"Reform School Girls" is a deliciously exaggerated entry in the Women In Prison genre. It's all very campy material that the majority of the actors, to their credit, actually play quite straight. The winks start with the fact that its writer / director Tom DeSimone, had previously made another classic, "The Concrete Jungle". Here, DeSimone, cast, and crew clearly have a ball with the trashy 'n' flashy story. Linda Carol plays Jenny, a newcomer to a reform school named Pridemore Juvenile Facility, who mixes it up with both the overbearing head matron Edna (corpulent, big haired Pat Ast, who's an absolute riot) and swaggering top dog convict Charlie (punk rocker Wendy O. Williams, perfectly suited to the role). Also among the main cast is the B movie goddess Sybil Danning, adding to the in- joke tone of the movie seeing that she plays the ruthless warden here and had already played a convict in the earlier "Chained Heat". Ast, Williams, and Danning are a superb trio and make this fun to watch. Carol, by comparison, by playing a more or less decent person (although tough enough to try standing up to the antagonists), comes off as less entertaining. Ast delights in the over the top nature of Edna, setting a stuffed animal on fire and stomping the life out of a real one. DeSimone delivers enough shower scenes / nudity / sex, melodrama, and violence to keep fans content. The sometimes hilarious script features some choice and quotable dialogue. The soundtrack is absolutely kick ass, with Williams singing such ditties as the anthemic "It's My Life" and the title track. The supporting cast aren't slouches, either; Charlotte McGinnis is the concerned Dr. Norton, Sherri Stoner the young innocent Lisa, Denise Gordy the sassy Claudia, Laurie Schwartz the spunky Nicky, and two "Friday the 13th" franchise alumni, Tiffany Helm ("A New Beginning") and Darcy DeMoss ("Jason Lives") play Charlie's flunkies. The movie progresses agreeably through various sordid episodes before coming to a rousing conclusion. In any event, one element you have to appreciate about this sort of thing is the hotness factor of the inmates. It's not exactly boring at any moment, either. There are certainly no complaints from this viewer. Eight out of 10.
47 Reviews
Why movies were invented
deheor5 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This film is a absolutely fun resurrection/send up of the classic New World women in prison movies of the seventies. This reform school seems to be made up almost exclusively of hot looking women in their 20's except for star Wendy O' Williams who was mid-thirties when this epic was made. The plot is WIP classic, young innocents confront harsh reality of life behind bars and everything you would expect from such a film is delivered in spades. Sadistic Warden- Oh yeah, Sybil Danning can play that role in her sleep and nearly does so here. She really isn't given that much to do. Instead she stands aside and lets the films true villain handle the beatings. Evil Prison Matron- This is role Pat Ast was born to play and it is obvious that she is having the time of her life. Her evil laugh gets a good workout and plus she stomps on a KITTEN. Tough new inmate- Linda Carol gives a strong performance as the frequently naked rebel who will not tolerate the rules of reform school and as a result brings hardship on herself and her friends. Sweet Innocent- This is where Reform School girls earns bonus points not just for casting an actress who is good in the film (Sherri Stoner) but someone who achieved celebrity years later as a figure model for Disney thus attracting a new audience to the film of people who want to see the little mermaid naked. Prisoner who runs things- Many people have complained about Wendy O Williams in the film but I thought she was a lot of fun. Sure she was a tad older than most juvenile delinquents but her over the top performance suited the film perfectly. Kindly prison Doc-Charlotte McGinnis plays the only nice staff member in the entire prison so therefore she is the least interesting person but at least she helps get the films climax going. Bad people get their due ending-Fun ending which features gun fire and an exploding bus caps the film off in style with an added bonus of a killer song sung by Wendy O Williams played over the end credits. Although many people were put off by the nudity and occasional violence I think anyone old enough to remember Caged Heat will have a great time with this film as long as they have a high tolerance for kitten stomping.
Pretty damn good for an exploitation flick
guyfromjerzee6 January 2006
I was expecting this movie to fall into the so-bad-it's-good category, but I was wrong. I found myself surprisingly engaged by the film's plot (Yes, it actually had a plot). I was expecting just a bunch of scenes that serve as poor excuses to showcase naked or scantily clad women. Mind you, there are some scenes like that, but nothing more than you would expect in a woman-in-prison movie. The actors play it straight, rarely acting like they're in a B-movie, as they seem to take their roles pretty seriously. Don't get me wrong, "Reform School Girls" is by no means a film of substance. But it's very entertaining without being too much of a guilty pleasure. Plus, the theme song (performed by Wendy O. Williams herself) is a great, catchy tune!
Tacky, trashy and tasteless fun from director Tom DeSimone.
BA_Harrison10 November 2012
Set in a correctional facility for young female offenders, Reform School Girls is technically a Women in Prison movie, but don't expect anything too sleazy ala the films of Jess Franco—as far as the genre goes, this mid 80s effort from seasoned trash director Tom DeSimone is one of the lighter examples, designed to be fun rather than offensive.
While it does deliver most of the standard WIP ingredients—cat-fights, communal shower scenes, bull dykes, fragile first-timers, and physical abuse—it's all done in knowingly camp fashion with tongue firmly in cheek. The big-breasted women saunter round their dorm in sexy lingerie, the nastier inmates and members of staff are grotesque caricatures, the dialogue is deliberately tasteless ('I thought I smelled fish'), and the plot is about as cheesy as it could get.
Let's face it, any film which sees a scantily clad Wendy O. Williams, lead singer of punk/rock group The Plasmatics, stood atop a speeding bus on a collision course with a sadistic, overweight, shotgun toting head matron called Edna (a memorable performance from Pat Ast) was never intended to be taken all that seriously.
While it does deliver most of the standard WIP ingredients—cat-fights, communal shower scenes, bull dykes, fragile first-timers, and physical abuse—it's all done in knowingly camp fashion with tongue firmly in cheek. The big-breasted women saunter round their dorm in sexy lingerie, the nastier inmates and members of staff are grotesque caricatures, the dialogue is deliberately tasteless ('I thought I smelled fish'), and the plot is about as cheesy as it could get.
