Cutting Class – 4K UHD Blu-ray Review
Commissions Earned
Film Title: Cutting Class (1989)
Release Date: 2024
Rating: R
Runtime: 91 minutes
Region Coding: Region Free
Distributor: MVD Rewind Collection
Audio Formats: PCM 2.0 Mono / Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
High Dynamic Range: HDR10
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Version Reviewed: 4K UHD Blu-ray
Release Date: 1/30/24
Director: Rospo Pallenberg
Cast: Donovan Leitch Jr., Jill Schoelen, Brad Pitt, Roddy McDowall, Martin Mull
Jump to Sections:
Movie | Video | Audio | Bonus | Closing | Screenshots
Full 4K Tech Specs found at the bottom
click to view a 4K Screenshot
The Movie
“Cutting Class” was a 1989 horror comedy. The film was directed by Rospo Pallenberg. Pallenberg is best known for his work as a creative associate on the film “Deliverance” (1972), his uncredited work as co-writer & co-director on the film “Exorcist II: Heretic” (1977), and most notable for writing the screenplay adaptation to “Excalibur” (1981). The screenplay was written by Steve Slavkin, best known for creating and writing the TV series “Salute Your Shorts” (1991).
Our protagonist is a dark-haired, attractive teenage girl named “Paula” (Jill Schoelen). As we first encounter her, her dad, “William” (Martin Mull), is embarking on a week-long hunting trip, leaving her alone in the house, as there’s no mother figure in the picture. Before departing, her father, the local district attorney, lays down ground rules for her time alone, including no boys, with the most crucial rule being: “No cutting class.”
While initially coming out to pick up the newspaper, Paula gets distracted talking to her father, realizes she’s late, and casually tosses the paper into the trash. Unfortunately, she missed a headline that might have piqued both her and her father’s interest: “Boy Who Killed Father Released From Institution.” That’s the kind of thing you might want to read about before going to school, but oh well. The boy in question happens to be one of Paula’s high school classmates, named “Brian Woods” (Donovan Leitch Jr.), who harbors a peculiar crush on Paula despite her already having a boyfriend. Paula’s boyfriend is the typical good-looking high school jock named “Dwight” (Brad Pitt). Dwight is less than thrilled about the creepy Brian having eyes for his girl and doesn’t shy away from bullying him.
As expected in these types of films, a series of grisly murders start occurring around the school, making it evident that there are only two primary suspects. Both suspects share a common thread—both have romantic interests in our female protagonist, and it’s up to her to survive. The high school’s cast of characters includes the principal “Mr. Dante” (Roddy McDowall), the sleazy and creepy janitor “Schultz” (Robert Glaudini), the secretary “Mrs. Knocht” (Nancy Fish), and the gym teacher “Coach Harris” (Dirk Blocker). Will they aid Paula in finding the killer, or will they become victims? You’ll have to watch to find out.
Movie Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)
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Video Quality
“Cutting Class” on 4K UHD Blu-ray is presented in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range. The movie was shot on 35mm film using the Arriflex camera and spherical lenses. This has received a 4K restoration (from the 35mm original camera negative).
Next, let me get technical, for a bit, in regards to the 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc itself here. This release uses a BD-66 (66 gigabytes) disc, 60.5 gigabytes total, and 59.0 gigabytes for the film itself. Based on my observations via my 4K UHD Blu-ray player, this seems to be running an average (roughly) of anywhere between 76.8 to 88.8 Mbps in the HEVC (high-efficiency video coding) codec, hitting peaks as high as 93.1 and 108.8 Mbps at times. According to info on the PC side, this seems to have an overall video bitrate of 86.2 Mb/s average. That’s impressive itself, from a statistician. Finally, this seems to be mastered at 1000 nits according to my Panasonic 4K UHD Blu-ray Player’s metadata info.
To say that this film has a healthy amount of film grain would be an understatement. The film grain can be a tad bit too thick early on during some scenes featuring the sky, but thankfully that clears up though. You certainly have one very cinematic feel via this 4K presentation, as if you were sitting in a nice theater. There’s an incredible amount of newfound detail here that fans on VHS never imagined could be there. It’s not since the few theatrical showings that probably most of this detail has been seen.
The color palette can be pretty vibrant at times and with the addition of high dynamic range, it gets even more visually pleasing. Also, flesh tones appear accurate and there’s a solid black level. It’s really impressive There’s some dirt and debris left in so that things don’t feel too cleaned up, and I’m glad to see that. It’s cool to see a low-budget film such as this looking as incredible as it does in 4K resolution. That said, I’m giving this a well-deserved and admirable 4.75 rating for video quality.
Video Quality Rating: 4.75 (out of 5)
click to view a 4K Screenshot
Audio Quality
“Cutting Class” arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray with your choice of either Uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 Mono or Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound. Do note, that Dolby Digital is a lossy format whereas the LPCM is uncompressed and lossless, and keep in mind this film was originally presented in Mono theatrically. I’ll be covering the PCM 2.0 Mono mix here.
