10 Canadian Horror Movies You Must See Before You Die

Riding high on her Scream Queen status following Halloween two years earlier, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in this low budget slasher about a man getting revenge for his dead sister. One of the first horror films to use the setting of teenagers being stalked at school by an unknown killer, it inspired and influenced many films following it which used the same trope.

Prom Night contained a great disco-inspired soundtrack, which contrasted perfectly with the dark gruesome death scenes. It also featured Leslie Nielsen in one of his last ‘serious’ roles before he transferred predominantly into outlandish comedy. It had some ingenious practical effects, including a severed head rolling across the floor, a difficult visual to achieve in the pre-CGI era.

At the time of its release, Prom Night was compared unfavourably to both Halloween and Carrie and given a limited release in cinemas. However, it went on to become a cult hit, especially profiting when released on home video. The film was re-made in 2008, although the storyline was changed considerably from the original, except for the prom night setting.