Vestron Video Vault: Graduating Slaughter High (1986) can be killer
With everything ’80s back in, we’re taking a look at the 1986 cult classic, Slaughter High. Take your seats horror heads…school’s in session.
The Tale Before The Bell
Slaughter High, directed by George Dugdale, Mark Ezra, and Peter Litten, has become an ’80s cult classic, showcasing what can happen to those who make fun of the nerd in high school. The film stars Caroline Munro, Simon Scuddamore, Carmine Iannaccone, Donna Yeager, Gary Martin, and Billy Hartman, and has been restored and remastered into a beautiful Blu-ray from the fine folks over at Lionsgate for their Vestron Video: Collector’s Series.
The film tells the story of eight people who are invited back to their old high school for their ten-year reunion; however, they quickly realize that they have been set up in a trap by Marty, the school nerd, who they painfully humiliated ten years prior in an April Fool’s prank that left him disfigured. Now Marty is seeking his revenge, picking off each former student who tormented him, one by one.
One of the many reasons I love Lionsgate’s handling of Vestron Video so much is they release films I never got a chance to see when I was younger. I remember recently seeing a picture of the “Jester” character in an art piece but having no recollection of what that killer was from. Now having watched Slaughter High, I now know how iconic the Jester faced killer is!
Although this film has the classic cliche ’80s tropes we’ve come to love, along with the over-the-top acting, there’s still something about this movie that really resonates with me. Maybe because I know what it’s like to be bullied and the thought of exacting revenge is always a sweet notion, or maybe it’s because this film, as so many 80’s films can be, has its own raw eccentricity to it that not many films now-a-days have.
When That Bloody Bell Rings
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First and foremost, let’s talk about the acting. I’ll be honest, it’s not great, but as I mentioned above, it didn’t deter me from enjoying it. Out of all the characters, I found myself being very drawn to the Marty, played by Simon Scuddamore. Simon does a great job of encompassing everything that one would imagine a nerd to be, so it was satisfying to see his transformation ten years later as he carries out his plan for revenge. When I did some research to see what else Scuddamore had been in, I found out that he had sadly committed suicide at the age of 28, shortly after the release of Slaughter High.
The other lead, Caroline Munro, who played Carol, does her best to become the stereotypical “final girl” in the movie. Though she realizes what she did ten years earlier was wrong, I never really believed she’s sorry for her part in the prank.
As for the other actors, I felt like they played their parts to the best of their ability, although I felt like a slew of them had some weird accent they were trying to cover up. Delving deeper into the background, I learned that most of the actors are British but were trying to have an American accent since this was an American film, resulting in a weird accent hybrid between British and American.
What really makes Slaughter High great is the use of practical effects. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you will know the use of practical over CGI is something I prefer — Slaughter High did not disappoint. Whether it’s the scene leading to Marty’s disfigurement or the moments where the taunters get sliced and diced, it’s apparent these kills were done with as much practical effects as possible.
Furthermore, when I did additional research I found that this film was originally released with certain scenes cut due to the amount of gore that was showcased. I find this funny, considering where we are with horror films in 2017, but I can understand why it was so shocking when it was released in 1986.
Deadly Graduation Day
Though the acting left a lot to be desired, I can still see why Slaughter High has become such a cult classic. The gore by use of practical effects is fantastic and the different types of kills throughout the film make it so that the movie doesn’t become monotonous.
Also, I found myself pleasantly surprised, if not a bit confused, with the ending. I’m still trying to figure out what exactly happened, but regardless, I liked the film didn’t go the route of that which is so cut and dry. All in all, fans of ’80s horror, revenge flicks and those who love the use of practical effects will find a lot to savor in this Blu-ray release.
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Purchase your copy of Slaughter High today from Amazon or Best Buy today.