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Study Hell
SCREENER/APPROX. 80 MINS/2006/USA MA15+
SCREENER/APPROX. 80 MINS/2006/USA MA15+
1
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When a horror film copies scenes from another better known film we call it being influenced. When it lifts whole scenes we call it a homage. When
the film it lifts those scenes from is “The Breakfast Club” we call it a disaster...or “Study Hell”
Several very familiar stereotypes get detention. How familiar you ask? So familiar that the character Denise not only acts like, but is a physical
ringer for Allie Sheedy's character. That's one of the film's few better points because I always thought she was hotter than Molly Ringwald anyway.
In place of Principal Vernon we have Mr Keller, a teacher who still suffers from Vietnam related mental issues, (cue flashbacks that look like they
were shot in the woods of Ontario instead of anything remotely tropical looking.). You can guess the rest, he locks the school down and begins
killing the kids off one by one…
The film actually opened promisingly enough with a prologue involving several dead cheerleaders. But it's so different in style and look, (much less
dark and grainy), than the rest of the film I wouldn't be surprised to find that it was shot later and added on. This scene also ties into a “shocking”,
(and downright unbelievable), revelation we get to about half way through the film. Unfortunately it's about as shocking as the “twist” ending.
That's the problem with the film as a whole actually. It never shocks or scares the viewer and there's no real suspense. In fact almost nothing
happens. The film is mostly talk with the occasional not-very-bloody death. The script is so poorly written you never for a moment believe any of it,
and some of the things the characters do are just flat out stupid. Like stopping at their locker in the midst of an escape attempt.
Not only is there no suspense or scares, there's almost no gore and no nudity to even momentarily distract the viewer. In fact the film seems to go
out of it's way to avoid showing skin. One of the girls hides in a swimming pool but we don't even get a wet shirt effect. And the epilogue features
a bath scene, not only does it not get past the young lady's bra but it's got such oversized cups we don't even get a good cleavage shot out of it.
Horror for puritans maybe?
The photography is as sub-par as the rest of the film. Dark and very grainy, this looks like something that was shot in the 60s and has been
sitting in somebody's attic ever since, not a recent production. And what is shot is dull and unimaginative, basic cover shots with no flair or spark.
I'm not asking for Argento-esque shots, but at least move the damn camera!
It was fun listening to the Canadian accents, full of “aboot” and “eh’s” but that got old long before the credits roll. It also brings out a huge,
glaring error. Canada didn't send any troops to Vietnam, a plaque in the school and the rants of Ann Coulter to the contrary. This film truly
manages to fail everything, even history.
Rent this one and you'll wear out your finger hitting fast forward on the remote.
the film it lifts those scenes from is “The Breakfast Club” we call it a disaster...or “Study Hell”
Several very familiar stereotypes get detention. How familiar you ask? So familiar that the character Denise not only acts like, but is a physical
ringer for Allie Sheedy's character. That's one of the film's few better points because I always thought she was hotter than Molly Ringwald anyway.
In place of Principal Vernon we have Mr Keller, a teacher who still suffers from Vietnam related mental issues, (cue flashbacks that look like they
were shot in the woods of Ontario instead of anything remotely tropical looking.). You can guess the rest, he locks the school down and begins
killing the kids off one by one…
The film actually opened promisingly enough with a prologue involving several dead cheerleaders. But it's so different in style and look, (much less
dark and grainy), than the rest of the film I wouldn't be surprised to find that it was shot later and added on. This scene also ties into a “shocking”,
(and downright unbelievable), revelation we get to about half way through the film. Unfortunately it's about as shocking as the “twist” ending.
That's the problem with the film as a whole actually. It never shocks or scares the viewer and there's no real suspense. In fact almost nothing
happens. The film is mostly talk with the occasional not-very-bloody death. The script is so poorly written you never for a moment believe any of it,
and some of the things the characters do are just flat out stupid. Like stopping at their locker in the midst of an escape attempt.
Not only is there no suspense or scares, there's almost no gore and no nudity to even momentarily distract the viewer. In fact the film seems to go
out of it's way to avoid showing skin. One of the girls hides in a swimming pool but we don't even get a wet shirt effect. And the epilogue features
a bath scene, not only does it not get past the young lady's bra but it's got such oversized cups we don't even get a good cleavage shot out of it.
Horror for puritans maybe?
The photography is as sub-par as the rest of the film. Dark and very grainy, this looks like something that was shot in the 60s and has been
sitting in somebody's attic ever since, not a recent production. And what is shot is dull and unimaginative, basic cover shots with no flair or spark.
I'm not asking for Argento-esque shots, but at least move the damn camera!
It was fun listening to the Canadian accents, full of “aboot” and “eh’s” but that got old long before the credits roll. It also brings out a huge,
glaring error. Canada didn't send any troops to Vietnam, a plaque in the school and the rants of Ann Coulter to the contrary. This film truly
manages to fail everything, even history.
Rent this one and you'll wear out your finger hitting fast forward on the remote.
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