Massacre At Central High

Massacre At Central High is at first glace a typical slice of mid 70s exploitation, mixing as it does all the lurid violence and leering nudity that was required by Drive-in promoters and Grindhouse owners to keep their audiences sated. But beneath the usual trappings is a much odder movie that seems to have influenced later films such as Heathers in it's look at the corrupt malignancy that can lurk beneath the exterior of an American high school.

Although sold as a slasher movie by it's title and promotional materials, the film is closer to a weird political statement about the state of education in the 70s than a run of the mill teen horror. First we meet a new pupil arriving at Central high, a school that appears to be run by the anarchic rule of student law. With no adults in control that halls are policed by a mob of tough school bullies. The new guy gets his share of pain from the powerful gang and eventually he's pushed to far, resulting in a bloodbath.

In the light of more recent incidents at US schools involving shootings, a trashy shocker like this probably couldn't get a deal these days, but never mind, we have this slightly ropey, intriguing little gem that, despite the usual flaws found in B-movies of the time, makes it's political points while offering up some A-Grade trash fun.

Massacre... takes the "Revenge of the Nerds" plot line found in movies such as Trick Or Treat and takes it to interesting places, making this a minor classic of grindhouse entertainment.