One of the most distinctive and recurring themes on the silver screen, is that of the classic high school film. No matter what the genre, this Hollywood staple has been a popular setting for films for decades. Beyond the coming-of-age story that they often tell, they can also be a setting for romance, persecution and fear, set against a familiar backdrop or lessons, teachers and long corridors. Whilst the majority of these films share the American high school experience, there are plenty from around the globe, all following the same path of adolescent discovery and angst. We’ve put together a little list of some of our favourite Horror Highschool films, which best explored the themes settings whilst intersplicing it into a world of nightmares. Let us explore 10 of the best High School Horror Films.

Melting Students – Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)

A high school prom faces a deadly threat: a flesh-eating virus that spreads via a popular brand of bottled water. Following the events of the first film, the deadly flesh-eating virus makes it’s way to a local high school, where the students are preparing for prom. By the time the big day arrives, the students are already succumbing to the deadly infection and CCD (Contamination Control Division) soldiers are ready to lock down and clean up. Whilst lighter in tone and not sinister as the original, Spring Fever manages to be fun filled, with plenty of gore and laughs.

Trapped – The Hole (2001)

The Hole is a 2001 psychological horror film set at an exclusive private school in Great Britain. Starring Thora Birch at the height of her career and Keira Knightley in one of her first big screen roles, The Hole follows a group of four students, looking for a brief diversion from their angst-riddled lives, who find their way into an old fallout shelter, for a secret weekend getaway. Their plans take a devastating turn when they discover that they can’t get out. Dark, thrilling and totally disturbing, this film will twist it’s way into your brain and never let go.

Blood Suckers – Let the Right One In (2008)

Let the Right One In is a 2008 Swedish romantic horror film about a bullied school boy, Oskar, who befriends an ancient vampire. Eli might look like a young child, but she(he) is actually a 200 year old vampire with a ferocious need for blood.  Oskar and Eli both share a need for solitude and it’s their mutual loneliness that brings them together. Let the Right One In (2008) is a beautiful coming of age story with a surprising amount of shocks and turns that will keep anyone of their edge of their seat.

Backstory Killer – Cherry Falls 2000

Cherry Falls is a quiet little town, with a big problem. A serial killer has begun preying on its youth, and all the victims were virgins. This rather tongue in cheek teen slasher came hot on the heels of Screams popularity and tries so hard to be something interesting.  It’s filled with classic high school movie tropes, and plenty of teens slasher ones too.  With a predictable twists and a terrible plot, the films saving grace is (the late) Brittany Murphy. The beautifully actress was born for this type of role, and whilst her performance is a little wooden, she steals every scene she’s in. Amongst the parties, curfews and incompetent killers, Cherry Falls manages to be a thoroughly entertaining film, even if it is riding on the coattails of better films.

Which Witch – The Craft (1996)

A stereotypical high school and a bunch of misfits that become witches, what could go wrong. This quintessential slice of 90s films, is the perfect mix of rebellion, black magic and mistrust, as new girl Sarah (Robin Tunney) joins three new friends on a journey of discovery in the arts of magic and mayhem. 

Not a School Mascot – Ginger Snaps (2000)

Ginger Snaps is a 2000 Canadian horror film focuses on two teenage sisters who have an unhealthy fascination with death. When the sisters are attacked by a creature, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) finds she was attacked by a werewolf, and she too Is beginning to change. With the school faculty falling prey to Gingers blood lust, and the infection spreading to other classmates, her sister Brigitte (Emily Perkins) must find a way of saving the transformed teen.

Aliens Amongst Us – The Faculty (1998)

Herrington High School is under siege from the first wave of body snatching aliens. With world domination on the tables, only a handful of students can save the day. The beautiful thing about Robert Rodriguez’s alien invasion film, is its clever use of stereotypes. The school is filled with your usual jocks, prom queens, geeks and weirdos. Rather than segregating them, as most high school films do, Rodriguez’s throws them all in the same boiling pot. The Faculty is an intense and often funny film that never bows away from a good jump scare.

Kill them All – Battle Royale (2000)

The landscape of Japanese High Schools are pretty much alien to anyone living in the west, but Kinji Fukasaku film adaption of Battle Royale manages to set that all aside, as the student body suddenly finds itself thrust into a deadly government run game. The story is less about the ins and outs of Japanese Schools, but about the classmates dynamics, as they set against each over in deadly winner takes all game. With plenty of gore, lots of tension and a bat shit crazy ending, Battle Royale is just amazing!

Bloody Hell – Carrie (1976)

Brian De Palma put Stephen king on the map with his thrilling film adaption of Carrie. High school oddball Carrie White finds herself at the centre of a nasty prank, as a bully sabotages the prom to humiliate Carrie. It is an intense and tragic film that shocked a generation and remains today as classic film, awash with blood and fire!

Schools Out – Scream (1996)

As high school horrors go, Wes Craven’s Scream is the cream of the crop! Set at Woodsboro High School, a serial killer is hunting down students, and Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell)is next on the killers list. The film re-lit the worlds love of the genre and launched a new wave of teen horror that still resonates today. The film paved way for many other “whodunit” mystery’s, with films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer and Urban Legends following shortly in its wake. Scream satirize the clichés of the horror film genre popularized in films such as Halloween and Friday the 13^th, becoming one of the first films to really engage the audience intelligently. This was horror on a new level and changed the face of the genre. Horror was mainstream!

“Hey Horror Fans – Back when i was at school, there are two SKELETON teachers at school. One was humerus, but the other was very sternum. This list might just TEACH you a thing or two, but GHOULS out so until next time horror freaks. 

Keep Rotten”

 

“Morti” The Mortician