The Faculty (1998)
Directed By: Robert Rodriguez
Where to get it: Echo Bridge
When some very creepy things start happening around school, the kids at Herrington High make a chilling discovery that confirms their worst suspicions: their teachers really are from another planet. As mind-controlling parasites rapidly begin spreading from the faculty to the students’ bodies, it’s ultimately up to the few who are left—an unlikely collection of loners, leaders, nerds and jocks—to save the world from alien domination. Also starring Jordana Brewster (Fast & Furious) and Famke Janssen (Taken) in a great cast—don’t miss the unstoppable excitement of this unpredictably smart and scary hit.
Well, kids, if you think high school is a scary place now, you should have been in it back in 1998. I’m sure at some time or another you’ve assumed your teacher wasn’t human and here Robert Rodriguez takes that fear and puts on screen with a cool “Night of the Creeps” style twist. While not penned entirely by Robert Rodriguez, the movie does give us some the key things and actors he is known for in his films. The one down side to everything is the fact he didn’t write it all himself and we only get a sprinkle of what we love about his film making here. And by that I mean you can see it had other input. It also has some early CGI tossed in for good measure; you can guess how that goes.
But the movie is a very fun movie. It packs a star studded cast that could have probably made anything work. And I do believe in 1998 you’d have found this movie to be a bit more refreshing than some of the other stuff we were getting, even if the pretty cast and cover art show you straight up what style and film we are still trying to follow at this point. Regardless it is well acted and has twists and turns that make for some excitement. The transfer is a little mixed as I’m sure you’d guess. One moment we have some nice detail and other moments the picture looks a little soft. Still, it never does look at all bad. Overall, it is a nice film to add to your collection, especially if you are a big Robert Rodriguez fan.
(7/10)
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