IMDb RATING
4.6/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
A teenage girl befriends a suspected high school slasher.A teenage girl befriends a suspected high school slasher.A teenage girl befriends a suspected high school slasher.
Donovan Leitch Jr.
- Brian Woods
- (as Donovan Leitch)
Brenda James
- Colleen
- (as Brenda Lynn Klemme)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
When I first rented this movie I thought I was in for your typical cheesy teen slasher movie; but this one was pretty good. So many of the characters were so freaky that you really aren't sure who's doing the killing until the last ten minutes of the film. The acting ranged from very bad to very good; with the best performance coming from actor Donovan Leitch (The Blob, Glory.) I bought a copy on VHS, now if they would just release it on DVD. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
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.
This movie is often ignored by horror fans, but pretty underrated. Yes its cheesy and yes the only reason most people will pick it up in a video store is because Brad Pitt is on the cover but it does have a huge overall entertainment factor. The story is typical of 80s teen slashers, and the movie does have a strong likeness to Prom Night, Slaughter High and Return to Horror High, which isn't a bad thing. The acting is OK but the story is very good, and the sense of 'whodunnit' is very gripping (almost as good as Scream). When the killer is revealed in the grand finale, the final battle of good and evil begins in one last fight!!! Its pretty darn good and if you have any hesitations in seeing it...just watch it and i'm sure you won't be disappointed!
A psychotic youth is released from his mental confinement and murders start happening all over a huge high school. Teachers, an assistant principal, and some coeds meet deadly ends in such various methods as impalement, burning in a kiln, axe to the head, slashing, and so forth. Is the crazed youth responsible, or is the murderer someone else? The ending is somewhat clever although in no way plausible. This is one of those eighties slasher flicks that does not know whether it is primarily a horror or a comedy. It DOES work better as the latter. The production is very nice and the film does boast some fine production values. The gore is limited despite the deaths, and the acting is adequate. The biggest flaw is the script which has more holes in it than a piece of cheesecloth. If you are able to put logic aside, the film can be a pleasant diversion. Certainly nothing more. Brad Pitt, Donavan Leitch, and Jill Schoelen star as the trio of youths the film centers around. Pitt is awful, though as one reviewer says he does not embarrass himself TOO much. Leith is suitably creepy, and Schoelen is beautiful if nothing else. The supporting cast is much better with the likes of Roddy McDowell, Martin Mull, Nancy Fish and other little known yet familiar faces. McDowell brings humour and class to his role as the principal, though he has very little to do. Mull is the funniest in his purely comedic role. In fact, Mull's performance has to make this a horror comedy rather than a horror film. Once you see the film you will understand why. Another bright spot is Brenda James, solely because she is one hot little number. So if you are looking for pointless, mindless fun...Cutting Class makes the grade.
I like this movie a lot. The Yeti gives it a thumbs-up! The plot is just like any other slasher film. Murderer stalking at a school. The problem for this murderer is you know he'll lose. The killings are creative but not very gory. The acting is good and the characters like Shultz the caretaker and the P.E teacher are funny. It kicks ass for guessing the killer and I bet you don't get it. Well, you might. 7 out of 10
Did you know
- TriviaJill Schoelen and Brad Pitt met on this film and eventually became engaged, though they never got married.
- GoofsThe clothes that Paula and Dwight wear in the scene where Paula models for the art class are the same clothes they wear later in the film on the day when Mrs. Knocht is murdered, which takes place after the art teacher's murder. However, in scenes that take place during the day of the art teacher's death, Paula and Dwight wear outfits that are different from those in the modeling scene.
- Quotes
Dwight Ingalls: You know, Your fathers a lot bigger than I am. Of course, I bigger where it REALLY counts!
- Alternate versionsThe US Lionsgate DVD is advertised as the Unrated Version though it actually features a badly edited print. Missing are shots of blood spurts during Gary's throat slashing, the teacher with the axe in his head, Brian being hit with a hammer, and shots of a bloody Brian as he falls on the chainsaw. UK releases feature the fully uncut print.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Siskel & Ebert Interviews (1996)
- SoundtracksGUYS LIKE GIRLS
Written by Charles Gray, Ned Leukhardt, Mark Moreland and Andy Prieboy (as Andrew Prieboy)
Performed by Wall of Voodoo
Music Corporation of America, Inc. (BMI) and Skeek Music
Used by permission of MCA Music Publishing
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Apprenti tueur
- Filming locations
- Excelsior High School - 15711 Pioneer Boulevard, Norwalk, California, USA(Furley High - High school scenes.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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