Give writer / producer Ruth Avergon some credit for injecting some interesting details into this movie, Lorimars' contribution to the slasher film cycle of the late '70s and early '80s. She had done some research into the headhunters of Papua New Guinea, and from that comes her idea for "Night School": the students at a girls school in Beacon Hill, Boston, are being decapitated, by a psychotic, savage motorcyclist. But that's not the fun part: the fun part is the killers' modus operandi includes leaving the heads in water, whether a duck pond, bucket, fish tank, or sink is used. What do the girls have in common? They're attending the anthropology class of a professor, Vincent Millett (Drew Snyder), who is apparently some sort of chick magnet.
Done in a style that hearkens back to the Italian giallo films that helped to inspire the slasher film, "Night School" may come as something of a disappointment to some fans of the sub genre. Its nudity is rather tastefully done, and while there is a fair amount of gore, the kills themselves are never shown. However, the movie benefits from its urban setting, and the filmmakers, led by director Kenneth Hughes ("Casino Royale" '67, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"), create some fine atmosphere, using the Old World flavour of the city to their advantage.
Among the talents behind the camera are composer Brad Fiedel ("Just Before Dawn", "The Terminator"), who gives this movie a wonderfully haunting score, and cinematographer Mark Irwin ("Videodrome", "Scream"), who was able to work quickly and efficiently. Adding a unique presence to a slasher movie is beautiful Brit brunette Rachel Ward, from whom it's hard to remove ones' eyes. She and Hughes were actually brought in to replace the original lead actress and director, but it's fortunate indeed that they got involved. Leonard Mann is the amiable, low key detective investigating, with the equally engaging Joseph R. Sicari as his comedy relief partner.
Filmed on a budget of about $1.2 million for a five week stretch in the cold Boston spring of 1980, "Night School" had actually won an award at the Avoriaz Film Festival in France, and remains a somewhat under appreciated slasher film. Granted, this is one of those stories where it ain't exactly too hard to figure out whodunit, but the movies' undeniable assets more than make up for that. It's a good, enjoyable horror film worthy of discovery or rediscovery.
Seven out of 10.
Done in a style that hearkens back to the Italian giallo films that helped to inspire the slasher film, "Night School" may come as something of a disappointment to some fans of the sub genre. Its nudity is rather tastefully done, and while there is a fair amount of gore, the kills themselves are never shown. However, the movie benefits from its urban setting, and the filmmakers, led by director Kenneth Hughes ("Casino Royale" '67, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"), create some fine atmosphere, using the Old World flavour of the city to their advantage.
Among the talents behind the camera are composer Brad Fiedel ("Just Before Dawn", "The Terminator"), who gives this movie a wonderfully haunting score, and cinematographer Mark Irwin ("Videodrome", "Scream"), who was able to work quickly and efficiently. Adding a unique presence to a slasher movie is beautiful Brit brunette Rachel Ward, from whom it's hard to remove ones' eyes. She and Hughes were actually brought in to replace the original lead actress and director, but it's fortunate indeed that they got involved. Leonard Mann is the amiable, low key detective investigating, with the equally engaging Joseph R. Sicari as his comedy relief partner.
Filmed on a budget of about $1.2 million for a five week stretch in the cold Boston spring of 1980, "Night School" had actually won an award at the Avoriaz Film Festival in France, and remains a somewhat under appreciated slasher film. Granted, this is one of those stories where it ain't exactly too hard to figure out whodunit, but the movies' undeniable assets more than make up for that. It's a good, enjoyable horror film worthy of discovery or rediscovery.
Seven out of 10.