Let's face it, any film which sees a scantily clad Wendy O. Williams, lead singer of punk/rock group The Plasmatics, stood atop a speeding bus on a collision course with a sadistic, overweight, shotgun toting head matron called Edna (a memorable performance from Pat Ast) was never intended to be taken all that seriously.
Glorious trash
BandSAboutMovies1 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Tom DeSimone is a maniac and I say that in the kindest of ways. Chatterbox, Hell Night, Savage Streets, Angel III: The Final Chapter...the dude knows exactly what I want to watch and delivers.
Seeing as he already made two women in prison films, Prison Girls and The Concrete Jungle, DeSimone decided that it was time to make a parody.
Yet this movie is a force of nature. I mean, Wendy O. Williams*, the lead singer of the Plasmatics, plays Charlie Chambliss, the top dog of the reform school who sleeps with Edna (Pat Ast, Halston's muse and the star of Warhol's Heat), the head of the ward, for special privileges.
Jenny (Linda Carol, who may have been 16 when they shot this, making her nudity underage) is our heroine, a girl who gets caught in a shootout thanks to a bad boyfriend and ends up becoming the newbie who runs afoul of, well, everybody.
And to make this even better, Sybil Danning plays Warden Sutter, a religious zealot with a radio tower that she uses to blast the Word of God while the girls try to sleep.
Sherri Stoner, who plays Lisa, who would go on to write for Animaniacs and voice Slappy Squirrel. Other actresses** that appear in this are Denise Gordy (D. C. Cab), Tiffany Helm (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning), Darci DeMoss (Friday the 13th Part VI), Michelle Bauer, Julia Parton and Leslee Bremmer (Hardbodies).
The only sad thing I can say about this movie is that Mary Woronov was originally cast to play Dr. Norton. Unfortunately, DeSimone thought she played the role too hard during the first cast reading. Any movie that would have had Woronov, Williams and Danning in the same story may have been too much for my fragile mind to deal with.
*Williams was 36 when she played this teenage role. She also refused any outfits that were suggested for the movie, providing her own clothes and refused to take off her boots, even for the shower scenes.
**Linnea Quigley is one of the posters, yet isn't in the film.
Seeing as he already made two women in prison films, Prison Girls and The Concrete Jungle, DeSimone decided that it was time to make a parody.
Yet this movie is a force of nature. I mean, Wendy O. Williams*, the lead singer of the Plasmatics, plays Charlie Chambliss, the top dog of the reform school who sleeps with Edna (Pat Ast, Halston's muse and the star of Warhol's Heat), the head of the ward, for special privileges.
Jenny (Linda Carol, who may have been 16 when they shot this, making her nudity underage) is our heroine, a girl who gets caught in a shootout thanks to a bad boyfriend and ends up becoming the newbie who runs afoul of, well, everybody.
And to make this even better, Sybil Danning plays Warden Sutter, a religious zealot with a radio tower that she uses to blast the Word of God while the girls try to sleep.
Sherri Stoner, who plays Lisa, who would go on to write for Animaniacs and voice Slappy Squirrel. Other actresses** that appear in this are Denise Gordy (D. C. Cab), Tiffany Helm (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning), Darci DeMoss (Friday the 13th Part VI), Michelle Bauer, Julia Parton and Leslee Bremmer (Hardbodies).
The only sad thing I can say about this movie is that Mary Woronov was originally cast to play Dr. Norton. Unfortunately, DeSimone thought she played the role too hard during the first cast reading. Any movie that would have had Woronov, Williams and Danning in the same story may have been too much for my fragile mind to deal with.
*Williams was 36 when she played this teenage role. She also refused any outfits that were suggested for the movie, providing her own clothes and refused to take off her boots, even for the shower scenes.
**Linnea Quigley is one of the posters, yet isn't in the film.
Quite the experience.
lewiskendell5 November 2010
"Don't just stand there, bring me something to wipe my shoe."
I had never seen a "women in cages" movie prior to seeing this, so I really had no idea what to expect. Which is good, because no expectations could have prepared me for this, anyway. Reform School Girls is lurid, sordid, exploitative, pure cheese, and yes, even entertaining. If you can handle the absurdity of it all, anyway.
The plot is paper thin (Othello, this is not). A young woman gets sent to a reform school/youth prison after a botched bank robbery, and tangles with the corrupt warden and head matron, as well as a gang of vicious girls. That's basically it. And there's lots of underwear.
Basically, you probably already know if you like these kinds of movies, or you're a newbie like me. If you're unfamiliar with the genre, aren't easily offended, and have a fondness for campy/tongue-in-cheek absurdity, I suggest you try this out for the sheer novelty of it. I'll be seeing a few more, just to see if they can possibly get even more over-the-top than Reform School Girls.
I had never seen a "women in cages" movie prior to seeing this, so I really had no idea what to expect. Which is good, because no expectations could have prepared me for this, anyway. Reform School Girls is lurid, sordid, exploitative, pure cheese, and yes, even entertaining. If you can handle the absurdity of it all, anyway.
The plot is paper thin (Othello, this is not). A young woman gets sent to a reform school/youth prison after a botched bank robbery, and tangles with the corrupt warden and head matron, as well as a gang of vicious girls. That's basically it. And there's lots of underwear.
Basically, you probably already know if you like these kinds of movies, or you're a newbie like me. If you're unfamiliar with the genre, aren't easily offended, and have a fondness for campy/tongue-in-cheek absurdity, I suggest you try this out for the sheer novelty of it. I'll be seeing a few more, just to see if they can possibly get even more over-the-top than Reform School Girls.
Not quite as trashy or sensational as I expected.
innocuous17 January 2005
I found this film to be rather boring, though the shower scenes livened things up a bit. A few general comments:
Linda Carol actually did a fair job in the lead role, though her lack of experience was pretty obvious. At least she was the only one who wasn't chewing the scenery. Was she really 16? Seems to me that she was a bit young to be making exploitation films like this. She certainly had the body for it, though.
