“Graduation Day” (1981) is a low-budget slasher that manages to be entertaining despite its shortcomings. Following the sudden death of a high school student during a track meet, members of the team become targets for a mysterious killer. Patch Mackenzie portrays the deceased girl’s sister who has returned from military service, while Christopher George plays the demanding coach. E. Danny Murphy appears as the grieving boyfriend. The film cost only $250,000 to make, and its high school setting is well-suited to the genre; however, “Prom Night” (1980) had already explored that concept nearly a year earlier, and “Student Bodies,” a comedic take on the same idea, arrived shortly after. While not strictly slashers themselves, films like "Carrie" (1976) and "Christine" (1983) share a similar tone with this movie. The key difference is that those movies had significantly larger budgets than “Graduation Day,” which is evident in its noticeably lower production values. The filmmakers seemed unsure whether they wanted to create a serious horror film or a humorous parody, resulting in an unusual and somewhat jarring atmosphere. I eventually adjusted to this oddity and found myself enjoying the movie for what it is: a cheesy high school slasher from the early 1980s. Several of the female characters stand out, including Linnea Quigley (as Dolores), Karen Abbott (as Joanne), and Denise Cheshire (as gymnast Sally). Even Vanna White has a small role (as Doris). At one hour and 37 minutes long, “Graduation Day” feels somewhat drawn-out for what is intended to be a lighthearted slasher. The seven-and-a-half-minute live performance of "Gangster Rock" by Felony also felt excessive, although the song itself is an energetic hard rock track that does liven up the film. The movie frequently shifted between the band's performance and the killings in the woods, suggesting either a shorter version of the song was originally intended or the band extended their rendition for the live setting, perhaps because it was popular locally. Sadly, Felony’s lead singer, Jeffrey Scott Spry, died by suicide in March 1992. It's worth remembering that once someone is gone, they are gone permanently. Filming took place at La Cañada High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California, and nearby Pasadena (houses). GRADE: C+

Source on TMDB