Day 11: Zombie High

   

 I haven't reviewed a zombie movie yet this month. So I decided to slide ol' Zombie High into the VCR. Of course, Zombie High doesn't have the type of zombies we've come to expect since the release of Night Of The Living Dead. Instead of flesh eating corpses we see people still very much alive, but under the control of others. So since they aren't dead I guess they aren't zombies at all. They just kind of act like zombies at times. Also, the film appears to take place in college. Pretty deceitful title.

    Andrea has just been accepted into a prestigious college attended mostly by rich preppies. Her boyfriend, who appears to still be in high school, isn't too happy about his girlfriends college venture. Not helping matters is the professor that seemingly has the hots for young Andrea. Amidst all of this, Andrea begins to notice that the student's are all behaving strangely. The professors seem to be brainwashing and controlling all of their students.

    There seems to be some sort of message about conformity to this film. One of the main male characters is a rebellious punk rocker being forced into the Academy by his politician father. Early on into the film he is captured and brain washed to become just like the other "preppies". There is a sub plot about how all the brain washed graduates go on to have successful careers as judges, lawyers, or politicians. So these brainwashed kids would actually effect society. They're being controlled by radio wave that constantly loops classical music. Not to fear! The power of Rock N' Roll prevails when the classical tape is replaced by "Kiss My Butt"! A rock smash hit that sounds all too familiar (It's a carbon copy of Fight For Your Right by Beastie Boys).

   There are large dull patches in this generally goreless and completely clothed film. Even still, Zombie High manages a couple of stand out entertaining moments. There is a hilarious scene with a Funk band playing the school dance. The zombies are attempting to dance but they can't because they're quite emotionless and have no apparent rhythm. Also worth checking out is the professors rapidly aging and dying at the films climax.

    Aside from a few moments and some campy dialogue, Zombie High is still pretty forgettable. It moves kind of slowly and the finale seems rushed. We don't even know the fate of certain major characters and other's just aren't explained. This is good for a laugh or two, but don't go out of your way to see it.

Body Count:2
Side Note: One of the supporting female characters is played by Sherilyn Fenn, who played Audrey Horne on Twin Peaks.