Wendy O. Williams is just sad in her role. As someone who actually saw the Plasmatics play and who still has three of their vinyl LPs, I can't help but wonder where she went wrong in her career. I believe that she was 37 when this film was made, but she looks like she is in her late-40s. Totally inappropriate casting. Plus, her accent/dialect/speech mannerisms are possibly more irritating than Fran Drescher's. On the other hand, I have to give her an A- for keeping in shape like she did. It's a shame that she ended up taking her own life, but there was always that underlying impression of her that told you she had been seriously damaged during her life.
You may also think that you will get to see some of Sybil Danning's assets, but, sadly, this is not the case. In fact, unless you have a uniform fetish, Danning is about as close to gender-neutral in this movie as you can get. Even Pat Ast exhibits some sexuality in this move...but not Sybil.
Finally, I was prepared for a little more skin than the movie actually showed. Based on other comments, it sounded as if the movie was 40% shower scenes. In reality, though the "girls" are pretty skimpily clad throughout the movie, the actual nude scenes are quite brief. Now, I'm not saying that the movie would have been better or worse with more nudity, but that I expected more based on what others had written. I think you actually get more nudity in "Starship Troopers".
Overall, this was an interesting movie and I was able to watch it all the way through, so I give it ** out of *****. With a few funnier scenes, it might have made it half a star higher.
Linda Carol actually did a fair job in the lead role, though her lack of experience was pretty obvious. At least she was the only one who wasn't chewing the scenery. Was she really 16? Seems to me that she was a bit young to be making exploitation films like this. She certainly had the body for it, though.
Wendy O. Williams is just sad in her role. As someone who actually saw the Plasmatics play and who still has three of their vinyl LPs, I can't help but wonder where she went wrong in her career. I believe that she was 37 when this film was made, but she looks like she is in her late-40s. Totally inappropriate casting. Plus, her accent/dialect/speech mannerisms are possibly more irritating than Fran Drescher's. On the other hand, I have to give her an A- for keeping in shape like she did. It's a shame that she ended up taking her own life, but there was always that underlying impression of her that told you she had been seriously damaged during her life.
You may also think that you will get to see some of Sybil Danning's assets, but, sadly, this is not the case. In fact, unless you have a uniform fetish, Danning is about as close to gender-neutral in this movie as you can get. Even Pat Ast exhibits some sexuality in this move...but not Sybil.
Finally, I was prepared for a little more skin than the movie actually showed. Based on other comments, it sounded as if the movie was 40% shower scenes. In reality, though the "girls" are pretty skimpily clad throughout the movie, the actual nude scenes are quite brief. Now, I'm not saying that the movie would have been better or worse with more nudity, but that I expected more based on what others had written. I think you actually get more nudity in "Starship Troopers".
Overall, this was an interesting movie and I was able to watch it all the way through, so I give it ** out of *****. With a few funnier scenes, it might have made it half a star higher.
I'd Stick With Eleanor!
ferbs5425 July 2007
"Reform School Girls" (1986) is a highly entertaining, completely over the top, necessarily derivative contribution to the Women In Prison (WIP) subgenre. Featuring flamboyant performances by butterface favorite Wendy O. Williams (despite the fact that Wendy was 37 when she essayed this teenage role, and looked exactly the same as when she fronted for the Plasmatics), as well as Warhol veteran Pat Ast, the story here nevertheless centers around Linda Carol's Jennifer, who is sent to the "graybar hotel" after abetting her boyfriend in an armed robbery attempt. She immediately runs afoul of Wendy's Charlie Chambliss, the toughest chick in the "school" (the place really seems more like a prison than a school, it must be said), as well as Pat's grotesque head matron, Edna Dawson. The film dishes out all the familiar WIP set pieces, such as shower scenes, catfights, a prison break, several riots, and a very uptight warden, here portrayed by cult actress Sybil Danning, underutilized in this particular role. Entertaining as this whole spoof is, and despite the often very funny lines, I couldn't help thinking that the film that "Reform School Girls" seems to be mainly patterned after, the 1950 Eleanor Parker vehicle "Caged," is infinitely preferable in every department. The monstrous matron played by Hope Emerson in that earlier film makes even Edna's rants of "complete control" seem tame in comparison, and good as Linda Carol is, she's no Eleanor Parker! I suppose it all comes down to whether you're in the mood for an entertaining spoof or a more realistic--and thus more harrowing--WIP experience.
You're just a sh*t-stain on the panties of life.
lastliberal23 May 2007
Taking time out from the John Wayne Marathon for a public service. In anticipation of our favorite heiress going to jail next month, I wanted something that she might watch to give her an idea of what to expect, I found this movie with some bizarre characters like Wendy Williams, lead singer for the infamous 80s punk rock band, 'The Plasmatics,' who committed suicide a few years ago. She was absolutely beyond belief as she paraded the entire movie in leather or panties, and even a thong at the end.
Of course there was Sybil Danning, from the Grindhouse segment Werewolf Women of the SS as the bible-spouting Warden, who looked the part of an SS She-Wolf.
Pat Ast was the 350-lb matron who burned a bunny, stomped on a kitten and got justice for her evil laugh.
There were two shower scenes and one Rambo-type fire hose scene that was way more cool that Rambo: First Blood.
Food fights, girl fights, riots, and bra and panties for most of the movie. Our little heiress should get a good taste of prison life with this film.
Of course there was Sybil Danning, from the Grindhouse segment Werewolf Women of the SS as the bible-spouting Warden, who looked the part of an SS She-Wolf.
Pat Ast was the 350-lb matron who burned a bunny, stomped on a kitten and got justice for her evil laugh.
There were two shower scenes and one Rambo-type fire hose scene that was way more cool that Rambo: First Blood.
Food fights, girl fights, riots, and bra and panties for most of the movie. Our little heiress should get a good taste of prison life with this film.
