Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
Mr_Ectoplasma
If you're a student at Lanier College, the only thing worse than being one of the few whose finals fall on the last day of the semester is being confronted with the madman who has arrived on campus just in time for the end of finals— and the end of lives, too. Needless to say, the unlucky coeds who are still at school won't be getting any studying done tonight.Free of the obligatory gore and gratuitous sex that dominated the '80s slasher as we know it, "Final Exam" takes its cues from "Halloween" and "Prom Night," emphasizing quiet terrors over confrontational scares. I was shocked by the fact that the film seems to have gotten a lot of flack from people who have deemed it far too "boring" and complained about its lack of "back story," so just let me say this: you're wrong. Is "Final Exam" a masterpiece? No. But its detractors are overlooking the fact that one of its most unique tenets is in that it fails to ascribe to the conventional stalk-and-slash formula by a madman with mommy issues. There are no masks, no motives, and no over-psychologizing of a mythical lunatic. It's a random account of a random killing spree, and while some feel that's a cop out, the flip side is that this approach is the film's greatest contribution toward anything original. When you strip the film down beyond that, it's fairly routine, though of a higher caliber than most films of its era. There is some classy cinematography and some deliciously creepy, subtle shots of the killer looming around. The film also makes ample use of its abandoned college campus setting, much like films such as "Girls Nite Out" and "The House on Sorority Row" did in the following years— but let's not forget, "Final Exam" was something of a pioneer for the college campus slasher as we know it, whether you want to admit it or not. Solid yet quirky performances from a cast of unknowns also help keep the film afloat.Overall, "Final Exam" truly does not get enough credit. As a slasher picture, it's a slow burner, but it's got enough eerie cinematography and ominous atmosphere to engage before the body count starts to rise. As I said before, it unabashedly takes its cues from "Halloween" and other slasher trend-setters from the late '70s, but its denial of a tedious back story or any real denouement forces it outside of the box, even if just a little. Either way, I found the film a splendid exercise in subtle spookiness, and I've never found a college campus so eerie—although maybe that's just because I went to college in the Bronx. 8/10.
gavin6942
A psycho killer shows up on college campus to slash up pretty co-eds and dumb jocks.This is not one of the better known slasher films out there, despite it coming out early on in the genre (1981). Why? Perhaps the lack of name actors or director? Most likely what makes it obscure is the same thing that makes it better than the average slasher: they tried to actually have real characters.Sure, we all like when the mean girls and boys get hacked up without ever really getting to know them. And that has its place. But then you also have this gem, where the killing is such a small part of the story (even with a high body count) that they rarely show it on camera.Now, with the Scream Factory Blu-Ray the picture and sound are better than ever (though, for first-timers like myself this may not be obvious). And there is a nice assortment of interviews and commentary on the disc, too, for fans who want to know a little bit more.
gwnightscream
This 1981 horror film stars Cecile Bagdadi, Joel Rice, Sherry Willis-Burch, DeAnna Robbins, John Fallon, Ralph Brown, Terry Farren and Timothy Raynor. This begins with a college couple getting murdered at a lake by a mysterious killer (Raynor). Soon, he heads to Lanier University during final exam week where he stalks a group of students, Courteney (Bagdadi), Radish (Rice), Janet (Burch), Lisa (Robbins), Mark (Fallon), Wildman (Brown) and Gary (Farren). One of the things about this film that bothers most people is that the killer & his intentions are anonymous, but I think it's creepier that way. It isn't a bad 80's slasher flick following in the footsteps of "Halloween" with a decent cast & eerie score. I recommend this if you enjoy horror/slasher flicks.
phillip palipousis
This isn't your typical slasher. It contains some pretty amusing character development, and unintentionally hilarious quotable lines. Watch for a young Tom Cruise as an extra in the classroom scene in the beginning.Highlights from the killer include kicking a victim in the balls, using the dumbwaiter(sp)/conveyor belt as an elevator, and catching an arrow out of the air and stabbing the person who shot it at him with it.Don't expect a Kubrick here, but it's a real gem hidden among a genre of garbage. Wildman, Radish, Frat Stud Gary, you live on in our hearts. The lack of a motive from the killer makes the film even better. Also, the terrorist frat prank is a brilliant touch.
