MovieChat Forums > Final Exam (1981) Discussion > Anybody...?

Anybody...?

posted 21 years ago by FinalExamFella
27 replies | jump to latest

Is there anyone out there who likes this movie? I have a fond affection for it, mostly because it was filmed on my college campus in the early eighties. I love watching it just to see my school as teh setting for this massacre. But also I like the film for what it attempted to do, which was simply have a horror film that focused on characterization instead of gore. Unfortunately, none of the characters were really worth getting to know(although the main girl and the nerdy guy I thought was interesting) and the acting was so atrocious that it ruined any characterization that was built. Still, I find it enjoyable. ANyone else?

If you don't like what you see, you don't have to look at me. --Melissa Etheridge

[–] 21 years ago

[deleted]

[–] polysicsarebest 20 years ago

It rules.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] smerd_70 19 years ago

I like Final Exam. People complain about it because of the lack of gore, yet Halloween also has little gore but no one complains about it. Also a lot of people will complain that this or that horror movie is bad because it lacks characterization, but complain that Final Exam is boring.
I have no problem with the acting in Final Exam. I thought all the actors were decent.

[–] insomniac_rod 19 years ago

The movie is crap! in all the sense of the word.
Locations, acting, direction, etc.

"Hate is baggage, life's too short to be pissed off all the time".

[–] apologizesoftware 19 years ago

This is one of the best slashers of the 1980s. It was filmed in '79, so it was clearly influenced by "Halloween", but nothing else because no other slashers were released then.

I found this on VHS in almost brand new condition. According to what I've researched, there is almost no chance this will ever get a legitimate DVD release.

Slasher fans, if you find this, BUY IT, because I doubt you'll ever see it again.

The only gripe I have is the lack of deaths in the first hour. It drags on a bit too much, however the atmosphere, cinematography, etc are TOP NOTCH in my books

[–] smalltownsaints 19 years ago

What did you see that makes you think it won't get a DVD release? Just curious.

[–] Final_Exam_Fella 19 years ago

Glad to see there is some love for this movie out there. Maybe someday they will put it on DVD. I could do the commentary and make comments like, "I had Statistics in that classroom", "That office became a lounge", "That is the music building."

Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.

[–] apologizesoftware 19 years ago

A company called Code Red DVD looked into the rights to get it on DVD. All they said was that the film itself was financed by "the mob" or something and they didn't want to get involved.

[–] nuke184 18 years ago

I got an underground DVD of it at a horror movie convention. No special features, just the movie which is just fine. Decent quality and everything. I liked it.

[–] todbrowning2000 18 years ago

I'm a huge slasher fan and I'm pretty forgiving when it comes to this genre. I think you have to be!
But I like FINAL EXAM. There are some moments and elements directly ripped right out of HALLOWEEN, but name me a slasher that doesn't rip off HALLOWEEN in some way.
A few more favorites:
HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE (Tom Hanks?!)
MADMAN (Kinda goofy, but it still manages to be pretty creepy)
THE BURNING (Almost the same as FRIDAY THE 13TH and also has effects a la Savini, which makes any movie worth a peek)
MANIAC (More excellent Savini work, but lame script)

***

"Her name ain't Precious." ~ PAPER MOON

[–] HammerLord 18 years ago

Something that gets me is that we don't know anything about the killer.

[–] preppy-3 17 years ago

"Something that gets me is that we don't know anything about the killer."

Thank you! I saw this film at a preview back in 1981. The audience was respectfully quiet for the first 30 minutes or so then they proceeded to rip it to shreds! There were laughs at the lousy dialogue and acting and more than a few grumbles about the complete lack of gore but EVERYBODY hated the fact that we know nothing about the killer. Not one damn thing!!! No reason why he stopped there and no reason why he's killing. Even the worst slasher films gave their killers some motivation. So there's no insight into why he's killing these people. Add that to the hilarious screenplay and bad acting and you got one of the worst slasher films ever made. I tend to be very forgiving with slasher films (I can even find good things to say about the "Friday the 13th" series) but not this one.