The ultimate "women's prison" flick?
burbs8214 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Our fellow travellers at New World Pictures released many a b-classic in their day, such as 'Vamp', 'House', and 'Heathers' to name but a few, but with 'Reform School Girls' they really go all out. They've taken the old "women's prison" cliché and essentially perfected it with this parody-homage hybrid.
Linda Carol plays Jenny, a hot teen shipped off by the state to a deteriorating (is there any other kind?) reform school, headed by Ilsa-like Warden Sutter (Sybil Danning) and watched over by the hilariously evil and over-the-top matron, Edna (Pat Ast), who does a terrific job making you absolutely despise her. A state-appointed psychologist (Charlotte McGinnis) becomes concerned by Edna's treatment of the girls, not to mention the occasional "suicide" this treatment produces. As the doctor struggles to get the ever-impotent state to step in, the girls take matters into their own hands and the film culminates in a violent, bloody, punk rock showdown between the broads and the guards.
The cast is excellent. You have the usual prison inmate clichés (neccesary for any great women's prison flick) but the actresses are all top notch. Late-great Wendy O. Williams (of punk band The Plasmatics) is AWESOME as 'Charlie', the sadistic cellblock sister with her own gang (beautiful 'Friday the 13th' series alumns Tiffany Helm and Darcy DeMoss), but she is SO wired, SO bad-ass, SO insane, and SO rarely wearing much clothing, that she adds a whole new dimension to an otherwise predictable character. Not to mention the fact that, although she looks great, she's well past reform school age (don't suffer the delusion that this wasn't intentional).
Also, Sherri Stoner creates a very sympathetic character as 'Lisa', a sweet, innocent, naive, but also traumatized and neurotic girl who's been shipped from place to place and suffers the most abuse from Edna. You can predict poor Lisa cracking pretty much from the opening credits, but director Tom DeSimone does a GREAT job of building it up and he doesn't cop out. Kitten and stuffed animal lovers beware.
Some great 80's punk tracks fuel the reform school fights and riots. There are several shower sequences (and lotsa' boobies), some great b-movie humor, good cinematography and DeSimone keeps it all going at a quick pace... If you're not picking your jaw up off the floor after watching Wendy, in a rage, smash her face through the windshield of speeding truck, then climb onto the top of it to do a brief, spastic, punk rock grease dance, and THEN jump off before it hits its target, consult a physician immediately.
Anyway, I give this a ten because not only is it a great, hella-entertaining film by itself, but I'd put it at the number one spot in the women's prison sub-genre (even though it TECHNICALLY does not take place in a women's prison).
Linda Carol plays Jenny, a hot teen shipped off by the state to a deteriorating (is there any other kind?) reform school, headed by Ilsa-like Warden Sutter (Sybil Danning) and watched over by the hilariously evil and over-the-top matron, Edna (Pat Ast), who does a terrific job making you absolutely despise her. A state-appointed psychologist (Charlotte McGinnis) becomes concerned by Edna's treatment of the girls, not to mention the occasional "suicide" this treatment produces. As the doctor struggles to get the ever-impotent state to step in, the girls take matters into their own hands and the film culminates in a violent, bloody, punk rock showdown between the broads and the guards.
The cast is excellent. You have the usual prison inmate clichés (neccesary for any great women's prison flick) but the actresses are all top notch. Late-great Wendy O. Williams (of punk band The Plasmatics) is AWESOME as 'Charlie', the sadistic cellblock sister with her own gang (beautiful 'Friday the 13th' series alumns Tiffany Helm and Darcy DeMoss), but she is SO wired, SO bad-ass, SO insane, and SO rarely wearing much clothing, that she adds a whole new dimension to an otherwise predictable character. Not to mention the fact that, although she looks great, she's well past reform school age (don't suffer the delusion that this wasn't intentional).
Also, Sherri Stoner creates a very sympathetic character as 'Lisa', a sweet, innocent, naive, but also traumatized and neurotic girl who's been shipped from place to place and suffers the most abuse from Edna. You can predict poor Lisa cracking pretty much from the opening credits, but director Tom DeSimone does a GREAT job of building it up and he doesn't cop out. Kitten and stuffed animal lovers beware.
Some great 80's punk tracks fuel the reform school fights and riots. There are several shower sequences (and lotsa' boobies), some great b-movie humor, good cinematography and DeSimone keeps it all going at a quick pace... If you're not picking your jaw up off the floor after watching Wendy, in a rage, smash her face through the windshield of speeding truck, then climb onto the top of it to do a brief, spastic, punk rock grease dance, and THEN jump off before it hits its target, consult a physician immediately.
Anyway, I give this a ten because not only is it a great, hella-entertaining film by itself, but I'd put it at the number one spot in the women's prison sub-genre (even though it TECHNICALLY does not take place in a women's prison).
80's cheese and squeeze
ManBehindTheMask637 February 2011
This could be the greatest t&a movie of all time. It's the ultimate 80's women-in-prison movie. It's got loads of nudity, some very sick wardens (the awesome Sybil Danning), and Wendy O. Williams spending most of the film in a g-string! This is a low-budget exploitation film that delivers the goods. There was actually some pretty good acting in the film. If only i would have owned this film when i was 12! It's a fun and cheesy movie that gives you exactly what you'd want from a women-in-prison flick. The scene where Wendy O. Williams crashes a bus is a classic. 80's cheese and squeeze.I highly recommend doing a double feature with Hollywood chainsaw hookers...that'd be a fun night.
This movie doesn't know what it's supposed to be
ozoneocean21 January 2012
It's a WIP movie: Women in Prison. In this "Reform School" the girls night time gear consists of g-string panties, lingerie, high heels... basically sexy to a silly degree. This has all the clichés you want, with nudity, violence, girl fights, all that sort of stuff. Wendy O Williams was great as the ultra violent gang leader Charlie. She also did great work on the sound track.
