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No consensus yet.
All Critics (18) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (5) | DVD (8)
Whatever statement Lester wanted to make is lost as a result, whether he did predict the decline of schools a moot point. Feb 26, 2019 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…
Whatever statement Lester wanted to make is lost as a result, whether he did predict the decline of schools a moot point.
James Evans
For a film that revels in its own grittiness Class of 1984 really is highly enjoyable and very rewatchable Feb 25, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
For a film that revels in its own grittiness Class of 1984 really is highly enjoyable and very rewatchable
Chris Ward
Timothy Van Patten is definitely one of the most charismatic movie villains of all time, the epitome of punk anarchy and chaos... Jan 13, 2016 | Full Review…
Timothy Van Patten is definitely one of the most charismatic movie villains of all time, the epitome of punk anarchy and chaos...
Felix Vasquez Jr.
The title suggests an Orwellian nightmare, but this extremely efficient and gleefully alarmist exploitation hit owes less to Big Brother than to 'Blackboard Jungle.' May 15, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
The title suggests an Orwellian nightmare, but this extremely efficient and gleefully alarmist exploitation hit owes less to Big Brother than to 'Blackboard Jungle.'
John Beifuss
prophetic with his ultra-violent cautionary tale of the youth of that day Apr 27, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
prophetic with his ultra-violent cautionary tale of the youth of that day
Kevin Carr
Director-coscripter Mark Lester films this for maximum cathartic impact, tapping into viewers' thirst for justice and revenge against these disreputable brats as thoroughly as the filmmakers behind such eye-for-an-eye yarns as Death Wish and The Crow. Apr 18, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Director-coscripter Mark Lester films this for maximum cathartic impact, tapping into viewers' thirst for justice and revenge against these disreputable brats as thoroughly as the filmmakers behind such eye-for-an-eye yarns as Death Wish and The Crow.
Matt Brunson
There's no point in decrying the film's risible politics, especially when it's just an enjoyable relic of Reagan-era paranoia and generational hostility. Apr 13, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
There's no point in decrying the film's risible politics, especially when it's just an enjoyable relic of Reagan-era paranoia and generational hostility.
Scott Tobias
As socially conscious as "Class of 1984" is, the film's greater aim is as a crowd-provoking, albeit well-made, exploitation pic. Apr 9, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
As socially conscious as "Class of 1984" is, the film's greater aim is as a crowd-provoking, albeit well-made, exploitation pic.
Dustin Putman
An allegory in which the subtext out-bullhorns the text itself. Mar 16, 2006 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
An allegory in which the subtext out-bullhorns the text itself.
Eric Henderson
It's sad, really, that a movie deemed horrific enough to be banned in several countries 25 years ago seems almost naïve by today's standards. Feb 22, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
It's sad, really, that a movie deemed horrific enough to be banned in several countries 25 years ago seems almost naïve by today's standards.
Don Willmott
Whether for its eighties nostalgia, or its absurdly reactionary violence, this is one guilty pleasure that still makes the grade. Jul 22, 2005 | Full Review…
Whether for its eighties nostalgia, or its absurdly reactionary violence, this is one guilty pleasure that still makes the grade.
Anton Bitel
Alice Cooper sang the title song, which never hurts, but this movie is beyond saving. Aug 4, 2002 | Rating: 3/10
Alice Cooper sang the title song, which never hurts, but this movie is beyond saving.
Alex Sandell
In the early 1980's high schools in the United States had a reputation of being filthy, violent places that were overrun by gangs of rebellious students that can't be expelled for one reason or another (why these hardened criminals would want to hang out a high school all day is beyond me). Films such as Teachers, 3 O'Clock High, and others regurgitated that idea throughout the early part of the decade. Class of 1984 is another member of that genre. The formula follows and idealistic teacher (Perry King) that represents a young go getter, ready to change the world by teaching. You need a leader of the thugs (Timothy Van Patten) who gets into a conflict with the idealistic teacher and drags that person down to his level in the end. The idealistic teacher has to have a spouse (Merrie Lynn Ross) that is semi oblivious until the danger appears at the front doorstep. Finally, you must have the older, fed up teacher (Roddy McDowell) that serves as a mentor to the young, idealistic teacher, but will probably end up a sacrifice to fuel the revenge fire. Class of 1984 is an average film from this genre. Very predictable if you've seen any film like this from the 1980's. The only standout in the film is the performance by Roddy McDowell, who pushes his character beyond its generic function. Otherwise, the film doesn't really stand out from any high school centered version of Death Wish. Class of 1984 serves its purpose more as a time capsule of the era than delivering anything new. This is a totally forgettable film.
Super Reviewer
The first in the 'Class of' trilogy and a pretty different outlook over the other two as this film is actually more of a serious approach to the story. One teacher up against a gang of yobs within the school which starts off as mere issues but slowly develops into a life or death scenario as both the gang and the teacher press harder for retaliation. Compared to the other films this is a much darker affair which does get pretty tense as you really get behind Perry King's character to defeat the gang, you wanna see him beat them. Set in the present (at the time) so everything looks as it should unlike the sequels. The film does of course look really dated now mainly down to cars, hair styles and outfits but its still a great thriller with a really nice ensemble cast that all perform well. Van Patten as the psychopathic pretty boy leader is really good the way he switches from menacing greaser to a whimpering high school kid to trick the officials, McDowall fits this type of trashy low budget film perfectly and King really cranks up the suspense giving the film real edge. For all its silliness, increasing amounts of violence and lack of subtlety the film is probably quite accurate I think, it possibly does show what can and has happened in urban schools to some degree, the security guards etc...a reasonable prediction. Yes this film was a video nasty back in the day in the UK, one of those films that was thought to corrupt the young and innocent hehe I can see why somewhat. Looking back now though its a good fun revenge thriller which is so gloriously 80's and introduced us all to a young chubby Michael J. Fox.
Cult shocker (for its time) about a gang of lawless school pupils who rule over the other students and teachers with violence and intimidation until one teacher decides to take a stand and fight back. Yeah it's an entertaining film, not much shock value left nowadays for it as it comes off a bit too cheesy. A rape scene, a severed arm and the use of the word "cunt" are the only offensive things that some people may find in the film. The best moments are towards the end when the punks get the tables turned on them.
This is another of the school themed movies with an updated story like that in the 50s movie, Blackboard Jungle. This one is very 80s, and it's very excting, and I really enjoyed it.
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