Cutting Class (1989)
In a small high school, a teenage girl becomes friends with a mysterious and troubled classmate who is suspected of being a brutal slasher targeting students. As the body count rises and suspicions grow, she starts to question whether her new friend is the killer or if thereâs something darker at play. The closer she gets to uncovering the truth, the more dangerous things become, leading to a terrifying game of cat and mouse where no one can be trusted, and everyone is a potential victim.
Cutting Class is one of those movies thatâs so 80s and so ridiculously fun, you canât help but enjoy it, even if itâs not a masterpiece. The plot is classic slasher fareâsomeone starts picking off high school students, and itâs up to the characters to figure out whoâs behind it all. But what makes this one stand out is how it balances horror with a surprising amount of humor. Brad Pitt (yes, that Brad Pitt) plays a pretty charming, yet goofy character, which is honestly a lot of fun to watch. The movie doesnât take itself too seriously, which is a huge plus because it allows you to enjoy the campy kills and over-the-top reactions. The mystery behind the killings is pretty simple, but the atmosphere and the 80s teen slasher tropes make it worth a watch if you're in the mood for something light and not too scary. Itâs definitely not the scariest or the most well-crafted slasher film out there, but if you love the kitschy charm of 80s horror flicks, Cutting Class will probably hit the spot.
Cutting Class is one of those quirky teen slasher films from the late â80s that blends suspense with a bit of dark humor. Itâs a bit of a nostalgia trip, with all the familiar high school tropesâawkward teen love, cliques, and the drama that seems so important when youâre in that age group. But then, thereâs the murder mystery that keeps things suspenseful and, honestly, a little ridiculous in the best way possible. The plot revolves around a group of high school students, including the main character, a young woman trying to navigate the usual teenage angst, who find themselves caught up in a series of mysterious deaths. Of course, the tension is constantly ramped up by the fact that everyone is a suspect, and the killer is always one step ahead. What I find interesting about Cutting Class is that it doesnât take itself too seriously. It has the classic âwhodunitâ feel, but with enough comedic moments to keep it light-hearted. Thereâs something fun about how it plays with the typical slasher formula, even if it doesnât reinvent the genre. The characters are a bit over the top, but thatâs part of the charm of â80s slasher films. If youâre in the mood for a movie that doesnât take itself too seriously, with a mix of teen drama, slasher thrills, and just enough mystery to keep you guessing, Cutting Class is a fun throwback.