[–] smerd_70 17 years ago

I like that he has no clear motive, I prefer this over some of the silly reasons some slashers give(Christmas Evil: I saw Santa kiss mommy, now I'll kill people. Pieces: Mommy threw out my porn, now I'll kill people)

Give me films like Final Exam and Slumber Party Massacre or even Madman where the killers kill because they're crazy and not because of some lame explanation for what happened to them in the past(Especially when many of these were just copies of Norman Bate's childhood).

I like how people grumble at the complete lack of gore in Final Exam but not in Halloween. I wonder if people grumbled at the lack of gore in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

One of the worst? Not even close when these films exist:

Nail Gun Massacre
Slumber Party Massacre 3
The Freeway Maniac
Sledgehammer
Sleepaway Camp 3
Friday the 13th Part 8
Jason X

"Even the worst slasher films gave their killers some motivation."

Not always, Don't Go in the Woods(even though it's a great bad movie) the killer had no motivation.

EDIT: And one of the best horror films from the 70's- Black Christmas, the killer had no identity, no motive, and zero background story.

No pulse, no heartbeat. If condition does not change, this man is dead.

[–] smalltownsaints 17 years ago

Well said, but just one thing:

Freeway Maniac is awesome! That movie rules! The Last Slumber Party, now there's a bad movie.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] smerd_70 17 years ago

I love bad horror films, but some just fail to entertain me in that so bad they're good way.

I've heard about Last Slumber Party over the years, I should check it out just to see how bad it is.

No pulse, no heartbeat. If condition does not change, this man is dead.

[–] Final_Exam_Fella 17 years ago

I agree. Something about not knowing why a guy is killing people makes it creepier. I mean, in the first Halloween--not suggesting this film is on par with that one, but still...--Michael had zero motivation.

Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.

[–] rlehlinger 17 years ago

I absolutely LOVED this movie simply cause of the SOUNDTRACK! I have it on vinyl. The acting was bad, but that was the charm of this film.What college was it filmed at?

[–] smerd_70 17 years ago

I don't think the acting was that bad at all, I don't think it's any worse or better than the majority of slashers that came out during that time.

My head hurts, my teeth itch, my feet stink, and I don't love Jesus.

[–] Final_Exam_Fella 17 years ago

Mostly at Limestone College in Gaffney, SC. All the exterior shots, and many of the class room scenes were Limestone, as well as the dorm rooms. The gym was actually at a nearby school called Garner Webb.

Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.

[–] rlehlinger 17 years ago

You have any pics of your old college?

[–] Final_Exam_Fella 17 years ago

You can go to www.limestone.edu then click on "About Limestone" then in the drop box click on "Campus Tour" which gives you a map of the campus, click on various parts of the map and it shows pictures of the buildings. The building that served as the finale of the movie is just about to be renovated.

Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.

[–] rlehlinger 17 years ago

Cool thankyou!
I managed to find a copy of the soundtrack for this film! Was it the same gymnasium of the college you went to?

[–] Final_Exam_Fella 17 years ago

No, for whatever reason they didn't use the gym from Limestone, they used the gym from a nearby school called Garner Webb. You can actually still see the GW on the basketball court. But all the outside shots are at Limestone, most of the classroom stuff, and the dorm rooms. That's all Limestone. A lot of the buliding interiors look different now because so many buildings have been renovated; during the scene where Raddish calls the police from an office, I didn't recognize the place until I looked at the view out the window and realized that the office he was in had become the commuter's lounge.

Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.

[–] Bub_the_zombie 17 years ago

I'm also a big fan of Final Exam. I, too, think it's one of the better slasher films of the 80's. People usually complain about lack of characterization in slasher films, but this one had plenty of it. Maybe too much for some people.

I actually liked the college antics. I thought it added a true 'campus killer' feel to it.

Someone else mentioned Freeway Maniac. I am also a glutton for this piece of junk. Pretty much a bunch of stunt men used to fill out 80 minutes. This one goes all over the place. It's also rare as *beep*

"You can't triple stamp a double stamp. You can't triple stamp a double stamp."

[–] jlpinzon 15 years ago

this movie was pretty decent, good development of character, good scenes, nice gore and a hell of atmosphere.