Massacre at Central High
| Massacre at Central High | |
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| Directed by | Rene Daalder |
| Produced by | Jerome Bauman Harold Sobel |
| Written by | Rene Daalder |
| Starring | Derrel Maury Andrew Stevens Robert Carradine Kimberly Beck Ray Underwood Steve Bond |
| Music by | Tommy Leonetti |
| Cinematography | Bert Van Munster |
| Edited by | Harry Keramidas |
| Distributed by | Brian Distributing Corporation (Theatrical) MPI Home Video (VHS) |
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Release date
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Running time
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87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $500,000 |
Massacre at Central High is a 1976 American thriller film directed by Rene Daalder and starring Derrel Maury, Kimberly Beck, Robert Carradine, and Andrew Stevens. The plot follows a series of revenge killings at a fictional American high school, after which the oppressed students take on the role of their bully oppressors. Despite its title, it is not a slasher film but an unusual blend of political allegory, social commentary, and low-budget exploitation; with the exception of the final sequence, no "adult" characters (such as teachers and parents) are seen.
In the UK the film was released theatrically as Blackboard Massacre. It was shot on 35mm film, and had a running time of 87 minutes.
The film's director, Rene Daalder, described Massacre at Central High as "eerily predicting punk and Columbine". It has also been cited as an influence on the 1988 black comedy Heathers.
David (Derrel Maury) is a new student to Central High. He meets Mark (Andrew Stevens), an old friend whom he once helped out of a jam at their previous school. Mark tells David that the school can be like a country club for him if he befriends Bruce (Ray Underwood), Craig (Steve Bond), and Paul (Damon Douglas), the bullies who rule the school student body and who are from wealthy and powerful families; Mark has become their somewhat reluctant accomplice.
Over the next few days, David witnesses Bruce, Craig, and Paul torment the other students, including the scrawny Spoony; the overweight Oscar; Arthur, the school's hearing-impaired librarian; and Rodney, who drives a rundown car that is vandalized by the bullies. After David forcibly thwarts the trio's attempt to rape two female students, Mary and Jane, in an empty classroom, the bullies approach Mark and tell him he only has one more chance to talk David into minding his own business. When this fails, the three bullies decide to take matters into their own hands. Meanwhile, David has taken a liking to Mark's girlfriend, Theresa.
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