By Melissa Antoinette Garza
A new kid shows up in school and takes on a clan of bullies, who terrorize all of their classmates. The newbie eventually murders them, much to the satisfaction of the teens, who had been picked on. Once the bullies are all dead, those that were geeks, start harassing others. This becomes a violent, vicious cycle of a seemingly, unending spree. (SPOILERS) The new kid sees no way out, other than blowing up the school during prom. He builds a bomb, puts on a trench coat and heads out. Before the school goes up in flames, the one girl he loves show up and refuses to leave the building. Unable to kill her, he gets the bomb and runs outside thus blowing himself up in the process.
Sound familiar? No, the movie we’re discussing is not HEATHERS (1988). MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH was actually made twelve years prior and has the exact same premise and plot. The tone however is quite different. This is not a comedy in any sense of the word. It’s a powerful drama that keeps one’s attention throughout. Many label it a horror film because of the body count, but there aren’t any real frightening elements to the production. It is however a brilliantly executed film with great actors and a strong message.
David (Derrel Maury) moves to a new high-school where he meets up with his old friend Mark (Andrew Stevens). Mark is involved with a bunch of bullies who run the show. Hippie geek, Spoony (Robert Carradine) attempts to make a point equating the tactics of Mark’s group, with that of the Nazis, by drawing a swastika on their lockers. He is caught while finishing and is roughed up by them. David arrives to the school just in time, but fearful that things will get worse, Spoony tells him to take a hike. David does as he’s told and attempts to talk with a few students to find out where the lounge is, but no one helps. That is until Theresa (Kimberly Beck), Mark’s girlfriend points it out to him. There’s an instant chemistry between the two. David, however, doesn’t want to betray Mark. He holds back, even when Theresa tries to make a move.
When David walks into the lounge, he’s greeted by Mark and the bullies, who had roughed Spoony up. Mark promises David that he will protect him. He tries to convince David to join their group, but David walks out. Mark follows behind to find out what the issue is. David reminds him, that at their last school, it was Mark who was bullied and David rescued him. He doesn’t understand how Mark could now willingly be on the other side. Mark attempts to explain that he just won’t go back and doesn’t want to fight. He likes being able to park in a special place and he enjoys running the school.
David distances himself from the bullies, much to Mark’s dismay. He worries that he won’t be able to keep the bullies from attacking David. David makes things harder as he always stands up for the weak individuals who are picked on. He eventually goes full bad-ass and stops them from raping two girls. He beats the hell out of them, and they seek out revenge. They bust up his leg and put him in the hospital with a permanent injury. When he doesn’t go to the police and spill, the bullies think they’ve gotten away with it.
Instead, David begins plotting their demise. The murders are done in unique and inventive ways. One involves a hand-glider and, another, involves an empty swimming pool. As the murders continue and the bullies disappear the school is rejuvenated. Soon, everyone is getting along and encouraging one another. Unfortunately, this doesn’t last as the former geeks begin trying to formulate new cliques. They begin fighting over who will be the next leader. David becomes discontent and plots a way to end it all once and for all.
Derrel Maury does fantastic in the lead. There isn’t a moment the audience views him maliciously or with any other regard but understanding. Every move he makes is with good intentions and he never loses his conscience or his moral compass. When confronted about the murders by Mark who says that he had known the whole time it was him, David replies, “and you didn’t do anything to stop it?” He demands more from society and he has expectations that due to man’s own flaws can never be achieved.
This is a little known gem but one that those who have seen love. This doesn’t play out like an after-school special. Instead, the ordeals that the bullies put their classmates through are portrayed with brutal realism, right down to the attempt at rape and the responses from the girls afterward.
Nowadays, bullying is a topic heard often. New laws are being written to protect students and sadly kids are dying because of the nonsense of high school assholes. Nothing is quite as sad as someone who ended their life, right before it began. As someone who was bullied relentlessly in high-school, I remember the shame and hatred for oneself, that built right until I got out. It took awhile to find self-esteem and a high opinion of myself. I wish there was a way to communicate to all those who do face ridicule at the hands of idiots, that in the realm of things, high school is nothing but a vague memory that means nothing. If one can just hold on until after graduation, life is so much easier. More than that, if it becomes too much and there’s nothing you can do just get the fuck out.
Now, back to the film. The audience will not be crying for the deaths of the bullies. Quite the contrary, David is viewed as a dark hero. Unlike HEATHERS, MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH actually acknowledges that the deeds, as despicable as they were, are understandable. Theresa makes a comment indicating her willingness to protect him. Mark does the same.
An interesting fact about this film, is that it was released in Italian under the name of SEXY JEAN in an X rated version that had pornographic sequences inserted. I want to see that version for scientific purposes, but have been unable to locate a copy.
Overall, MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH is a great movie with a fantastic plot and should be sought out. Fans of HEATHERS will enjoy both the similarity in story and difference in tone.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10