We know this is a WIP cliché film and the purpose is titillation and all that sort of stuff, but it didn't really seem clear to me. A lot of the violence was pretty brutal for the sort of movie it was and many of the scenes are quite realistic, with realistic, emotional performances from some of the key actors, which is quite at odds with that "women in Prison" titillation theme, especially when you have inmates incongruously wearing high heels, thigh high stockings and g-strings to bed!
It seemed almost like a bizarre mash-up of two different films that'd been crudely rammed together: You have Wendy O Williams and her gang of ultra-sexy, violent, tough girls, and the huge lumpy, hilariously sadistic and over the top Pat Ast as "Eddie" doing their very best to make it a sort of Rocky Horror Show ridiculous soft core romp (which would have been marvellous), VS this other theme with the sympathetic characters Jenny, Lisa and Dr Norton where it's a serious look at abuse of power and the horrible toll abuse takes on its victims- almost as it they're going for Cool Hand Luke or Full Metal Jacket sort of stuff...
That made a weird mix that didn't really fit together well at all. It's as if the film makers were trying to be too smart for the material.
We know this is a WIP cliché film and the purpose is titillation and all that sort of stuff, but it didn't really seem clear to me. A lot of the violence was pretty brutal for the sort of movie it was and many of the scenes are quite realistic, with realistic, emotional performances from some of the key actors, which is quite at odds with that "women in Prison" titillation theme, especially when you have inmates incongruously wearing high heels, thigh high stockings and g-strings to bed!
It seemed almost like a bizarre mash-up of two different films that'd been crudely rammed together: You have Wendy O Williams and her gang of ultra-sexy, violent, tough girls, and the huge lumpy, hilariously sadistic and over the top Pat Ast as "Eddie" doing their very best to make it a sort of Rocky Horror Show ridiculous soft core romp (which would have been marvellous), VS this other theme with the sympathetic characters Jenny, Lisa and Dr Norton where it's a serious look at abuse of power and the horrible toll abuse takes on its victims- almost as it they're going for Cool Hand Luke or Full Metal Jacket sort of stuff...
That made a weird mix that didn't really fit together well at all. It's as if the film makers were trying to be too smart for the material.
Failure. A movie that doesn't know what it wants to be
gridoon19 February 2007
Neither a serious WIP drama, like director Tom De Simone's earlier "The Concrete Jungle", nor an outright spoof of the genre in the style of "Naked Gun", "Reform School Girls" is a film that suffers from identity crisis. The serious, sometimes even cruel moments offset the comedy, and the over-the-top moments undermine the seriousness. For a film categorized by Leonard Maltin as a spoof, it's quite astonishing how few not only laughs, but even attempts at comedy this one really contains. It's not a total loss: rocker Wendy O. Williams (who also sings on the soundtrack) has an incredible, ROCKING 37-year-old body which she proudly displays throughout (RIP Wendy), and there is some nice girl vs. girl wrestling. But Sybil Danning, the big "name" of the film, is COMPLETELY wasted - if you're thinking of seeing this for her, forget it. (*1/2)
Classic 80's b-movie
richusa55525 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is a lot of fun especially if your into WiP flicks. Of course the plot and dialogue is kind of weak and at times I wondered why am I watching this movie, but there's just something about girls wearing lingerie in prison and those big eighties hair do's.
Frequently the girls are scantily clad and then there are the showers scenes. Surprisingly Jenny, played by the sexy Linda Carol, was only sixteen years old when this movie was made but looked like she was about twenty to me.
The plots pretty basic, Jenny the star, rails against the oppressiveness of the schools authoritarians played by Sutter and Edna, the warden and henchwoman. Jenny's befriends Lisa, a pathetic cry baby who comes in the prison clutching her teddy bear, and Jenny feels she has to protect her. Spoiler!! Eventually Lisa gets her ass branded in a pretty cool scene, kind of funny too.
The movie frequently is lame such as when the warden burns Lisa's teddy bear and Lisa explains that it belonged to her brother who died locked in a fridge and when the house burned down this is all that was left. This overacting seemed totally out of place in this light movie so I don't know why the editors didn't cut this dribble out. Also Charlie played by Wendy O. Williams, androgynous punk star and former sex worker, plays a thirty seven year old teenager which didn't ride well with me. This movie could have been a whole lot better but its still pretty entertaining.
Frequently the girls are scantily clad and then there are the showers scenes. Surprisingly Jenny, played by the sexy Linda Carol, was only sixteen years old when this movie was made but looked like she was about twenty to me.
The plots pretty basic, Jenny the star, rails against the oppressiveness of the schools authoritarians played by Sutter and Edna, the warden and henchwoman. Jenny's befriends Lisa, a pathetic cry baby who comes in the prison clutching her teddy bear, and Jenny feels she has to protect her. Spoiler!! Eventually Lisa gets her ass branded in a pretty cool scene, kind of funny too.
The movie frequently is lame such as when the warden burns Lisa's teddy bear and Lisa explains that it belonged to her brother who died locked in a fridge and when the house burned down this is all that was left. This overacting seemed totally out of place in this light movie so I don't know why the editors didn't cut this dribble out. Also Charlie played by Wendy O. Williams, androgynous punk star and former sex worker, plays a thirty seven year old teenager which didn't ride well with me. This movie could have been a whole lot better but its still pretty entertaining.
"Alright ladies....lets play the name game "
Boggman10 June 2005
Reform School girls is an over the top woman in prison cult classic that is FUN FUN FUN to watch. I watched this movie 100's of times growing up in the mid 80's, and it still pleases today. Wendy O Williams is completely mesmerizing to watch, although her acting is pretty bad to say the least. Still the film manages to entertain with its completely unbelievable premise. I love this movie. Pat Ast and Wendy O Williams make this movie what it is, and why Sybil Danning got the DVD cover I'll never know (she's barely in the film).
Pat and Wendy (both who have since passed) make great villains though, and are thoroughly enjoyable to watch over and over again. If you like low budget, entertaining prison films with lots of women, violence & nudity, then you will love Reform School Girls. The soundtrack is pretty awesome too, and showcases W.O.W's real talent as a musician and performer.
