Class of 1984 (1982)

Holy Smokes. I will start off by saying that I just finished watching this movie today for the first time and I fell in love. I'm reviewing this film from the perspective that this is a cult classic film through and through and so I shall begin. The story is about a teacher who gets a job at a school that is known to be full of gangs and a plethora of other misfits. He then starts to have trouble with the main school gang which are basic Neo-Nazi punks. The story is simplistic but does the job. The acting was great for a film that was made in 1982 not that there were not a ton of phenomenal actors back then either to say. The teacher Mr.Norris played by Perry King is Outstanding and the other highlight is his enemy Peter Stegman played by Timothy Van Patten who was truly mesmerizing. The other actors and actresses did a great job as well. The action was Awesome. The choreography could be a little off at times but for the times and the budget it was working with I thought the director Mark Lester did an Incredible job. The deaths were very cool and overall they did a killer job. No pun intended. The cinematography and location were excellent. The crew did a terrific job of shadowing over what a crime ridden school would look like along with the town it was surrounded by in the film. I will close by saying that this is a Must-Watch film if you're a fan of films such as "A Clockwork Orange" and also "The Warriors" and films that represent warnings on what our future's could look like if left in the hands of madmen. The film can be graphic at times but none of it phased me because I have seen a lot worse but just a forewarning. Please don't be deterred from watching this Absolutely Astounding film.

Strong as well as brutal entertainment , set in the near future , and dealing with Andy (Perry King , he was the first and only actor considered for the role) , a man happily married to a pregnant wife called Diane (Merrie Lynn Ross) . He is a new music teacher who has his own ideas of discipline . He goes to work at an inner city high school that is like nothing he has ever seen before , as he must face off a motley crew of adolescents in the classroom . Ring leader is a student psychopath (Timothy Van Patten) , a baddie who doesn't seem human , he leads his groupies on a reign of terror through the high school halls . Meanwhile , a teacher (Roddy MacDowall , though Dennis Weaver was originally offered the role but turned it down as being too violent, and this character was inspired by several true stories of school violence director had read about in papers) has brought a gun to class to control his students . There takes place some murders and a police inspector (Al Waxman) starts investigating with no results . The ominous group carries out a gang rape , then the music teacher pull off his vendetta leading to an ever higher body count . As a high school teacher determines to enforce law and order by using all kind of means , including torture and killing . Class of 1984 , is this the future?Well-remembered violent school drama from the eighties in which teenager gangs terrorize the entire high school and surroundings executing crimes and murders at random . This nasty as well as thoughtless film contains thrills , chills , intense drama , high body count and lots of violence . In fact , due to the films violent content Lester had a difficult time getting a US distributor for the film, though overseas numerous distributors bought the film and made it quite successful abroad . Upset at the violent content after a screening, screenwriter Barry Schneider had his name taken off the credits as a screenwriter of the final film . This is a bloody and gory remake update of ¨Blackboard jungle¨ (1955) . Nice acting by Perry King as an idealistic teacher in a slum area who fights doggedly to dominate his unruly students . Special mention to Timothy Van Patten playing as one of the worst villains of the cinema history and a brief role by subsequently famous Michael J Fox . As nearly every shot of Timothy Van Patten is done from a low angle, to make him more threatening. The picture achieved great success and some theaters showed the film on double bill with 'The Road Warrior (1981)' . Evocative cinematography , though a perfect remastering is urgent . Director of photography Albert J. Dunk was hired by Mark L. Lester after Lester saw his work in the film Incubus (1981). Thrilling and creaking musical score by Lalo Schifrin with initial song by Alice Cooper . The motion picture was professionally directed by Mark L Lester, who he calls this his best film . Being shot in 45 days and he cited 'Clockwork Orange (1971)' as the films biggest influence .The original picture dealing with a teacher fighting students and violent confrontation in the classroom was ¨Blackboard jungle¨ (1955) by Richard Brooks with Glenn Ford , Anne Francis , Louis Calhern , Sidney Poitier , Vic Morrow , Paul Mazurski ; it was followed by this ¨Class of 84¨ by Mark L Lester ; continued by ¨Class of 1999¨ by Mark Lester with Malcolm McDowell , Bradley Gregg , Tracy Lind , Stacy Keach , Pam Grier , Patrick Kilpatrick ; and another sequel titled ¨Class of 1992¨ by Spiro Razatos with Sasha Mitchell , Nick Cassavetes ,and Richard Hill .

