MovieChat Forums > Final Exam (1981) Discussion > Mask? and Backstory?

Mask? and Backstory?

posted 16 years ago by Ryanheat22
18 replies | jump to latest

Just finished watching this movie and I thought it had some potential, but came up empty on the overall. I think putting a mask on the killer would have helped tremendously. Right from the outset you can see the killers face (and throughout the rest of the movie) and to me any scare factor in the movie was damaged from that. Also, there is no backstory on the killer. I don't expect much from the backstory, but at least something to keep the story interesting. Final Exam was pretty bland and generic without those elements.

[–] Sha_Dows 16 years ago

You know,I agree with you...I kind of made my own back-story.If you remember the scene where I think it was Elizabeth or the other Blonde girl was talking to her friend Courtney about joining the Sorority and then Courtney says,"A girl commited suicide because she didn't make it into the Sorority",or something along those lines,but anywhoo...I always assumed the Killer was the girl's father Hell-Bent on revenge against the Campus students at Lanier College.

[–] highschoolkiller 15 years ago

thats a good theory actually. but i agree with the OP. A killer without a mask is a big turn off for me personally.

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[–] murda-2005 13 years ago

that wouldnt make sense since he killed 2 other kids at another college... and since they didnt put a mask on him, they should have made him at least talk, cuz knowing who the killer was without a back story made it less suspenseful and ultimately anticlimactic... in comparison to other 80s slashers - it sucked

[–] smerd_70 15 years ago

Don't watch the original Friday The 13th, or Slumber Party Massacre or Madman, or Hell Night since there are no masks worn in those. And stay away from the original classic Black Christmas since there is no mask or back story...

Personally I like that there is no mask worn, and not every slasher has to have a back story to keep it interesting, I find not knowing why is far more creepy than some silly tacked on 5 minute intro giving us the overused troubled childhood story. The idea of the killer just picking a college at random to kill was far more effective than if they had gone with some lame jilted lover or wronged student reveal at the end.

I collect dead pigeons then I press them between the pages of a book.

[–] tamofoda 14 years ago

I agree with you, is much better this way. Otherwise, it would be another pain in the a$$ slasher. And more, the guy is just a killer. There is NO backstory, don't waste your time thinking in one. One of the character clearly says that "Serial Kilers exist. They kill for no reason, just to have fun" or something like that.

This guy could be a real deal. You know, just a normal guy. The villains don't have to be connected to anyone in the plot. I think is much more frightful like this.

[–] smerd_70 13 years ago

This guy could be a real deal. You know, just a normal guy. The villains don't have to be connected to anyone in the plot. I think is much more frightful like this.

Exactly.

I collect dead pigeons then I press them between the pages of a book.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] smerd_70 13 years ago

Thanks! Totally forgot about this post.

I collect dead pigeons then I press them between the pages of a book.

[–] WerewolfNightmare101 12 years ago

1. Friday the 13th Part II, III & so on had a mask on Jason Voorhees, the rest of the ones, I din't know...
2. Black Christmas did had a backstory, at the end where they say Peter must be the killer & that when he talks crazy trash on the phone, he says "mommie" so that could mean that he had a mental time with his mother, so your comment was wrong

[–] jawsdfan-856-245997 10 years ago

If you watch the trailer on the new SCREAM FACTORY Blu-Ray it says "The Night HE Came Back" obviously trying to capitalize on HALLOWEEN but the killer is never given a back story, it looks like he goes from College to College killing for no reason and there is no indication he had ever been at this College before, so how is he "Back"??

[–] blairbitchproject 9 years ago

Completely agree with you, I find it odd people want to see masks and back stories in every single slasher then turn around and complain about them all being the same. As a horror fan, it was refreshing to see an unmasked killer and the terrifying thought that someone could just go around killing off college kids for no reason.

[–] JHar888 12 years ago

This movie was boring as sh!t. If the killer would've worn a clown mask, an easter bunny mask, or even a potato sack and overalls, I would've loved the hell out of it tho.

[–] hatr 10 years ago

Even if he had a mask, the lack of backstory and lack of invention in the killings destroys any interest

[–] The_Scarecrow 10 years ago

I was thinking the same as the OP. The mask wasn't really necessary, they could have filmed it in a way that didn't show his face at least, but to show his face right from the start and throughout was strange for a movie like this. The backstory too, I kept trying to figure out who the killer was eventually going to be related to or connected with, but no, he was just some random guy.

Also it took a long time before the first kill of the main college. It was fine other than that.

"LISTEN TO ME I'M DOCTOR TED NELSON!" - Dr.Ted Nelson

[–] davannacarter 10 years ago

I know the killer's identity and his backstory.

The killer's identity was actually Tony Danza. You have to remember this movie was being filmed when the TV show "Taxi" was coming to an end. Tony, being the most emotional member, couldn't take the loss and started killing college kids at random at a college near where Taxi was filmed. When the movie was about to come out, Tony's agents got him a part for another series called "Who's the Boss?" But his killing spree could have killed his career. So his agents had the movie edited to exclude all the real good shots of Tony's face and all remove his name from the credits. They had a stand-in reshoot the scenes where Tony's face is visible and he used his name in the credits. But just to make sure the agents also made sure the movie was shown in as few theaters as possible and then quickly taken out of theaters. As a result, the movie was quickly forgotten. It's only nowadays, after Tony Danza's career has been over for some time now, have people been able to find out the truth.

Hope this helps.

[–] ScorpionTDC 10 years ago

I didn't really mind that the killer was anonymous. I thought the bigger issue was how generic, uninspired, and predictable it was, along with the fact that absolutely nothing important happens for almost an hour after the opening kill

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[–] lianzantoro 9 years ago

Considering that the story didn't take place at Halloween, the killer would have looked pretty conspicuous roaming the campus with a mask on.

[–] DAVEYBOY2345 8 years ago

It'd be kinda hard to drive around and walk the premises of a college campus with a mask and not draw attention. by not wearing a mask and not being identifiable to other faculty and students the killer is already hidden in plain sight.