CHECK OUT THE DVD COMMENTARY! IT'S PRETTY FUNNY AND ENTERTAINING TO LISTEN TO!
Pat and Wendy (both who have since passed) make great villains though, and are thoroughly enjoyable to watch over and over again. If you like low budget, entertaining prison films with lots of women, violence & nudity, then you will love Reform School Girls. The soundtrack is pretty awesome too, and showcases W.O.W's real talent as a musician and performer.
CHECK OUT THE DVD COMMENTARY! IT'S PRETTY FUNNY AND ENTERTAINING TO LISTEN TO!
Miaow Miaow... Catfight in the dorm tonight!
Coventry6 November 2006
Myself and a mate promptly decided to watch "Reform School Girls" upon seeing the trailer that advised all intellectual viewers and I quote to keep their criticism for themselves...or else we'll nail your tongues to the floor. Subsequently the trailer showed a lot of footage of attractive girls showering and guaranteed there was plenty more where that came from. And they're right, too! This greatest trailer ever also perfectly captures the tone of the film, as it's a demented tongue-in-cheek bad girls penitentiary exploitation flick that definitely shouldn't be taken too seriously. My best guess would be that writer/director Tom DeSimone is a pleasantly deranged and sleaze-obsessed guy that single-handedly wanted to bring homage to all "Women in Prison" movies at once. The lead warden (played by no one less than Sybil Danning) looks an awful lot like Dyanne Thorne when she gave image to Ilsa, the She Wolf of the SS and several of the other supportive characters appear to be pure stereotypes as well. There's the sadistic, corpulent and massively lesbian guard, the kinky S&M leader of the dorm (that looks about three times as old as the other inmates), the vulnerable who shouldn't be there and of course the tough black chicks. There's only one man popping up in the film and naturally he's a legitimate bastard. Tons of nudity and outrageous cat-fights make this a very textbook example of politically incorrect 80's exploitation, but it sure it a lot of fun to watch. Only the Italian directors deliver movies of this kind that are even better.
Doesn't Know What it Wants to Be
BloodTheTelepathicDog2 October 2010
I had heard that this film was a parody of women-in-prison films, so when I rented it I was expecting to laugh, as well as see the usual exploitation elements--hopefully lampooned--but they weren't. This isn't a parody, though it tries for laughs in some places (who can forget the stomping-of-the-cat scene?), which makes it essentially just another women-in-prison flick.
Here we have misunderstood blonde Linda Carol taken to a reform school run by Sybil Danning and her obese henchwoman Pat Ast. Linda takes mousy Sherri Stoner under her wing, but when she runs afoul of butch reform school veteran--and Pat Ast's main squeeze--she puts a target on her back that remains there throughout the film. Linda tries to keep her weak-willed friend from harm while also trying to keep Wendy O. Williams from branding her backside. Reform school shrink Charlotte McGinnis is trying to get Danning fired for running a suspect reformation camp but she needs the help of Linda Carol in doing so. Linda finds it hard to help with trips to solitary, beatings in the bathroom and failed escape attempts.
STORY: $$ (This would have been better had DeSimone went with the parody angle. We have all the WIP stereotypes here but he fails to make fun of them. Rather than a parody, we are treated to a by-the-numbers Caged Heat clone).
ACTING: $$$ (Not too bad. Linda Carol is fine in the lead role. her beauty helps a great deal but the lady can act too. Pat Ast is terrific as the Warden's sinister right-hand. Wendy O. Williams doesn't give the greatest line reads but she was right for the role. Sybil Danning fans will be disappointed because she has little to do here, other than issue midnight scripture readings over the PA system).
NUDITY: $$$$ (Like most WIP films, there is plenty of it to go around. Linda Carol is nude several times--she has an extraordinary body. There are a couple shower scenes, which would have been a great opportunity to parody, but it is missed. Rough-looking Wendy O.Williams is topless in the shower, as is about every other woman in this film. Sybil Danning, however, keeps her clothes on throughout the movie).
Here we have misunderstood blonde Linda Carol taken to a reform school run by Sybil Danning and her obese henchwoman Pat Ast. Linda takes mousy Sherri Stoner under her wing, but when she runs afoul of butch reform school veteran--and Pat Ast's main squeeze--she puts a target on her back that remains there throughout the film. Linda tries to keep her weak-willed friend from harm while also trying to keep Wendy O. Williams from branding her backside. Reform school shrink Charlotte McGinnis is trying to get Danning fired for running a suspect reformation camp but she needs the help of Linda Carol in doing so. Linda finds it hard to help with trips to solitary, beatings in the bathroom and failed escape attempts.
STORY: $$ (This would have been better had DeSimone went with the parody angle. We have all the WIP stereotypes here but he fails to make fun of them. Rather than a parody, we are treated to a by-the-numbers Caged Heat clone).
ACTING: $$$ (Not too bad. Linda Carol is fine in the lead role. her beauty helps a great deal but the lady can act too. Pat Ast is terrific as the Warden's sinister right-hand. Wendy O. Williams doesn't give the greatest line reads but she was right for the role. Sybil Danning fans will be disappointed because she has little to do here, other than issue midnight scripture readings over the PA system).
NUDITY: $$$$ (Like most WIP films, there is plenty of it to go around. Linda Carol is nude several times--she has an extraordinary body. There are a couple shower scenes, which would have been a great opportunity to parody, but it is missed. Rough-looking Wendy O.Williams is topless in the shower, as is about every other woman in this film. Sybil Danning, however, keeps her clothes on throughout the movie).
