Perry King is a music teacher in the kind of school found mostly in movies. Not that high school kids treat the physical plant or the teachers with any respect, but the kids here aren't just noisy, inattentive, and largely absent. They're demonic. There is a gang led by Timothy Van Patten. They dress in black leather adorned with chrome knobs and plates and they've spray painted every available surface with graffiti. On top of that, they're arrogant, use swear words in class, mock ordinary students, hang out in louche dives, and wear white after Labor Day. Perry King has a tough job ahead of him. He objects to their behavior, complains to the principle and the police. Even when he sees the naughty kids burn his car, there's nothing the authorities can do. He's helpless. They beat the crap out of King several times and frame him for assault, but it isn't until they gang bang and kidnap his wife that he gets really annoyed. What happens next shouldn't happen to the most impudent sophomore.

When I first watched this film I was quite amazed at the level of disobedience and violence in the film. But upon finishing it I realized that this film was a masterpiece. Perry King does a great job as Mr.Norris while Timothy Van Patten does his role great as stegman. The film captures the early 80s atmosphere quite well.The beginning intro done by Alice cooper gives a glimpse into the darkness of the punk scene that is present in the film. I have to say that the scene where Mr.Norris wreckes Stegamans car never gets old as it shows a man willing to go to extremes to even out with his enemies despite putting his and his wife's life on the line. When Mr.Norris finally gets rid of stegman and his crew it was one of the moments I cheered for him as he had enough of their control over the school. I would highly recommend to anyone who has the time to spare for this masterpiece.

Here's a high school, that's really shocking and scary. That's how I looked at it, when first seeing it, when nearing 14, due to a lot of hearsay. Now a lot of the shock has gone, though still it has some moments that still stay with me, like when last seeing it back in 2010. For teens this would have a more shocking effect on em' as to films like 187. Class of 1984 has a real ugliness about it, directed by a guy who has made his share of low budget, addicted action pics. Violence is high, I repeat, violence is high, some quite disturbing scenes like a arm being sawed off, or more so the mutilation of various animals in a chemistry lab, that drives a devoted and trying teacher (a wonderfully fantastic performance, by Roddy Mcdowell) beyond the edge. Another great performance, noteworthy, is Van Pattern, as the frightening psychotic, head thug Peter Stegman, where beside his ugly and despicable traits, lies a gifted pianist. The movie has a lot of fire and kinetic energy, and goes for continuous shock and pull no punches violence, which really takes place over the heart of the story that really should of be told instead of stringing a lot of ugly scenes together. Basically it's Perry King who isn't bad, as the new music teacher, against Stegman, where the two keep hitting back, making for an absorbing and revenge cheering the good guy on pic, but nothing more. Mark L Lester's films are guilty pleasures, and this is just another guilty delight, by a guy who knows how to make larger than life pics, this indeed, is no exception. Class Of 1984 does a rape scene to, and hats off to the Lisa Langois as the female villainess, and Merrie Lynn Ross, very good, and does us solid as King's raped wife, while also watch for a younger Michael J Fox, so so, as a stabbing victim, whose friend high on drugs, climbed one too many flagpoles. If it's action and violence you want, ala Lester, you'll get it here in this popular 82 vehicle, Van Pattern's brilliant psychotic performance, lingering in your memory for many nights to come.

"Class of 1984" has quite a bit of resonance not just for being a potent and entertaining trashy revenge flick but for also being more than a little prophetic. Its premise may have seemed far out at the time, but it would barely bat an eye nowadays. It's gripping stuff, well played by all involved, and certainly gets the blood boiling. The protagonists are reasonably sympathetic and the antagonists are a great deal of fun in their swaggering malevolence.Perry King ("Mandingo") stars as Andy Norris, the new music teacher at Lincoln High. Lincoln is overrun by gangs, crime, and graffiti, and people have to pass through a metal detector on their way inside the building. Andy learns soon enough that his biggest problem is a group led by the creepy Peter Stegman (a constantly amusing Timothy Van Patten). He refuses to put up with their garbage, leading to a battle of wills that climaxes in an intense and graphic bit of retribution while a band concert is going on.This is far and away one of the best films, if not the best, of director Mark Lesters' career. You really get interested in and hooked by these characters and this situation. Stegman and gang certainly go out of their way to show how rotten they are (rabbit lovers beware). Andy isn't perfect, and does let his anger cloud his judgment, which makes *him* more effective as a lead. Art direction is perfect, and the stunt work is impressive. Lalo Schifrin supplies the music score, the film includes a performance by the band Teenage Head, and the soundtrack includes tunes by Fear and a theme song belted out by Alice Cooper.King is an engaging presence in the lead, with Merrie Lynn Ross doing fine as his loving and concerned wife. Van Patten is very good as the bad guy, revealing himself as a true talent with his "concerto" sequence. Appearances are also made by Keith Knight ("My Bloody Valentine"), Lisa Langlois ("Happy Birthday to Me"), Stefan Arngrim ("Fear No Evil"), a pre-stardom Michael J. Fox as a dorky little wise guy (he's billed here without the middle initial), Canadian legend Al Waxman ('King of Kensington', 'Cagney and Lacey') as an ineffectual detective, and Erin Noble ("Incubus"). Old pro Roddy McDowall offers the standout performance as a harried biology teacher who despairs over his inability to inspire his students, and in the films' best scene, forces them to answer biology questions at gunpoint.This is must viewing for any lover of B cinema and / or the concept of punks on film. Followed by two sequels.At one point Stegman watches the 1977 Lester-directed drive-in picture "Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw" on TV.Eight out of 10.