Slashers, even at their worst, tend to be a decent watch and Cutting Class is just that. There is nothing overtly exceptional about it and one can easily point out its flaws yet that does not prevent it from being entertaining, even if it pales in comparison to the other films in the genre.

This particular exercise in horror is not as scary or as frightening as one might like yet there are some fun kills to be had and a fairly lighthearted tone overall, though not necessarily comedic. Most of it does fall somewhat flat, at least when it comes to the story as it is nothing new, especially come 1989 when it was released and the script is a little light giving those who appear within little to do. Pace-wise, it moved along at a good clip and that can probably be chalked up to the fact that the makers of this film had little to say and that is not a bad thing. Sometimes all one wants to do is throw something on to pass the time and this movie is that kind of picture, a piece of fluff that is highly forgettable but entertaining enough in the moment.

What makes this movie memorable is the fact that it stars Brad Pitt in one of the lead roles. If it were not for him eventually getting famous, Cutting Class would have been relegated to the dustbins of the past. That is not to say that he was any good, or maybe he was in fact. His character was quite annoying, portraying the macho jock to perfection and in the end, what was really surprising, was that he won the girl. One would normally root for the underdog but given that the underdog was the villain of the entire affair, that not really being a spoiler as it was somewhat of a given, there was really only one direction to go and that was with Pitt. Jill Schoelen stars as the damsel in distress while Donovan Leitch’s Brian is the boy who returns to town after a stay in the mental institution where he underwent numerous bouts of electroshock therapy. In a shocking twist, he blames her prosecutor dad for his stay there, which was in fact, true and by association, her. Schoelen was the best part of the entire affair even if she had little to do other than being eye candy for the audience and the various characters throughout the film and that is saying something given that Roddy McDowall was in this thing. The fact that he was wasted so bad here was a crime in itself but is yet another reason to give this picture a watch.

With little to grasp onto, this movie offers little to the average Joe but given its cast and an emerging Brad Pitt, it is a curious little slasher that has cemented its place among its brethren. That being said, some slashers are far better than this, yet on a rainy Saturday afternoon or in those wee hours before one falls asleep, Cutting Class will do the job.

2.5 out of 5