Inspired and enjoyable send-up of chicks-in-chains exploitation fare
Woodyanders24 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Sweet young innocent Jenny Williams (a perky and appealing performance by Linda Carol) finds herself incarcerated at a harsh juvenile detention facility where she runs afoul of both the vicious staff and predatory inmates alike. Writer/director Tom DeSimone relates the entertainingly trashy story at a zippy pace, maintains a perfectly campy and over-the-top tongue-in-cheek tone throughout, and makes the most out of the blithely outrageous lowbrow humor by providing a wealth of hilarious lines and suitably grotesque caricatures. Moreover, it's acted with gusto by the enthusiastic cast: Legendary punk rocker Wendy O. Williams makes a strong impression with her sensationally snarly portrayal of formidable top con Charlie Chambliss, Pat Ast deliciously hams it up as monstrous head matron Edna, and Sybil Danning has a ball as the strict bible-quoting Warden Sutter, plus there are sturdy contributions from Sherri Stoner as timid and fragile teen runaway Lisa, Charlotte McGinnis as the compassionate Dr. Norton, Tiffany Helm as mean flunky Andrea 'Fish' Eldridge, Laurie Schwartz as the sarcastic Nicky, and Darcy DeMoss as the sassy Karen 'Knox' Charmin. Better still, DeSimone ably covers all the pleasingly sleazy babes-behind-bars bases: Tasty gratuitous female nudity, ferocious catfights, a sizzling group shower set piece (look fast for an uncredited Michelle Bauer in said shower scene), hot gals slinking about in skimpy lingerie, and a rousing climactic riot with the definite astounding highlight being when O. Williams commandeers a bus and stands on its roof as it speeds towards a watchtower. Both Howard Wexler's slick cinematography and Dan Siegel's robust melodramatic score are up to par. The cool rocking soundtrack likewise seriously smokes, with several of the songs sneered out by O. Williams (the theme song in particular is simply fantastic). An absolute wacky'n'tacky hoot.
Reform School Girls
Groverdox8 February 2023
Director Tom DeSimone had made a couple of women-in-prison (WIP) films before helming "Reform School Girls". Allegedly he wasn't happy with those, and decided to make this one a satire of the genre.
In sending it up, ironically DeSimone made one of the best WIP flicks. These movies are so formulaic that even the early ones such as "Caged Heat" and "The Big Doll House" get boring. Satirising the formula seems to have injected it with life.
The story is exactly what you'd expect: young women are sent to a prison (here supposedly a "reform school", despite the lack of any teachers or classrooms or educational attempts in the movie). They immediately run into the boss babe who runs a gang in the prison and expects the new arrivals to pay her respects (and of course, one of them, the hero, doesn't). There's also a sadistic lesbian guard who has a relationship with one of the inmates, and a crazy warden. And, you know, shower scenes, fight scenes, escape attempts, and a prison riot.
I don't know if there was a uniform the girls had to wear, because they spend most of the movie in their bras and panties, except for the few scenes of nudity. Wendy O. Williams, of punk band the Plasmatics, I don't think ever wears anything more than her underwear.
I like "Reform School Girls" a lot because it is consistently entertaining, and never really boring.
In sending it up, ironically DeSimone made one of the best WIP flicks. These movies are so formulaic that even the early ones such as "Caged Heat" and "The Big Doll House" get boring. Satirising the formula seems to have injected it with life.
The story is exactly what you'd expect: young women are sent to a prison (here supposedly a "reform school", despite the lack of any teachers or classrooms or educational attempts in the movie). They immediately run into the boss babe who runs a gang in the prison and expects the new arrivals to pay her respects (and of course, one of them, the hero, doesn't). There's also a sadistic lesbian guard who has a relationship with one of the inmates, and a crazy warden. And, you know, shower scenes, fight scenes, escape attempts, and a prison riot.
I don't know if there was a uniform the girls had to wear, because they spend most of the movie in their bras and panties, except for the few scenes of nudity. Wendy O. Williams, of punk band the Plasmatics, I don't think ever wears anything more than her underwear.
I like "Reform School Girls" a lot because it is consistently entertaining, and never really boring.
a whole lot of fun and a parody within itself
michellelocke0079 September 2010
a light-hearted romp of sorts with this film back in the early eighties. not to be taken too seriously as the many actors camp it up in this girl in prison plot line especially pat ast's character so aptly named Edna...who so happens to rule her little prison with iron and fist. complete control is her motto throughout. she also gets some great lines in the film which i'm not too sure if it was meant to be humorous as their delivered quite tongue in cheek. the story focuses on jenny and her troupe of troubled girls who get caught breaking the law and are shipped out to a rather shady reform school for wayward girls. what ensues is hilarity which i think is meant to make light of the prison genre films. the director just goes with it and seems to be in on the joke as well. it has all the key elements for a great prison film ie. bitch slaps, jail riots, food fights, the gratuitous shower scene and shake down by the prison warden. i just wished that Sybil danning had been given a bigger role in this film as she is somewhat of a cult icon. my favourite character had to be portrayed by none other than Wendy o.williams who is far from the age of a teenage delinquent as she prances around the prison yard like she owns the place. she is also given some killer lines as well. i won't spoil the climatic scene of the film but it is great to watch and a real treat.
Diamond in the rough
The Red Bull25 July 2007
My friends and I are always looking for the diamond in the rough (as it were), that one movie that's just so bad it serves as the topic of conversation for the next few days. I read a few comments after viewing this movie and don't think people realized: This movie is exactly what it claimed to be.
Sure it's hardly an example of a "good" movie, but the increasing ridiculousness of the story was matched only by the quality of the cinematography. Sure they could have spent more time on a foley stage, but when you're looking at a room full of naked women showering, who cares? The only gripe was about one character who obviously didn't belong in a juvenile detention center. As my friend pointed out, they neglected to tell her it was reform school, not old school.
All in all, get some friends, get some buds and prepare to be entertained. The only thing missing from this reform school is a giant tub of Jell-O.
Sure it's hardly an example of a "good" movie, but the increasing ridiculousness of the story was matched only by the quality of the cinematography. Sure they could have spent more time on a foley stage, but when you're looking at a room full of naked women showering, who cares? The only gripe was about one character who obviously didn't belong in a juvenile detention center. As my friend pointed out, they neglected to tell her it was reform school, not old school.
