The Horror Show
Deadly Detention
by Blair Hayes
Take a pinch of The Breakfast Club, a splash of Battle Royale, and sprinkle in a bit of Saw. Mix well with some cheesy jokes. Bake at 420 degrees and ta-daa! You've just made Deadly Detention.
There's only seven people in this movie. Two adults, the principal and the security guard, and the five stereotypes: Weirdo, Slut, Athlete, Popular Kid, and the Gay Christian. That last one is a new one for me. As the title suggests, these five are in detention. Unfortunately, the high school is being fumigated for rabid opossums so this Saturday detention is being held in an old abandoned prison. Principal Hard-Ass has tasked the students to write an essay about who they really are. I know, it sounds just like it was a John Hughes movie. This is where that pretty much ends. The principal is killed in front of the students by a mysterious figure who guides them through the prison. You make it through detention, you make it out alive.
I really enjoyed this movie for what it was. It's not a deep, brooding type of horror movie. There's not a lot of gore. There's not a lot of suspense. It's a goofy teen scream fluff. It was fun! I was engaged in the story. The twist was pretty good. I didn't figure it out until a second before the reveal.
I think the best part of the film has to be the kids. This is a decent ensemble. They're not the greatest actors, but I have seen worse. So much worse. You can identify with aspects of the stereotypes they've given them. Just like that other detention movie from the 80's, it works for what it is.
Like I said, Deadly Detention isn't going to win any awards, but it is fun. The humor is there. I wish it had been a little more on the horror side, but I don't feel like my time was wasted. It is what it is. Class dismissed!
Robin Thompson, HMS
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