Okay, slide that tape into the VCR, ignore the slightly chewed-up section near the beginning (we've all been there), and let's talk about a high school horror sequel that embraced the absurdity: Prom Night III: The Last Kiss. Released straight-to-video in 1990, this wasn't your older sibling's sombre Prom Night (1980). Oh no. This was the era of Freddy Krueger cracking wise, and Mary Lou Maloney, the vengeful spirit from Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987), decided she wanted in on the action, albeit with considerably more sass and significantly less actual threat.
### She's Baaaack... And She Wants A Date
Forget Jamie Lee Curtis disco-dancing away from a masked killer. Prom Night III picks up the supernatural thread of its immediate predecessor, bringing back the ghost of Mary Lou Maloney (Courtney Taylor, taking over the role with gusto), the wronged prom queen eternally stuck in 1957... or is she? This time, she sets her spectral sights on average high school senior Alex Grey (Tim Conlon), a kid just trying to graduate and keep his relationship going with the sweet, intelligent Sarah (Cynthia Preston). Mary Lou offers Alex spectral favours – acing tests, humiliating rivals, even vehicular homicide – in exchange for his affection, promising him a prom night he'll never forget. Of course, this demonic bargain quickly spirals out of control as Mary Lou's jealousy turns deadly towards anyone who gets in her way. It’s less a slasher, more a supernatural dark comedy romance gone violently wrong.
### Laughing in the Face of Death (Literally)
What immediately strikes you watching The Last Kiss now, especially compared to the more serious tone of the original or even parts of the second film, is its commitment to humour. Director and writer Ron Oliver leans heavily into the comedic potential of a vengeful ghost meddling in teenage life. The kills here aren't designed purely for scares; they often aim for a macabre chuckle. Remember the scene with the shop teacher and the table saw? Or the principal getting a shocking makeover via faulty wiring? It’s pure '90s horror logic, where elaborate death scenes often took precedence over narrative sense, delivered with a wink.
The practical effects are where the real VHS charm lies. Sure, some of the ghostly apparitions and transformations look a bit ropey by today's standards, but there’s an undeniable tactile quality to them. The locker morphing into a fiery portal, the crackling electricity, the sheer physicality of the stunts – it all felt real on that fuzzy CRT screen late at night. Retro Fun Fact: Like many Canadian genre films of the era aiming for cost-effectiveness, Prom Night III was filmed in Toronto. Even more efficiently, it was shot almost back-to-back with the next instalment, Prom Night IV: Deliver Us From Evil (also directed by Ron Oliver, talk about pulling double duty!), allowing the production to maximize locations and resources. This kind of budget-conscious filmmaking often led to creative problem-solving on set, contributing to that distinct direct-to-video energy.
### A Different Kind of Prom Queen
Courtney Taylor's portrayal of Mary Lou is key to the film's weird appeal. While Wendy Lyon played her with more tormented fury in PNII, Taylor gives us a Mary Lou who’s clearly enjoying her afterlife power trip. She’s quippy, manipulative, and struts through scenes like a supernatural mean girl. It’s a performance that perfectly matches the film's lighter, almost tongue-in-cheek tone. Tim Conlon as Alex does a decent job as the increasingly overwhelmed protagonist caught between his normal life and a possessive poltergeist, while Cynthia Preston provides the necessary grounding as the genuinely likeable girlfriend, Sarah. You actually root for them, even amidst the absurdity. We also get a fun, scenery-chewing turn from David Stratton as the school principal, clearly relishing his role as one of Mary Lou's primary tormentees.
This shift towards a more charismatic killer certainly mirrored trends seen in franchises like A Nightmare on Elm Street around the same time. Mary Lou became less of a pure monster and more of an anti-heroine you sometimes couldn't help but find amusing, even as she’s electrocuting someone. Did critics shower it with praise back in 1990? Unlikely, given its direct-to-video status. But for kids browsing the horror aisle at Blockbuster, Mary Lou’s demonic smirk on the cover promised exactly the kind of gory fun perfect for a weekend sleepover.
### The Verdict
Prom Night III: The Last Kiss isn't high art, nor does it try to be. It’s a cheesy, entertaining slice of early 90s direct-to-video horror-comedy that knows precisely what it is. It ditches the slasher roots of the original entirely, doubles down on the supernatural elements of the second, and injects a heavy dose of dark humour. The practical effects are charmingly dated, the performances are game, and Mary Lou Maloney makes for a memorable, if decidedly less scary, spectral menace. It’s the kind of sequel that likely wouldn't get made today, at least not without a thick coat of irony or CGI overkill.
Rating: 6/10
The score reflects its status as a fun, if flawed, piece of VHS nostalgia. It delivers on the goofy horror-comedy premise with some inventive (for the budget) practical effects and a memorable villain turn, but lacks the genuine scares or tension of better horror films. It fully earns its place as a quirky chapter in the Prom Night saga, a series known for its wild tonal shifts.
Final Thought: For a dose of supernatural high school hijinks served with a side of 90s cheese and endearingly clunky practical magic, Mary Lou's third dance is still worth a nostalgic spin on the VCR… if you can find a working one.