Return To Horror High (1987)

Return To Horror High (1987)

PLOT -A few years ago, a mysterious serial-killer caused panic on Crippen High School. The killer was never caught. A movie company, Cosmic Pictures, has decided to make a feature movie about these events - on location, at the now abandoned school. Since members of cast and crew disappear without a trace, it seems as if history is repeating itself...

LOWDOWN - I still remember the first time I rented this movie, the eye catching poster of the cheerleader skeleton waving her pom poms around. Even at the age of twelve or so I was more than a little confused about what kind of movie this exactly was. Was it supposed to be a black comedy? A slasher movie? A movie within a movie? Also what's up with the ten different endings. I have a feeling since it was the end of the slasher era, this was a last ditch effort to poke fun at slasher high school movies, and try to do something new and fresh. Instead what came out was a very weird, campy, mess of a movie, which now i can at least have fun watching. 

What really makes this movie is the humor. Some might find it off putting, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the poor stressed director, trying to make a dark thriller, and instead he's surrounded by the biggest group of idiots that are trying to plaster as many guts and boobs as possible into the film. The best is the speech he gives the crew about what sort of movie he's been wanting to make before slowly walking out the door. The expression on the crew's faces is priceless. 

Also the extra playing the dead body "What's my motivation?" I still quote this film all these years later because of that scene.

The unseen killer wearing those yellow gloves, and the squeaking of wheels whenever he/or she is around, campy at it's best. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but somehow I always believed this was a sequel, due to the title "Return to horror high." i somehow always thought the first movie was based off the events of the murders that this movie was supposed to be about. 

There's lots of different kills, some bloody, others very over the top. The police aftermath wrap around is beyond nutty. The scene where the female police officer saying she slid down a hallway due to all the blood...no words. I do love the part tho when she's sticking her chest out trying to talk to the head officer. Classic.

The scenes that are supposed to be the movie is a gas, and you get to see the poor man's scream mask long before scream was even a movie. 

How about the love scene with the blue sparks and music blasting. It oozes the 80's.

With a great cast, Brenda Hughes, George Clooney, Scott Jacoby, Lori Lethin, and Alex Rocco. With ten over the top twists rolled into one, and a very odd ending, Return To Horror High is a fun, off beat slasher that doesn't take itself that seriously.

2 stars!