A Brilliant Surprise That I Wasn’t Expecting

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MOVIE REVIEW
Massacre at Central High
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Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Year Released: 1976, 2022 (Blu-ray special edition from Synapse Films)
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director(s): Rene Daalder
Writer(s): Rene Daalder
Cast: Andrew Stevens, Derrel Maury, Robert Carradine, Kimberly Beck, Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith
Where To Watch: Available for pre-order on www.synapsefilms.com

Months ago, I saw a special release of this with a steelbook (and I am still upset I passed on it at the time.) I hadn’t seen the movie, but it just looked so interesting, and was I ever right! Being titled MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH, I thought it would be a straight slasher/horror film. While there are horror elements to the film, I would say it almost relies more on the drama/thriller aspect, which honestly makes it a better movie. I’m interested in checking out director Rene Daalder’s other film, HYSTERIA; it seems like it could be a blast.

This film offered a compelling storyline, which wasn’t often seen in this genre of film during the late 70s. This came out just before the release of HALLOWEEN and the real boom of the slasher genre, so a few years later, it could have been a drastically different film. Synapse Films has a reputation for picking unique films that offer something unique. They don’t just fill their catalog with every genre film they can get their hands on.

I will say there are some moments and imagery in the film which wouldn’t go over well with a general audience in a film today. That makes it even more powerful in my eyes; it feels revolutionary in that aspect. This was one of Kimberly Beck's (FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER) first feature film roles. One of my favorite final girls from the Friday the 13th franchise, she stayed busy acting in TV and film consistently through the late 90s as well.

If you’re looking for a solid, campy, fun, and yet serious film experience, I would highly recommend pre-ordering this as soon as possible.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
– High-definition 1080p remaster scanned, transferred, and supervised by director Renee Daalder
– Audio interviews by Mike White (‘The Projection Booth’ Podcast), featuring interviews with cast members Andrew Stevens, Robert Carradine, Derrel Maury, and Rex Steven Sikes
– Audio interview with director Renee Daalder, conducted by writer/horror historian Michael Gingold
– HELL IN THE HALLWAYS: The Making of “Massacre at Central High” – New “making of” documentary
– Theatrical trailer, TV spot, radio spot, and still gallery
– Newly translated removable English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

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