The film’s opening title sequence features the song “Nearer to Morning” performed by Andy Prieboy and it sounds pretty good to only be in a Mono configuration. Once the title sequence is over you’ll get to hear dialogue delivered distinctly, requiring no volume adjustments. The sound effects will come across as pretty realistic involving a car, I’ll leave it at that. The other sound effects later in the film certainly come across as realistic as well and might even make you jump, but doubtful. The film’s original music (by Jill Fraser) manages to do a good job of setting the mood throughout.
There’s nothing to complain about here and this Mono sound mix never comes close to distorting. It’s clean and doing the most that it can with the source material. It’s a solid sound mix and even at times slightly impressive to just be in lossless Mono. That being said, this PCM mix certainly does this cult-classic justice, earning it a 4.25 rating for audio quality.
Audio Quality Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)
click to view a 4K Screenshot
Bonus Materials
A collectible mini fold-out poster is included.
You also get a Blu-ray Disc included in this 2-disc “combo pack” set.
- The Blu-ray Disc contains the film using the same scan in 1080p HD video with both Uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 Mono and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo options for sound. This disc is where the extras are housed.
Bonus materials included on the Blu-ray Disc are listed below.
- Interview with star Jill Schoelen (20 minutes, 26 seconds – HD) is excellent and you’ll hear her discuss her experience working on this film along with Brad and Donovan as well as even discuss working on the film “The Stepfather” (1987).
- Interview with star Donovan Leitch (16 minutes, 25 seconds – HD) is yet another great interview with him discussing some on-set pranks that Brad Pitt did, and get to hear a bit about the director’s genuine attempt but failure to launch.
- The “Kill Comparisons” featurette (3 minutes, 53 seconds – HD) shows you the differences between the R-rated and Edited (for TV) versions of kills.
- R-Rated / Edited Version of “Cutting Class” (1 hour, 30 minutes, 52 seconds – SD) features Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound.
- “Find the Killer VHS Contest” (4 minutes, 11 seconds – SD) has some real issues with sound, but might be fun for fans.
- Original Theatrical Trailer (2 minutes, 35 seconds – HD) is also included on the 4K disc and presented in 4K resolution.
Overall, the bonus materials here prove to be rather informative and certainly entertaining. Brad Pitt is of course not on here discussing the film and I don’t think that is going to surprise anyone. It is a shame we don’t get the film’s screenwriter or director here to do any interviews, but I’m sure they would probably like to put this film behind them as well. All and all, you get almost an hour of traditional extras and then you have the R-rated version of the film in standard definition. Plus, there’s that collectible mini fold-out poster that’s certainly worth hanging up if you’re a true fan of the film.
Bonus Materials Rating: 3 (out of 5)
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Closing Thoughts
“Cutting Class” was a 1989 movie that features a killer on the loose with its horror themes, but it only ends up coming across as more comedic than it did as a guessing game of who the killer was. Brad Pitt would become a household name and one of the most popular leading men in Hollywood pretty soon after this film. I’m sure, like his co-stars, that Brad would probably like to erase this movie from his IMDb listings (for acting), but the fact is that he was in the film, and he left one memorable impression along with his co-stars Donovan Leitch Jr. and Jill Schoelen. The story here had some potential but it proved to be just cheesy and too easy to guess who the killer was, as I mentioned. Still, it’s a pure cult classic – so bad it’s good.
In terms of video quality, this looks rather impressive for a low-budget film with an excellent amount of detail to be found here throughout, especially in close-ups. It also comes with one very pleasing amount of film grain, sure to give you a flashback to the late Eighties theatrical showings. The colors really can pop, which rich vibrant wardrobe choices showing that, now with the addition of high dynamic range and flesh tones come across as accurate. And there’s a pretty solid black level. All and all, it has one exceptional 4K video presentation for a catalog film as small as this.
In terms of audio quality, this 4K release comes in Uncompressed Linear PCM [LPCM] Mono which is solid and manages to get the job done but isn’t the first thing you’d pick up off of a shelf to show off a sound system. Still, it keeps with its original sound configuration and doesn’t try to turn the mix into surround, which I think was a wise choice. The sound presentation here is pretty good and you can’t help but commend the distributor on using PCM, the most lossless form of sound out there.
Finally, in terms of bonus materials, you get almost an hour of traditional materials as well as an R-rated cut of the film in SD, the trailer, and a physical bonus in the form of a mini fold-out poster. This is a pretty decent set of supplemental material. This turns out to be A Cult Classic in Great Quality, regardless of how cheesy and downright predictable the film itself might be.
In terms of 4K UHD Blu-ray release, this gets:
4.75 (out of 5) for video quality
4.25 (out of 5) for audio quality
3 (out of 5) for bonus materials
Overall Verdict:
A Cult Classic in Great Quality
Available As:
2024 MVD Rewind Collection 4K UHD Blu-ray Release
Available at: Amazon | Walmart
Commissions Earned
4K UHD Blu-ray Screenshots:
Standard Packaging:
4K UHD Blu-ray Technical Specifications:
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Exact Runtime(s): 1:31:03
Audio Format(s): English Uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 Stereo, English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision
Disc Size: BD-66
Disc Use: 60.5GB total / 59.0GB for the film
Video Bitrate: 86.2 Mb/s