Reform School Girls Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Reform School Girls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 25, 2022

Women in prison pictures already contain elements that border on parody, but co-writer/director Tom DeSimone offers a comedic take on the harsh realities of such an experience with 1986’s “Reform School Girls.” A veteran of two similar features (“Prison Girls” and “The Concrete Jungle”), DeSimone loses patience with playing it straight, going a bit wild with this offering of juvenile delinquency and institutional madness. The camp factor is dialed up just a bit from the usual women in prison routine, but it’s clear DeSimone is trying to have fun with this one, playing to his appreciative audience with grand displays of overacting, intimidation, and chaos, endeavoring to throw a screen party with the movie, which plays right into cult film sensibilities.

Jenny (Linda Carol) is busted after participating in an armed robbery, sentenced to three years at the Pridemore Juvenile Facility. She’s joined by another newcomer, Lisa (Sherri Stoner), with the pair soon experiencing the tough routine set by Edna (Pat Ast), the head matron of Pridemore, who delights in tormenting the teenage girls she’s in charge of. While Warden Sutter (Sybil Danning) attempts to be an authority figure, the inmates are out of control, with Lisa encountering threats from Charlie (Wendy O. Williams), a longtime resident of Pridemore who’s created a gang to back her up, looking to physically brand new members. Jenny, eager to escape, hunts for a way out of the facility, facing the corruption of Edna and the violence of Charlie as she tries to survive inside.

DeSimone pays attention to the formula of women in prison pictures in “Reform School Girls,” with Jenny representing the newcomer to such menacing confinement. She faces disdain from Charlie, the top inmate who doesn’t take kindly to others, and there’s gleeful humiliation from Edna, who lives to make the young woman miserable, riding the high of power. More sensitive is Lisa, who comes to Pridemore unwillingly, rattled by her past, which is filled with abuse and neglect, bringing her to a point of psychological shut-down while dealing with the tough realities of the facility. DeSimone introduces a few unnervingly real emotions during the run time, but the majority of “Reform School Girls” is devoted to exploitation, with the women parading around in skimpy sleepwear and underwear, and time is set aside for shower sequences, supporting the movie’s R-rating.

Something of a story develops in “Reform School Girls” concerning Jenny’s desire to escape, trying to sneak and sleep her way out of Pridemore, which never works as she imagines it will. There’s Dr. Norton (Charlotte McGinnis) as well, with the Pridemore psychologist gradually becoming aware that all is not well with Warden Sutter’s leadership. Conflicts are present to make the picture a bit more dramatically meaningful, but DeSimone seems to know what he’s here to do, highlighting rising tensions among the inmates, with Charlie looking for any opportunity to assert her dominance. Williams makes an impression in the part, even with her amateur actor status, and she successfully classifies “Reform School Girls” as a fantasy film with her casting as a teenage character, actually pushing 40 years of age at time of production. She looks it, but that’s part of the feature’s appeal, as DeSimone strives to exaggerate nearly everything in the movie, including Ast’s take on Edna.

Reform School Girls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. Detail offers slight softness, but certain textures are present throughout the viewing experience, especially with skin particulars, which are plentiful in the movie. School interiors are dimensional and costuming is reasonably fibrous, handling a lot of undergarments and crisper uniforms on the staff. Exteriors also retain depth. Colors are handled well, securing school decoration and clothing choices, which present distinct primaries. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in good condition.

Reform School Girls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix maintains the rock mood with a louder presence and clear instrumentation for soundtrack selections. Scoring offers distinct synth support. Dialogue exchanges are satisfactorily defined, handling broad performances and school commotion without distortive extremes.

Reform School Girls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Tom DeSimone.

• Commentary #2 features film historian Elizabeth Purchell.

• "So Young, So Bad, So What" (HD) is the making-of for "Reform School Girls," with Part 1 (10:13) exploring early career ambition with writer/director Tom DeSimone, who was desperate the collect experience in the industry, making finding his way to the adult film business. With 1977's "Chatterbox" and 1981's "Hell Night," DeSimone had hits, which gave him a chance to build his career. With two women in prison pictures on his filmography, the helmer was finally ready to go camp with "Reform School Girls." Superfans Michael Varrati and Peaches Christ also appear to discuss the male gaze of the movie, and its appeal to both straight and gay audiences. The pair also detail the ingredients of every women in prison endeavor.

• "Namby Pamby" (11:47) is Part 2 of the making-of, delving into casting stories with DeSimone, who pursued Pat Ast for her part, and had to be talked into working with Sybil Danning, with New World Pictures adamant she join the film to spice up the poster. Wendy O. Williams had a list of demands, but she brought something special to her part, with Peaches Christ and Varrati detailing her status as punk rock royalty. Kat Guerra and Laura Lee Kasten join the documentary to explore extras casting, and actresses Darcy DeMoss, Tiffany Helm, Winifred Freeman, and Lorrie Marlowe share their memories from the shoot, noting the cliquish behavior on-set.

• "Blue Moonlight" (16:08) is Part 3 of the making-of, introducing cinematographer Howard Wexler to the conversation, who shares his early interests in film and desire to make movies. Locations for "Reform School Girls" are recalled, with time spent inside an abandoned high school, and Wexler details his visual choices, feeling a bit embarrassed by the use of excessive blue light in the picture. The cast returns to share anecdotes about Wendy O. Williams and Pat Ast, and the shower scene is analyzed, with Tiffany Helm fired from the production for backing out of nudity requirements.

• "Break the Establishment" (16:18) is part 4 of the making-of, exploring the long days encountered during the "Reform School Girls" shoot, including the riot sequence, which involved a few injuries. Dan Siegel arrives to discuss his music for the film, and all the creative challenges he encountered. The release of "Reform School Girls" is recalled, and the interviewees examine the cult longevity of the movie.

• "Pat Ast: Superstar" (7:34, HD) is an interview with press agent and theatrical producer Alan Eichler, who tracks the life and times of the "Reform School Girls" star, also sharing his working experience with her on the play, "Women Behind Bars."

• "Ode to Wendy" (6:44, HD) is an appreciation piece for Wendy O. Williams from journalist Breanna Whipple.

• "Women Behind Bars" (72:07, SD) presents video footage from the play.

• And a Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:21) and Trailer #2 (:56) is included.

Reform School Girls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Reform School Girls" naturally concludes with a riot scenario, but there's hellraising throughout the endeavor as DeSimone tries to get his money's worth out of Williams and her natural way with raspy intimidation. Not everything clicks in the feature, as the writing periodically runs out of ideas, and Danning isn't used to her full potential as Warden Sutter, weirdly turned into wallpaper as the rest of the cast goes hog wild in their roles. "Reform School Girls" isn't a completely wild ride, but it has many highlights and acts of insanity to maintain entertainment value, successfully pantsing and participating in the strange world of women in prison pictures.