasts a great '80s soundtrack, and the settings fit the plot well. However, that's where the positives end. The horror elements were underwhelming, with weak kills and mostly cutaway scenes. The corpses were decent, but the gore is minimal. The ending is predictable, though it retains some of that nostalgic '80s charm.

In conclusion, Cutting Class is a below-average '80s slasher that's notable primarily for featuring an early Brad Pitt. I'd rate it 5/10 and only recommend it to diehard fans of the genre.

The stage curtains open ...

"I was a murderer! It wasn't as prestigious as being a doctor or a lawyer. But, the hours were good."

I'm catching up on some of the horror movies I missed from the 80's and 90's - and for whatever reason, "Cutting Class" was one I never did see. Until now. It actually had a pretty good cast. Roddy McDowall as the school Principal. Jill Schoelen as the main character, Paula, and Martin Mull as her Dad. Donovan Leitch looking like a young Christopher Walken, and Brad Pitt in an early role looking like a young ... Brad Pitt. It has been billed as a black comedy/horror film that takes place primarily in and around a high school. And that was all I knew about it going in.

The story starts with a father going away on a hunting trip advising his teenage daughter, Paula (Schoelen), to behave herself, do her homework, and not to cut class. When the father arrives to his destination, the film's action starts early and he is pierced by an arrow. Surviving the attack, he begins to crawl out, calling for help. Paula goes to school where she is the object of desire from, not only her boyfriend, Dwight (Pitt), but also Brian (Leitch), a boy just recently released from a mental institution due to circumstances surrounding his father's death. Even the school Principal has a "thing" for Paula. Soon, teachers and students turn up missing or dead placing Paula right in the middle of it all, not knowing who to trust.

This film was just "okay". It is very trendy of the time it came out, with music and fashion that screams 80's. It was helmed by a first time director, Rospo Pallenberg, and it shows. The pacing was pretty good, and that helps to keep your attention, but the plot and acting was subpar at best. The film does not flow very well, nothing really gels - it is choppy and devoid of any real character development. Any attempts at humor are lost with most of those ending up in eye rolls and head shakes. It is a forgotten film and it is easy to see why it flew under my own radar.

Despite its failings, it was still overall a fun slice of 80's slasher horror, and though it isn't one of the best of its kind, it is worth a watch - if anything, to see Brad Pitt in a very early role before he became a name. I wouldn't recommend it, but I wouldn't advise anyone to avoid it either. I might even watch it again sometime down the road. I have rated it a decent 5 stars out of 10. If you don't mind pointless, cookie cutter 80's fare, you'd probably enjoy this one.

I'm not sure exactly what "Cutting Class" was trying to be. Horror or comedy? If it was striving for the latter, it succeeded. The supposed "scary" scenes and acting were hilarious, unbelievable and annoying at times. The killer was terrible and the cliches rain galore, NOT acceptable for 1989.(10 years + into the slasher craze,and the time when they were dying down completely). Usually movies like this at least attempt to scare the audience, this one attempts and just fails completely. Terrible start for Brad Pitts career.

Obvious red herring vs what become obvious red herrings, given the abuse of the now modern formula one will likely find themselves suspecting any and all by its end. The kills are few and far between, but each carries a sense of raw visceralism, and you likely won't look at a flag the same again.

Not sure how I have not seen nor heard of this till now. Much of it tends to somewhat drag but I found myself oddly surprised at the killer reveal(s) and conclusionary finale of what becomes a sort of running gag throughout (Help!)