History Film / GraduationDay

** spoiler: Also, Coach Michaels wears the same outfit as the killer, and when he's cleaning out his desk towards the end, he's seen packing up black gloves and a stopwatch similar to the one the killer uses. He even gets shot by Halladay, after Halladay comes across him holding a knife after he's disarmed the real killer.]]

** spoiler: Mr. Roberts also gets a moment when one of the girls seduces him for a passing grade by opening her top and letting Roberts bury his face in her chest.]]

* DecoyProtagonist: [[spoiler: Christopher George was well known for his leading roles in low-budget horror movies by this time in his career and is top-billed for this film, but he ends up just serving as a RedHerring and AssholeVictim. The real protagonist is Anne (Patch Mackenzie.)

* DecoyProtagonist: [[spoiler: Christopher George was well known for his leading roles in low budget horror movies by this time in his career, and is top billed for this film, but he ends up just serving as a RedHerring and AssholeVictim. The real protagonist is Anne (Patch Mackenzie.)

* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: The first time Sally is stalked by the killer, before Doris and her friend interrupt them, we get a clear camera shot of the killer, in a mask, through the window of an adjoining room. Based on the build, the person is obviously a teenager, as they are nowhere near as bulky as Coach Michaels. Since the only teenager with a deep connection to Laura is Kevin, her former boyfriend, it's a glaring clue that he's the killer, and is cemented when they find the picture with the victims crossed off, and Michaels and Kevin are the only two that aren't crossed off.]]

* GroinAttack: When the guy who is giving a lift to Anne tries to fondle her, she grabs his balls in a vicegrip and tells him to control himself.
** And the coach gets a good thump in to the jimmies on Kevin during a chase.

* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: A polevaulter dies when he lands on a mat that was rigged with spikes.

* KarmaHoudini: Anne's stepfather is only in a handful of scenes, and treats Anne like dirt every time they share one. He's also put off that Anne traveled from overseas to attend the graduation ceremony and collect Laura's trophy since Laura passed away, claiming that since he raised her as his own, HE should do it. [[spoiler: Even after she's nearly been murdered, he drunkenly comes into her room, scaring her into thinking the murderer is still alive before insulting her and forcing Anne's mother to apologize for him and haul him back to bed. Not only is he never on the killer's radar, Anne doesn't even use any of her hand-to-hand combat training skills to knock him on his arse before leaving.]]
** Also, [[spoiler: Principal Guglione gets the JerkAss treatment, likely to make him a potential suspect in the killings. He mistreats his secretary and dodges phone calls from concerned parents who's kids are missing, getting further and further angry and exasperated every time his secretary ignores him and transfers a call through. He survives.]]

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Played with. Coach George Michaels comes pretty close to one half of the Wham! dinging duo.

* * {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: The first time Sally is stalked by the killer, before Doris and her friend interrupt them, we get a clear camera shot of the killer, in a mask, through the window of an adjoining room. Based on the build, the person is obviously a teenager, as they are nowhere near as bulky as Coach Michaels. Since the only teenager with a deep connection to Laura is Kevin, her former boyfriend, it's a glaring clue that he's the killer, and is cemented when they find the picture with the victims crossed off, and Michaels and Kevin are the only two that aren't crossed off.]]

* ShesGotLegs: Most of the main characters wear track uniforms at least once, and Anne's military uniform gives a generous view of her legs that the truck driver appreciates until she grabs him by the crotch and tells him to back off.

* BillingDisplacement: Some newer posters for the film single out the appearance of Creator/LinneaQuigley, even though she's a supporting role, as well as highlighting the film as having the first feature film appearance of Series/WheelOfFortune star Vanna White, who also plays a supporting role in the film.

* PlayingAgainstType: This movie is one of several low-budget horror films Christopher George did in his later career. In other films, he was a heroic policeman, or everyman. This is the first film he was cast in where he plays an unsympathetic JerkAss.

** Also, [[spoiler: Principal Guglione gets the JerkAss treatment, likely to make him a potential suspect in the killings. He mistreats his secretary and dodges phone calls from concerned parents who's kids are missing, getting further and further angry and exasperated every time his secretary ignores him and transfers a call through. He survives]]
** And, [[spoiler: Mr. Roberts, the music teacher, who agrees to have sex with one of his failing students in return for giving them a passing grade. Roberts survives and is never found out.]]

* MistakenForMurderer: [[spoiler:After Sally's body is found in the girls' locker room, coach Michaels, who was conveniently present, is thought to be the killer and he is forced to run. He then takes the blame for the killings after he is shot by the police]].

* OnceIsNotEnough: Despite having hand-to-hand combat experience, Anne just runs away when she disarms and knocks down the killer. [[spoiler: She does eventually put it to good use, and gets enough hits in during their final confrontation to knock him into some spikes and kill him.
* PeekABooCorpse: Anne runs into the remains of two victims during the final chase scene.

* EventTitle

* {{Jerkass}}: Coach Michaels [[spoiler: but not the killer.]]

* OnceIsNotEnough: Despite having hand-to-hand combat experience, Anne just runs away when she disarms and knocks down the killer.

* RedHerring: [[spoiler:Anne is built up to be the culprit, since she brought a gray sweatshirt and gloves similar to the killer's with her]].

* RetroactiveRecognition: Doris is played by none other than Vanna White. Yes, THAT Vanna White, who has gone on to major stardom due to her long association with Series/WheelOfFortune. This was White's first film role, and while she's the last to be billed in the opening credits, she pops up in around four lengthy scenes in the film [[spoiler: Her character even survives.]]

* RedHerring: [[spoiler:Anne is build up to be the culprit, since she brought a gray sweatshirt and gloves similar to the killer's with her]].

* FinalGirl: Anne. Justified since [[spoiler:she initially wasn't in Kevin's list of targets, and he only comes after her once she finds Laura's remains in his room]].

* ImpromptuTracheotomy: Sally gets a sword thrusted through her throat.

* FinalGirl: Anne. Justified since [[spoiler:initially wasn't in Kevin's list of targets, and he only comes after her once finds Laura's remains in his room]].

* OffWithHisHead: Tommy gets decapitated from behind as he takes a piss in the woods.