Tag Archives: Massacre at Central High

Saturday Matinee: Heathers

Posted on by
Reply

“Heathers” (1988) is a dark high school comedy written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann. “The Heathers” of the title refers to Westerburg High School’s elite clique of popular girls, whose  newest member is Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder). Fed up with the Heathers’ constant peer pressure and obnoxious social circle she becomes increasingly attracted to J.D. (Christian Slater), a mysterious, rebellious – and possibly psychotic – new student. This 80’s cult film was most likely inspired by a thematically similar (but tonally different) 70’s high school film called “Massacre at Central High“.

Watch Heathers on Hoopla here: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11896270

Saturday Matinee: Massacre at Central High

Posted on by
1

massacre-at-central-high-billboard-2-300x225

Though its unfortunate title makes it sound like a standard slasher film, Rene Daalder’s “Massacre at Central High” (1976) (aka “Blackboard Massacre” or “Massaker in Klasse 13”) is actually a clever political allegory in a high school setting. When new student David observes the degree to which the student body is dominated by a small clique of thugs, he sets out to liberate the school from its oppressors. Though he succeeds, conflicts soon arise among various factions to fill the power vacuum. Losing patience with everyone, David begins planning the destruction of the entire high school. The film is dated in terms of fashions and soundtrack and hamstrung by a low budget and occasionally stilted dialogue, but its message is timeless and problems it addresses such as bullying and high school violence are even more relevant today. Massacre at Central High is likely an inspiration for the later cult film “Heathers” (1988).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKvHDgL96U0