7 Must-Watch Horror Movies with a Prom Theme

      Casey Chong shares seven horror movies themed around prom to consider for your watchlist…

      For many high school students, attending prom represents an important milestone. It's a transition from high school to adulthood—a night filled with dressing up, having fun, and dancing with a special someone. However, prom-themed films in the horror genre tell a very different tale, often leading to bloody carnage or instilling fear and suspense. With Fear Street: Prom Queen currently available on Netflix [read our review here], let's explore seven prom-oriented horror movies to add to your viewing list…

      Prom Night (1980)

      After her success in Halloween and The Fog, Jamie Lee Curtis continued to solidify her reputation as a scream queen in this horror film. This prom-themed slasher centers around a masked killer intent on avenging the death of an innocent girl from years past. While revenge serves as the film's primary theme, director Paul Lynch opts for a slow build-up of tension rather than immediate violence. The film's approach is psychological rather than merely a slasher spectacle. Nonetheless, Prom Night features its share of bloodshed and stabbings. True to its title, the movie delivers a lengthy prom night dance sequence accompanied by Gordene Simpson’s disco song “Prom Night.” Lynch cleverly includes a few red herrings while keeping the masked killer's identity a secret until the very end. The film's success led to three sequels and a reboot in 2008.

      Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)

      Jamie Lee Curtis doesn’t appear here, making this sequel more of a title association rather than a direct continuation, though it is still set in Hamilton High as in the first film. Uniquely, Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II introduces a supernatural element to the standard 1980s slasher conventions. The standout feature in this sequel is Lisa Schrage as the vengeful prom queen who died in the '50s and returns thirty years later as a ghost seeking revenge. Schrage's delightfully unhinged performance is entertaining, while Bruce Pittman showcases his directorial skill through imaginative scenes, like a possessed rocking horse and a blackboard coming to life, reminiscent of A Nightmare on Elm Street. The film also creatively explores death scenes, including one where a character is crushed by lockers.

      The Club (1994)

      This lesser-known Canadian slasher was initially intended to be the fifth installment in the Prom Night series but was released as a standalone film. Set entirely in an expansive gothic mansion during a senior prom, something odd occurs when time halts at midnight, leaving a group of students trapped as if in the Twilight Zone. Directed by Brenton Spencer, whose previous works included episodes of 21 Jump Street and Street Justice, the film combines supernatural horror elements with a surreal style similar to A Nightmare on Elm Street. Although the first half of The Club meanders, it picks up momentum when the thrills commence, especially with J.H. Wyman's over-the-top portrayal of a devil in disguise who relishes tormenting the confined students.

      The Prowler (1981)

      Three years prior to directing Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Joseph Zito created this slasher flick that features familiar horror tropes of the '80s but adopts a giallo-style intensity with its graphic violence and gore, thanks to Tom Savini's exceptional special effects and makeup. Marking Zito's third feature film, he effectively builds a chilling atmosphere and constructs ghastly kill sequences. The film opens with an intriguing prologue set in the 1940s, complete with an old-fashioned newsreel and black-and-white footage. It keeps viewers guessing the identity of the titular killer, who is distinctively dressed in a World War II combat uniform and helmet, using a pitchfork as his weapon.

      Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)

      Although Ti West distanced himself from the film due to extensive re-editing by producers, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever is anything but worthless, featuring dark humor and horror-comedy elements. While it doesn’t quite match the quality of Eli Roth's 2005 original, its twisted nature is preserved. The film is rife with grotesque gore and violence, showcasing everything from blisters and sores to a highly contagious flesh-eating virus. The prom scene portrays the infection spreading among the students, resulting in a rising body count, and at one point, even includes the theme song from Prom Night.

      Tragedy Girls (2017)

      This darkly comedic horror film features strong performances by Alexandra Shipp and Briana Hildebrand as two best friends and high school students who run a true crime blog. Their obsession with the subject and ruthless ambition leads to a murder spree. Beneath their cheerful exterior, the girls are cold-hearted, and the narrative satirizes the compulsion for fame and social media presence. With a fresh perspective on the concept of