Blu-ray Review: Final Exam is a slasher that makes the grade

I have an affinity toward the slasher film Final Exam (1981) because I discovered it during my second year as a student in business school. During the week of final exams, I would watch the trailer on YouTube late at night after a long evening of studying. The trailer had me convinced that the movie was a genuinely involving horror thriller with a unique college campus, likeable characters, and a mysterious killer. One line of the voice over is “He’s come back!” Perhaps this was a marketing ploy to capitalize on the success of Friday the 13^th (1980) and lure viewers by suggesting a connection to Jason Voorhees. I wanted to be able to watch the film, but it was obscure and hard to find. Naturally, I was very excited years later when I learned that Final Exam was being released on Blu-ray by Shout! Factory.

Friday the 13^th is a very popular slasher from the early ‘80s, but similar films released during that time were better. Even though it was an independent film, Friday the 13th was a box office success largely because it was marketed by Paramount Pictures as a major motion picture release. Final Exam is a better slasher film than Friday the 13^th because it has a more interesting story and focuses more on character development, rather than just one kill after another. Final Exam is written and directed by Jimmy Huston.

In contrast to Friday the 13^th, which takes place in the woods, Final Exam takes place on the fictional campus of Lanier College. This college has all of the elements to make it the perfect setting for a serial killer—lackluster security, inappropriate student-teacher relations, and fraternity hazing. One particularly shocking scene occurs at the beginning of the film when a group of fraternity boys stage a phony terrorist attack to create a diversion. Everyone on campus is scared, except for a key member of the frat, who forges a passing grade on his exam! The next exciting incident on campus won’t be a prank, though, as a knife-wielding psychopath stalks the students, killing them off one-by-one.

One aspect of the film deserving praise is the acting. The main characters have enough depth that you feel empathy toward them, especially Radish, played by Joel Rice. The exception is the serial killer, whose motivation is never explained. In one line of dialogue, however, Radish sums it up: “People are killed everyday for no reason at all.” Spoiler alert! It is too bad Radish does not get to survive and save the day. The formula for these types of movies requires a final girl at the end. In this case, it is Courtney, played by Cecile Bagdadi. Not surprisingly, she is the smart, strong-willed girl. This is the first feature film for Joel Rice and Cecile Bagdadi, who both give stellar performances.

The quality of this film on the Shout! Factory Blu-ray release is outstanding. You can see vibrant colors on the characters’ wardrobe, and lots of detail even in dark scenes. The ominous score really shines through, setting the mood of this suspenseful film. As far as special features, you get the original theatrical trailer (yay!), as well as new interviews with three of the main actors—Joel Rice, Cecile Bagdadi, and Sherry Willis-Burch. The interviews are wonderful because the actors remember the film fondly and appreciate the affection that fans have for it. We learn how each actor landed the role in the film, and what he or she is doing now. There is also an audio commentary with these three actors. Overall, the Blu-ray is a worthwhile buy and the film is a great alternative to Friday the 13^th.