Hell High (1989)
Hell High rode in on the tail end of the 80s slasher film wave and got lumped in with them, although it’s really more of a revenge flick. The film opens with a six-year-old child causing the death of two horny hooligans. One of the hooligans was attempting to date rape the other which makes it tough to feel too sorry when he is killed moments later, a trend that runs throughout the film.
After an eighteen year jump, we arrive in modern times. The little girl, Brooke Storm, is revealed to be a high school teacher, still occasionally suffering from the traumatic childhood event. Several of her students are creeps who like to peer into people’s homes, pull mean-spirited pranks, and display a general disdain for authority. The teens continue to push things too far (one of them molests the teacher in bed after she accidentally takes one too many Quaaludes) until the teacher snaps and turns on them. Very quickly, the hunters become the hunted.
The first hour of the film is a slow burn that builds up to the final twenty minutes. The kids don’t know their teacher is after them until it’s too late. The teens are separated in a ways that make sense, which make them — or at least most of them — easy pickings. The film wraps things up in a satisfying way; there’s a twist that mostly works, but isn’t strong enough to make it a true classic.
The film’s biggest problem isn’t the special effects or back-loaded action; it’s that there’s nobody viewers can relate to or root for. The film’s conflict lies between a group of despicable teens and a murderous, psychotic teacher. Which one’s the good guy?
Fans of modern horror may find the first two thirds of the film too slowly paced, but the third act makes up for it. Worth a watch if only as a reminder that students should be nice to their teachers.
Tags: halloween2020, horror