This 41-minute retrospective documentary offers a nice and illuminating peak at the making of the early 80's cult classic slasher "Prom Night." Among the people interviewed are director Paul Lynch, composer Paul Zaza, actors Jeff Wincott and Michael Tough, make-up artist Warren Keillor, art director Reuben Freed, and actresses Mary Beth Rubens and Joy Thompson. Lynch reveals that he got the idea for the plot from a motel billboard, Eve Plumb was originally considered for the lead, and that Jamie Lee Curtis's managers contacted the producers about casting her in the film. Everyone remembers Curtis as both a complete professional and sweet person while Leslie Nielsen was a jokester on the set who cracked everyone up with his fart machine. Thompson was asked to do some nudity, but refused to do so and had someone hold her feet during the shooting of her death scene. Tough kept the mask that he wore in the movie. Zaza had to write all the disco songs in five days because the producers couldn't afford to pay the clearance rights to more popular hit disco songs. Moreover, we also find out that make-up artist Warren Keillor still has the fake head that he made for the decapitation scene, two different locations were used for the high school, and the movie was shot in twenty-four days. Recommended viewing for fans of the film.
2 Reviews
Good Look at the Making of Prom Night
Michael_Elliott13 June 2015
The Horrors Of Hamilton High (2014)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Well-detailed and highly entertaining 41 minute documentary taking a look at the making of the Canadian slasher PROM NIGHT. Director Paul Lynch starts off talking in great detail about how he came up with the idea and how a chance meeting caused the film to go into production very quickly. He also talks about the original story, seeking a screenwriter and then getting into the casting of the picture. He also tells how Jamie Lee Curtis and her agent approached them for the part and how she actually had to audition for the role. From here we get cast members Mary Beth Rubens, Joy Thompson, Jeff Wincott and Michael Tough who all discuss how they got the role and various other subjects including what it was like working with Curtis and Leslie Neilson. Overall this is certainly a very entertaining featurette that fans of the film will love since there's so much detail given about the making of the picture. It's too bad that Curtis wasn't interviewed for the featurette and especially when you consider she's discussed just about all of her horror roles in great detail. There are several great stories told here but the highlight is certainly the stuff dealing with Nielson and a fart machine.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Well-detailed and highly entertaining 41 minute documentary taking a look at the making of the Canadian slasher PROM NIGHT. Director Paul Lynch starts off talking in great detail about how he came up with the idea and how a chance meeting caused the film to go into production very quickly. He also talks about the original story, seeking a screenwriter and then getting into the casting of the picture. He also tells how Jamie Lee Curtis and her agent approached them for the part and how she actually had to audition for the role. From here we get cast members Mary Beth Rubens, Joy Thompson, Jeff Wincott and Michael Tough who all discuss how they got the role and various other subjects including what it was like working with Curtis and Leslie Neilson. Overall this is certainly a very entertaining featurette that fans of the film will love since there's so much detail given about the making of the picture. It's too bad that Curtis wasn't interviewed for the featurette and especially when you consider she's discussed just about all of her horror roles in great detail. There are several great stories told here but the highlight is certainly the stuff dealing with Nielson and a fart machine.
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