This cult classic makes it to DVD courtesy of Mosaic Entertainment, who are fast becoming one of the most noted suppliers of genre fare here in the UK.
The film follows Andrew Norris, a new teacher who is sent to teach music at a notorious inner city high school. The building looks like any average school these days so the filmmakers weren’t too far off the mark with their twisted vision of the future.
Mr. Norris soon finds that a gang of punk kids led by Peter Stegman are the real force to be reckoned with, and they are soon at loggerheads as Norris refuses to let their actions go unchallenged.
At first the kids just cause a ruckus, but they soon begin attempting to kill students (including Michael J. Fox) and when a teacher dies because of them, Mr. Norris has had enough. He soon begins retaliating and the situation continues to go from bad to worse until it culminates in an attack on his pregnant wife the night of the school’s new symphony orchestra debut.
It seems to be a case of love it or hate it, with many fans proclaiming that Timothy Van Patten should have won an Oscar for his performance as the misunderstood genius Stegman. The film has that cult 80’s appeal stamped all over it, but the rather abrupt ending leaves you feeling a little unsatisfied.
Some of the acting and choreography verge on over the top, but it’s an enjoyable film and well worth seeing. It’s also more realistic than the similar and sort of loosely connected sequel, Class of 1999.
OVERALL SUMMARY
A fine and realistic look at high school life was wise beyond its years as two decades later, society is really like this.
