Cutting Class Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Cutting Class Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 14, 2018

1989’s “Cutting Class” (shot in 1987) is a slasher film that would normally be lost to the sands of time if it wasn’t for one little detail: Brad Pitt. The now globally renown actor, as famous as a human being can get in this day and age of tribal popularity, made his starring debut with the horror endeavor, securing its position as a perennial curiosity, with most viewers drawn to the potential fun of watching an icon get his start. The good news is that there’s plenty of Pitt in the feature, which gives the young, hungry actor a lot of screen time to work on his emoting, trying his best to make as big an impression as possible. The bad news is that “Cutting Class” is mostly a confused production, unsure if it wants to be frightening or funny as it works out subgenre formula. Screenwriter Steve Slavkin never clarifies his vision for the endeavor, while director Rospo Pallenberg mostly fumbles everything that’s handed to him, forcing the actors, including Pitt, to make the most of their scenes on their own.

Paula (Jill Schoelen) is good kid, trying to be a responsible student at Furley High, hoping to please her father, District Attorney Carson (Martin Mull). Maintaining focus on schoolwork and friends, Paula is dating Dwight (Brad Pitt), a star basketball player who wants more attention from his girlfriend. Blocking his view is Brian (Donovan Leitch), his former best friend and a teen who’s returned from a stint inside a psychiatric hospital, trying to downplay any visible instability. When violence slowly winds through Furley High, resulting in multiple gruesome deaths, Paula is left to defend herself against a mysterious murderer, also maintaining complicated relationships with the two men who love her, possibly to death.

Pallenberg is best known as a screenwriter for John Boorman, collaborating on such films as “Deliverance,” “Excalibur,” and “The Emerald Forest.” What’s he doing here making his directorial debut with “Cutting Class” remains the most effective mystery of the movie. Turns out, Pallenberg is a better writer than a helmer, showing visible strain as he tries to make cinematic sense out of the screenplay, which makes time for broad, campy comedy and serious reflection on personal inventory issues with Dwight, who’s a jokester, but only to hide his abyssal pain as his once bright future suddenly clouds due to neglect. There are fascinating avenues to explore, but the production isn’t sharp enough to juggle moods, making the majority of the viewing experience uncomfortably uneven.

Slasher purists probably won’t respond to “Cutting Class,” but there are a few kills to enjoy, with the murderer targeting the staff at Furley High. The art teacher is cooked in a kiln, some students are cut open under the bleachers during a basketball game, and one character’s final moments are documented on a copy machine. The big question mark is Brian, who’s everywhere and nowhere in the story, identified as a weirdo with mental health issues, but he also has interest in protecting Paula from harm. “Cutting Class” doesn’t do enough with Brian’s arc, keeping his oddness basic and Dwight’s friendship simple, with the pair wrestling with past sins, which informs their current unease. Wackier asides take prominence in the effort, watching Carson manage an arrow wound while duck hunting in the wild, and Principal Dante (Roddy McDowall) is presented as a perve, always trying to sneak a peek under Paula’s skirt. In fact, most of the school staff wants to jump the poor teen, who’s presented as the object of obsession for many, yet, as a character, Paula is hopelessly bland, often playing helpless while Dwight receives the meatier characterization.

Cutting Class Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation pulls "Cutting Class" out of semi-obscurity, offering the slasher film a remarkable HD upgrade. The viewing experience feels fresh and alert, embracing the endeavor's bright cinematography, which delivers secure primaries, giving the high school setting needed vividness. Classroom decoration is alive, along with costuming, enjoying deep blues and sunny yellows, while red bloodshed is a highlight. Skintones are natural throughout. Detail is clear, examining deep California outdoors and school elements, bringing dimension to celebratory sequences filled with students. Clothing is fibrous, and close-ups sustain texture. Delineation is strong, retaining shadow play. Source is in fine shape, with only a few hiccupy frames detected along the way.

Cutting Class Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does a fine job with the limited ambition of the track, which provides a clear read of performances. Dialogue exchanges are defined to satisfaction, picking up on thespian quirks and tracking genre escalation. Atmospherics with school gatherings are also appealingly defined. Soundtrack selections maintain their synth-y beats and presence, and scoring is thin but appropriate, maintaining mood as the body count rises.

Cutting Class Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features The Hysteria Continues.

• Interview (20:26, HD) is an awesomely candid talk with Jill Schoelen, who tries to be as diplomatic as possible concerning the finer points of "Cutting Class," but she admits her reluctance to take the part, well aware of the script's shortcomings. The now- retired actress describes her effort to make something out of her character, while production was brightened some by the employment of her best friend in costuming. Schoelen is honest about her relationship with director Rospo Pallenberg, who wasn't respectful of the acting process, trying to force his vision on bad material, triggering resentment from the star. Again, the interviewee is articulate about her experience, sharing her feelings about professional intuition and regret, unable to derive much joy out of the shoot, despite support from co-stars. Schoelen discusses her acting career in horror, and her thoughts about the ways the industry has changed for women, recalling her own struggles with pay and manipulation during her run in the 1980s. The actress also has lots of love for the fans. This is a wonderful, sincere interview.

• Interview (16:25, HD) with Donovan Leitch provides another key perspective to the "Cutting Class" filmmaking experience, with the actor sharing anecdotes about his first day on set, meeting a still "country" Brad Pitt. Leitch describes his excitement to work on the picture, in awe of Pallenberg's previous screenwriting achievements, and he talks up his co-stars, spending downtime with Roddy McDowell, who shared parts of his life with his young co-star. The interviewee details how Pallenberg used the high school setting, trying to get as much out of the space he could, and he offers a choice anecdote concerning Pitt's impish behavior on-set. Leitch has a bright attitude about "Cutting Class," but he does mention career disappointments, watching as leading parts failed to stir up business at the box office.

• Audio Interview (46:15) features Rospo Pallenberg.

• Audio Interview (23:31) features cinematographer Avraham Karpick.

• "Kill Comparisons" (3:53, HD) offer a side-by-side look at the R-rated version of "Cutting Class" and the unrated version available on this Blu-ray.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:35, HD) is included.

Cutting Class Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Cutting Class" isn't an inspired endeavor, with horror elements European in design while the setting is uniquely American. But there's the draw of Pitt, who takes the acting assignment seriously, trying to be as present around increasing ridiculousness as possible. It's not good acting, but it's definitely acting, elevating the level of commitment found in the film. He's joined by appropriate performances from Schoelen and Leitch, but it's the movie that ultimately fails everyone. Blood is spilled, bodies are mangled, and a core mystery is established, but "Cutting Class" can't concentrate on one thing for very long, and its love for absurdity is often at odds with its desire to be scary, leaving the final effort disappointingly scattered.