Hello Mary Lou - Prom Night 2 (DVD, 2008)

This one brings back memories. I remember it being a staple of USA channel weekend and Halloween-time late night Horror marathons, and it brings back all those youthful memories of the mid-90s and when Halloween actually felt like a holiday. I remember for years it was nearly impossible to locate a VHS copy, and upon browsing Best Buy last week, I stumbled upon this classic; finally getting it's day in the sun.

Prom Night II has no ties the classic Jamie Lee Curtis slasher, aside it's title and that the prom is the central point of the plot, it is a fresh start. Prom Night II is so cliche, and underestimatedly original. Its very self aware and never hides that it quietly pokes fun of its outrageous plot. I can name a dozen movies it borrows from, such as "Back To The Future", "A Nightmare of Elm Street 2", "Carrie", "The Exorcist", and so on. All of those movies also lie at the heart of Prom Night II's self aware satire, and more so, it's pop culture satire. Prom Night II works because it is very exploitive of the horror and, then-modern, film culture and allows itself only to be serious enough to move the plot forward and maintain believability within its own tongue in cheek realm.

Prom Night II has modest production values that are at worse an average outing within the 80s Horror genre. The cast is surprisingly very good. Lisa Schrage does a very fun, light hearted take on the killer ex-Prom Queen Mary Lou. She genuinely shines and makes you wonder how, with such a memorable performance, this film fell between the cracks. Wendy Lyon impressed me as the girl possessed by Mary Lou's venegeful ghost. She obviously put a lot into this role, as her performances are polar opposites, and her extroverted mannerisms as the "possessed" Vicki Carpenter are identical as Mary Lou's. Acting standards are very low in this genre, and to see an entire cast shine really sticks out.

Prom Night II has some very inspired moments, and the constant hallucinations of the characters' experiences in the 1957 Prom invoke many genuine scenes of odd sentimentality; you are able to feel that sense of a lost world and time that only exists in the character's memory, and even more oddly, even Mary Lou has an empathetic moment and rememberance of simply dancing at her Prom when she's finally crowned.

A 50s doo-wop soundtrack by original artists, some inspired scenes, and impressively memorable dialogue from a disregarded step-child of a film that was cursed to Joe Bob Briggs trailer park movie nights...well, it just churns my stomach. Seriously folks, you'll find yourself saying lines like "See ya later, alligator." and "I paid $64 for my hair tonight, if you touch it, I'll kill you." for days to come. Plus, you'll likely hesitate to use a locker for a few days, let alone climb in one. Fair warning.

Prom Night II is not rocket science, it just blended a mound of pop culture and put it in the frame of a standardized supernatural slasher while holding the mirror to the genre. It's witty, funny, memorable, and has some sentimentals for good measure. Easily recomended. And for the price, buy it.

One of my favorite horror movies. One of the few sequels I think are better than the original. It's a great movie to watch during a stormy day snuggled up in a blanket with your significant other.

i like the quick shipment i love the movie and i needed it to complete the set. you have a new customer for life I'll buy from you guys again.AAAAAAAAA+++++++++++++.

i thought that the movie was great, but the thing that i didnt like was that i had orderd FULL SCREEN and i got WIDE SCREEN. i was very disapointed about it and angry about it too.

I don't knpw why I like these kind of movies, Liked the first one so thought i would try the second, It was just as good and I enjoyed it.

This movie has nothing to do with the original Prom Night at all. This is a whole new premise and plot. It's kind of creepy, a little scarey, a little disturbing, but good horror; with a twist ending that reminds me of A Nightmare On Elmstreet Part 1. It is not suitable for children under 14.