School Spirit

When it comes to horror-comedy films, blending scares and laughs is a tricky balance to strike, and "School Spirit" directed by Mike Gan, attempts to navigate this challenging terrain with a supernatural twist on the classic detention trope. This 2019 film offers a fresh take on the high school horror genre, but does it excel in providing genuine thrills and witty humor? Well, that's a bit of a mixed bag.

The story follows a group of misfit students, each a stereotype in their own right, who find themselves stuck in detention on a Saturday. We have the jock, the nerd, the rebel, the popular girl, and the loner; a familiar ensemble that sets the stage for a journey filled with both laughter and terror. As the students settle in for a tedious day, they soon realize that their school's infamous ghost stories might not be mere tales after all. The legendary hauntings become all too real, and what ensues is a chaotic blend of teenage angst, supernatural encounters, and a race to survive.

The strength of "School Spirit" lies in its ability to capture the essence of teenage dynamics and inject it with a healthy dose of supernatural horror. The initial setup is entertaining, as the characters' interactions provide some genuinely funny moments. The film also excels in its practical effects, creating eerie visuals and creepy creatures that will undoubtedly satisfy horror enthusiasts. The haunted school setting is effectively utilized, offering a range of locations for the characters to explore, from eerie corridors to hidden chambers, each revealing a new layer of the school's dark secrets.

However, as the film progresses, the narrative begins to falter. The script struggles to maintain the initial humor, and the scares become somewhat predictable. The character development, while showing promise, fails to fully evolve beyond the initial stereotypes, leaving viewers craving more depth. The film's pacing also feels uneven, with moments of intense action followed by lulls that could have been better utilized for character exploration or plot twists.

The performances are commendable, with the young cast bringing energy and commitment to their roles. The actors manage to find some depth in their characters, particularly during the more emotional scenes, but they are often constrained by the script's limitations. The film's soundtrack and cinematography are well-executed, adding to the overall atmosphere, but they can't compensate for the narrative shortcomings.

In the realm of horror-comedy, "School Spirit" shows potential, but it falls short of becoming a memorable entry in the genre. It offers a few enjoyable moments and a unique setting, but the lack of consistent humor and a more refined script hinder its overall impact. Gan's direction showcases promise, and with a tighter narrative, he could deliver a more satisfying experience.

Right away it's unbelievably obvious that they couldn't get extras to make it seem like a real school-year; so they wrote in the scapegoat of "weekend detention". Although that doesn't explain away the construction fences that you can see in the beginning, clear indication that they got in during Summer renovations. Not a bad idea to secure locations, just get the fences out of your shots.

All the characters are 1-dimensional, with each of them representing a cliche clique in schools. They try to come together, but it seems forced and superficial. You really don't care about any of them, because the characters are either unlikable, or the 'nice ones' never seem like they're really in danger. The one and only faculty member isn't any less of a stereotype.

At one point the director opted to skip the music and let the terror of the haunting try to hold suspense on it's own. It failed. Hard.

At this point Blumhouse/Into the Dark is just giving us monthly classes on how NOT to make horror movies. Get some friends drinking and have a laugh at the incongruities of these, and just enjoy yourselves :)

Looking for a good movie...even a decent movie is hard to find these days. SO much crap to sort from. The trailers you watch and see the immediate cheese right away...ugh! But this trailer was worthy of the watch. No cheese...decent acting and I liked it right away and selected it for my wife's and I to watch on movie night. A group of kids are selected to earn detention first week of the year and they are locked in by their vice-principal. Soon after, the kids start telling stories of the school spirit that makes the bad kids of the school vanish. Kids soon start to go missing and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who the "School spirit" is. Kinda obvious, but I'll leave you to watch the movie and decide for yourself. It's a really good watch...A whodunit if you will. I love those. It's really worth the watch, guys. Peace.

Fun but mediocre school slasher. The middle aged people like me might enjoy how reminiscent it is of The Breakfast Club. Not that great but I still found it entertaining!

This is a silly, indie, cheesy horror version of the breakfast club. They tried. Failed...but tried.