Blu-Ray Review: Final Exam

By Brad Henderson

Final Exam is one of the slashers that got me into the subgenre. I first came across this film when I was young because I set out to watch every slasher ever made. I still haven’t accomplished that task, but I’m well ahead of the game. Final Exam has always and will forever be in my Top 10 favorite slasher films of all time.

Final Exam does something a little different than your normal slasher from the ’80s. It is set on a college campus (of course), but it has way more to offer. Most people probably disregard it because it is “just” a slasher, but the movie puts a lot of focus on the characters rather than the killer. Of course, there are assholes like Wildman, but there are also some great characters like Radish and Courtney. Courtney is much like Laurie Strode in many ways, especially her cries for help. She is also the one that we care about: the sweet girl next door who is a good person throughout the film. There’s also the lovable Radish, the geek and “hero” of the film and a delight on screen. It’s a little odd that the actor who played Radish didn’t go on to be in more films because he is charismatic and immediately likable.

Along with these characters there’s a terrifying killer who we know nothing about. It works well in this case because it gives us time with the characters rather than a revenge or prank gone wrong subplot. We have a killer who has a thirst for blood and is relentless to the end and it works.

Another high point of this film is the outstanding score. The theme is up there with Carpenter’s work. It obviously borrows from Halloween but does its own thing, too, and it sounds fantastic.

Final Exam tries to be unique in all sorts of ways while staying true to slasher conventions, but still surprises us by going a different route. For instance, we see the killer’s face and who he is in the beginning. Like I said, this film is about the characters, not the killer.

Scream Factory has provided a perfect transfer on the Blu-Ray using the 35mm negative. It makes the film look great but dirty at the same time. The special features are pulled from the old DVD. There are interviews from three of the actors, which is a little interesting, but nothing special.

Scream Factory surprised me when they announced a release of Final Exam. I’m stoked this movie was even on their radar and that they pursued it. I know this flick catches some flack because it is a little on the slow side but again, it is more of a character piece than a “you want everyone to die” slasher.

Final Exam will be released by Scream Factory on Blu-Ray on May 13.