Massacre at Central High (1976)

Director:

Rene Daalder

Writer:

Rene Daalder (writer)

Release Date:

September 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

One brutal act began the terror!

Plot:

A high school transfer student, pushed to the edge by a trio of brutal bullies, resorts to murder to reclaim the school from oppression, and later turns against the students wanting to fill the vacuum of their oppressors.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Bully | Revenge | Murder | Terror

Cast

Derrel Maury	...	David
Andrew Stevens	...	Mark
Robert Carradine	...	Spoony
Kimberly Beck	...	Theresa
Ray Underwood	...	Bruce
Steve Bond	...	Craig
Rex Steven Sikes	...	Rodney (as Steve Sikes)
Lani O'Grady	...	Jane
Damon Douglas	...	Paul
Dennis Kort	...	Arthur
Cheryl Smith	...	Mary (as Rainbeaux Smith)
Jeffrey Winner	...	Oscar
Tom Logan	...	Harvey (as Thomas Logan)

Also Known As:

Blackboard Massacre (UK)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | France:-18 | Norway:18 (video rating) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Evan

Trivia:

Turner Classic Movies was scheduled to air this film as part of their TCM Underground series on April 3, 2009 but the film was pulled when standards and practices decided it was too violent to be aired.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When the van is parked atop the hill, above the beach, a huge boom mic is clearly visible above

Quotes:

Paul: What are YOU gonna do, sit there and die?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Heathers (1988)

A challenging film

It took me forever to get a hold of this movie. I looked all over in the city here and couldn't find it anywhere. I was finally able to find it for rent on the internet. I have known about it for a couple of years but gave up trying to find it until I discovered the internet. It was well worth the wait. I wish Hollywood would strive on making more movies as challenging as this one. The film is set in a lavish high school where three tough boys rule over the masses until a new kid comes along and puts them out of commission. What starts out as a critical essay of Karl Marx's conflict theory turns into a parable showing the dangers of anarchy and revolutionary governments. However, there is more to the story than just that but I will let you make your own judgments. While the first part seems routine enough, the second part will have you talking with friends for hours. Derrel Maury brings in an effective turn as the cold and clinical new kid. The rest of the cast are splended as well, including Robert Carradince in an early role who later starred in the "Revenge of the Nerds" movie series. I can't believe that no money hungry producer, production company or major studio has not chosen to re release this little gem of a movie.