All in all, get some friends, get some buds and prepare to be entertained. The only thing missing from this reform school is a giant tub of Jell-O.
Good music and chicks
ultra_tippergore25 June 2009
First, I'm not a huge fan of Women in Prison films (W.I.P.), but like every men, i love beautiful women in underwear and thongs so this kind of movies always deliver in that department, at least. Reform School Girls is more like a parody of the genre, or at least a not-that serious movie. Its in the line of those Troma movies like "Lust for freedom" or "They call me macho woman". Wendy O. Williams is here performing a bad girl and she is always in thong, just like every other chick in this movie.Well, except for the obese wicked warden, thanks god she keeps her clothes on. Also there is plenty of rock n roll and punk music, much of them performed by Wendy O Williams herself. Thats another highlight. There isn't a lot of nudity, and near no sex. Thats a letdown for this kind of movies but overall, its entertaining and it features very good rock n roll music. 5/10
This Movie Rips!
Bishonen28 October 1998
An amazing and entertaining lingerie-decked actioner. Wendy O. is astounding as...well, Wendy O. Williams, more or less. She is magnetic and she takes the film into the realm of the surreal. I didn't know whether to laugh, cheer or cry during much of the movie; it just does that to you. More touching than "Terms of Endearment" and better action than any Renny Harlin opus.
Don't miss this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't miss this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Entertaining, But A Little Overlong
rachelrachel-3343126 March 2020
Reform School Girls' biggest problem is that the line between camp and serious drama appears to be very thin and it's hard to tell exactly what the creators had in mind when they made this. On one had, you have the over the top performance of Wendy O. Williams and Pat Ast, but there are also several unpleasant and sleazier aspects that aren't treated with the same campy, tongue in cheek quality.
It's still very entertaining at times, but it could use a slight trim here and there even at just 94 minutes. If you're in it for the nudity, you'll be happy.
It's still very entertaining at times, but it could use a slight trim here and there even at just 94 minutes. If you're in it for the nudity, you'll be happy.
So young, so bad...so what?
FeverDog9 December 2003
REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS is the only movie I was carded for when I was a kid. BLUE VELVET, ANGEL HEART, EVIL DEAD II - they were all apparently okay for my developing mind to absorb, but not a bunch of chicks in underwear. That's alright, since when I was denied admission I just went to see ONE CRAZY SUMMER at the 8-plex, which helped me develop a life-long affection for John Cusack.
This movie, btw, is also the first one I bought off of eBay. (Or was HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME the first?) I had originally taped it off HBO, but years of wear and tear had rendered it unwatchable, especially on a Hi-Fi VCR. (This tape has served me well over the past decade or so, but I'm still hanging on to it since I don't see the other movies on it coming out on DVD anytime soon - someone let me know when SCREAM FOR HELP and CHOPPING MALL have been upgraded so I can use this beat-up tape to record MST3K eps.)
Anyway, REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS is trashy, ridiculous, and endlessly entertaining. Was it meant to be funny? At first I didn't think so, but how could anyone take this movie seriously? C'mon, Pat Ast's performance is worth the rental fee by itself. "Control! COMPLETE CONTROL!!!" Does camp really get any campier than that?
Sigh. I was dismayed to learn about Wendy O. Williams' suicide. Why, Charlie, why? That and Ast's death cast a pall on the movie, but luckily the film's fabulous cheesiness negates any depression.
Moving on. Sybil Danning is something, ain't she? My impressionable mind was first exposed to her assets via YOUNG LADY CHATTERLEY II, AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON and MALIBU EXPRESS. What a star she'd be if Russ Meyer had a say. Bless her ample talents, even though she was misleadingly promoted as the lead here (like she also was in YLC2).
I know I haven't commented much on RSG, but what is there really to say? This movie has got some really awful acting and dialogue, and the plot is unlikely (to put it kindly). But who cares, right? If you're looking for loads of scantily clad "minors," then look no further. That's pretty much all it's got to offer to the hetero male viewer, and what's wrong with that? But RSG is a treasure to those who appreciate the joys of SHOWGIRLS and the like, and it's even better - no buzz-killing rape scene here, y'know?
It's my life, and I'll do what I want to do!
This movie, btw, is also the first one I bought off of eBay. (Or was HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME the first?) I had originally taped it off HBO, but years of wear and tear had rendered it unwatchable, especially on a Hi-Fi VCR. (This tape has served me well over the past decade or so, but I'm still hanging on to it since I don't see the other movies on it coming out on DVD anytime soon - someone let me know when SCREAM FOR HELP and CHOPPING MALL have been upgraded so I can use this beat-up tape to record MST3K eps.)
Anyway, REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS is trashy, ridiculous, and endlessly entertaining. Was it meant to be funny? At first I didn't think so, but how could anyone take this movie seriously? C'mon, Pat Ast's performance is worth the rental fee by itself. "Control! COMPLETE CONTROL!!!" Does camp really get any campier than that?
Sigh. I was dismayed to learn about Wendy O. Williams' suicide. Why, Charlie, why? That and Ast's death cast a pall on the movie, but luckily the film's fabulous cheesiness negates any depression.
Moving on. Sybil Danning is something, ain't she? My impressionable mind was first exposed to her assets via YOUNG LADY CHATTERLEY II, AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON and MALIBU EXPRESS. What a star she'd be if Russ Meyer had a say. Bless her ample talents, even though she was misleadingly promoted as the lead here (like she also was in YLC2).
I know I haven't commented much on RSG, but what is there really to say? This movie has got some really awful acting and dialogue, and the plot is unlikely (to put it kindly). But who cares, right? If you're looking for loads of scantily clad "minors," then look no further. That's pretty much all it's got to offer to the hetero male viewer, and what's wrong with that? But RSG is a treasure to those who appreciate the joys of SHOWGIRLS and the like, and it's even better - no buzz-killing rape scene here, y'know?
It's my life, and I'll do what I want to do!
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