Weird Vibe, but Clever

My first time seeing Graduation Day, which is surprising since I am such a Friday the 13th aficionado, because this film is a decent copycat of the franchise. I call this 1981 horror a Friday the 13th meets Happy Birthday to Me and Psycho.

So why is it weird? And how is it clever?

First, let me explain the premise. A high school track star, Laura, is pushed to the limit by her coach to win the race; as she reaches the finish line, snatching first place, she passes out and dies of a heart attack. The rest of the movie is devoted to a mysterious killer in a fencing mask with a fencing sword killing people. The only time I've seen the use of such a costume in a movie of this nature was in Are You In The House Alone, though it was simply a part of the villain's uniform outside of his rape scene, and that movie was a mystery drama. Here, the costume is a bit absurd looking, though the killer's use of the weapon is quite deadly.

So, why is it weird?

It's weird because:

1> The opening hook music is way bouncy 70's (even though we've already entered the 80's) and makes no sense for a horror film.

2> Laura's sister, Anne, exhibits off behavior. She comments on a student's beautiful eyes, which look so much like her own sister's. She stares a lot. And her being in the Navy serves no purpose whatsoever.

3> The coach is over the top pushy.

4> The teacher is inappropriate, and encourages a student to, uh, well, be inappropriate with him. This is one of two nude scenes in the film. She takes off her shirt and he nestles the side of his face just below her chest, and that's it. She does this to get a passing grade, but the whole scene is "obligatory" and stupid and takes away from the mystery horror aspect.

5> The end is of Norman Bates fanfare with a taste of the Happy Birthday to Me finale--super creepy and WEIRD.

6> The killer is supremely deranged.

7> Anne's stepfather is verbally abusive; his role has no place in this. Not sure why it's a focus at times, especially at the end.

But, then, how is it clever?

It's clever because:

1>There is a cool special effect that flips a few seconds of a reel into a cartwheel of shuddering seconds--it's pretty fascinating. For instance, one character is looking at a photo and it spins the image into a fluttering flip book type of feel as we recall that moment.

2> The end. Yes, it's creepy and strange, but very clever and unexpected. I did not guess who the killer was, so the twist landed perfectly. Even after the reveal, to only one character, there's another 20 minutes that take us even deeper into the rationale of the villain. This is shocking, but the way that it's handled is well done. Because the killer is found out to all characters and the killer's end is appropriately executed.

3> The kills are, at times, an imitation of those from Sean Cunninghma's first Friday film. At other times, they hold their own, breaking unique ground.

4> Most of the characters are likeable and not sex-crazed.

5> The twist is well done. There's a wide pool of suspects, but the discovery of the villain is smart, and moreover, the entire reasoning behind the murders is even smarter.

6> A simple script in many ways, but planning the murders and the motivation behind them is clever.

Scare Factor: Not really scary. The kills are memorable for their originality.

Values: Not really a focus.

Writing Quality/Character Development: The script is simple for the most part--some wacko killing off people, but the end explanation is original and well thought out. Character development is not a focus, until we get the killer reveal.

Content (language, Violence, Sex): I don't remember if there was any language. Violence in the kills. No sex, but one moment of a topless girl and another scene where the side of a girl's breast is shown, but in a non-sexual way.

So, not a movie I would watch again and again just because it feels so weird in so many ways, but worth checking out once or twice for its cleverness.

#GraduationDay