Here's a high school, that's really shocking and scary. That's how I looked at it, when first seeing it, when nearing 14, due to a lot of hearsay. Now a lot of the shock has gone, though still it has some moments that still stay with me, like when last seeing it back in 2010. For teens this would have a more shocking effect on em' as to films like 187. Class of 1984 has a real ugliness about it, directed by a guy who has made his share of low budget, addicted action pics. Violence is high, I repeat, violence is high, some quite disturbing scenes like a arm being sawed off, or more so the mutilation of various animals in a chemistry lab, that drives a devoted and trying teacher (a wonderfully fantastic performance, by Roddy Mcdowell) beyond the edge. Another great performance, noteworthy, is Van Pattern, as the frightening psychotic, head thug Peter Stegman, where beside his ugly and despicable traits, lies a gifted pianist. The movie has a lot of fire and kinetic energy, and goes for continuous shock and pull no punches violence, which really takes place over the heart of the story that really should of be told instead of stringing a lot of ugly scenes together. Basically it's Perry King who isn't bad, as the new music teacher, against Stegman, where the two keep hitting back, making for an absorbing and revenge cheering the good guy on pic, but nothing more. Mark L Lester's films are guilty pleasures, and this is just another guilty delight, by a guy who knows how to make larger than life pics, this indeed, is no exception. Class Of 1984 does a rape scene to, and hats off to the Lisa Langois as the female villainess, and Merrie Lynn Ross, very good, and does us solid as King's raped wife, while also watch for a younger Michael J Fox, so so, as a stabbing victim, whose friend high on drugs, climbed one too many flagpoles. If it's action and violence you want, ala Lester, you'll get it here in this popular 82 vehicle, Van Pattern's brilliant psychotic performance, lingering in your memory for many nights to come.

Teacher and former Lord of Flatbush Mr. Norris is a fish out of water when he enters the gritty shark tank of Delinquent High, a school that is practically a mini-Gotham City with its urban cesspool motifs and that ever present staple of 80s cinema that is the Punk Toon. A Punk Toon is what you see in Police Academy and Death Wish 3 among other films as a villainous delinquent resembling not so much an angsty teen as a primal violence fiend who would ooze animalistic essence all over the pavement were it not for the safety pins holding it together. The main villain is a kid named Peter Stegman who is a type of alpha Punk Toon if you will. He's not just another juvee goon. He demonstrates early on that he is as intellectually deep as he is comically sociopathic. Actually, sinister is more fitting a word for this type of over-the-top character. All that the guy is missing is an evil laugh. When Norris asks "What's the matter with you," Stegman offers a morsel of contemplative wit that challenges you to sit back and rethink the very nature of your pathetic existence. "What's the matter with me? What's the matter with you? What's the matter with matter?" It's pretty obvious that from this point on, limp noodle teacher will be outsmarted by this precocious, piano prodigy pimp (oh yeah! He pimps!). Stegman informs a black drug dealer that his gang are "the only *igg#rs who sell $*** at this school." The gems of dialogue just keep coming like junk food morsels from a vending machine on the fritz. My favorite: "Life is pain! Pain is everything! You will learn!" This isn't so much an exploitation film as it is existentialploitation! And Stegman is right! You can learn a lot from this movie. The 80s were a perplexing time. A time when a few white teens, a fat guy and a slutty chick in high school could beat back an all-black gang with ease and still make it to the slam dance on time. And after that, they still have enough energy to audition prostitutes. -SPOILER- Class of 1984 is entertaining but be warned that when the rape scene comes along in the third act, you'll be scratching your head wondering, "Was that indulgent, nauseating and even a little awkward?" The answer to all three of those is yes. But it is so tastefully done that you won't feel the need to watch The Accused in an attempt to reacquaint yourself with a thoughtful depiction of rape's trauma. Just sit back and let this movie smash a liqueur bottle over your head.