The 1980s was the golden age of the slasher film. From Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and the countless low budget slashers fans were entertained for decades.
In 1989 the slasher community were treated to the film Hell High. Now the good folks at Arrow Video are giving this film the deluxe Blu-ray treatment that slasher film fans will be so excited for.
The film starts with a young girl who accidentally causing the death of two teenagers. The film than fast forwards to find that she has now grown up and is high school teacher Miss Brooke Storm (Maureen Mooney) and is in charge of a rowdy class. The gang of trouble makers are led by Dickens (Christopher Stryker). The teacher still haunted by the death of two teens she send up going beserk when four teens start harassing her and then attack her in her home.
The story is pretty predictable. Nothing surprising here! I would say you would have to be a fan of slasher films to love this one. Average film fans are going to find this film less than stellar. Even slasher fans may find this one a bit tame as there is just a bit of 'slashing' at the beginning and the very end of the film leaving around an hour of story with not 'slash'.
As with slasher films Hell High is filled with profanity and crass vulgarity. There is also nudity and some violence. So this film is for mature audiences only.
The film has been transferred in 1080p in it's original widescreen format in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The audio is the original uncompressed stereo audio. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Arrow Video for this Blu-ray haven given this cult film a brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative approved by cinematographer Steven Fierberg. The film looks and sound pretty impressive even if the film is not so much.
But where this release really shines is in the bonus features. Arrow Video has loaded this disc with bonuses that fans of this film are going to love. Take a look at what is included.
* Brand new audio commentary with director/producer/co-writer Douglas Grossman and cinematographer Steven Fierberg
* Archival audio commentary with director/producer/co-writer Douglas Grossman
* Archival introduction and audio commentary with film critic Joe Bob Briggs
* School’s Out! – a newly-filmed interview with director/producer/co-writer Douglas Grossman
* A Beautiful Nightmare – a newly-filmed interview with cinematographer Steven Fierberg
* Jon-Jon’s Journey – a newly-filmed interview with actor Christopher Cousins
* The More the Better – a newly-filmed interview with actress Maureen Mooney
* Music is Not Sound – a newly-filmed interview with composers Rich Macar and Christopher Hyams-Hart
* Back to Schools: The Locations of Hell High – a tour of the original Hell High filming sites with author/filmmaker Michael Gingold
* Archival video interviews with director/producer/co-writer Douglas Grossman and co-writer Leo Evans
* Deleted Scene
* Alternate Opening Titles
* Trailers and TV Spots
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Ralf Krause
Hell High has all the elements of the slasher film, yet with very little of the slashing. So to call this a slasher film may be pushing it a bit. But it is a horror film, and horror movie collectors will want this deluxe Blu-ray in their collection. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today.
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