Best Horror Movies That Prove High School Can Be A Living Hell
Being a teenager is hard work. Being a teenager in a horror movie is life-threatening work.
For some, the halls of high school can turn into aisles of terror, where the ordinary can become an extraordinary nightmare. Here are some horror movies that prove the point and remind us that high school can indeed be a dangerous place to attend on a daily basis.
The Faculty (1998)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez, this sci-fi horror film cleverly adapts the concept of the body snatcher to a high school setting, as the students must unite against their possessed teachers in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Despite receiving mixed reviews at the box office, the film has developed a cult following for its unique take on the teen horror genre.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Learn not to fall asleep in class with this supernatural high school slasher. Blurring the line between reality and nightmares, this original film launched the Freddy Krueger saga as he terrorizes Nancy and her friends.
The film's innovative blend of dream and reality, along with Freddy's character, had a profound impact on the horror genre and solidified Freddy Krueger as an icon of horror culture.
Jennifer's Body (2009)
Though it received mixed reviews upon its release, its unique feminist themes and storytelling approach have earned this darkly comedic horror a cult following over the years. The story follows Jennifer, possessed by a demon after a ritual gone wrong, who preys on her male classmates. Never underestimate the girls in your school.
The Craft (1996)
After troubled teen Sarah Bailey joins a trio of high school girls practicing witchcraft at a Catholic school, their power grows, as do their desires and conflicts, mirroring the challenges of fitting in and finding identity.
Praised for its blend of horror and empowerment, the film is a staple on the '90s and horror film lists, as its progressive themes set it apart from other high school films of its time.
Scream ( 1996)
Teaching you to pay attention to those you call your friends, Scream is undoubtedly the best horror franchise about school. Praised for its self-awareness and satirical take on horror tropes, this Wes Craven slasher follows iconic Sidney Prescott and her friends as they are hunted by a killer in a Ghostface costume.
Scream went on to become an iconic teen horror film, spawning sequels and changing the slasher genre forever.
Final Destination (2000)
The first installment of the franchise to feature Death itself as the main villain, Final Destination follows high schooler Alex Browning, who predicts that a plane will crash while on a senior trip.
Heralding the arrival of 2000s horror with heightened shock value, the franchise is a thrilling ride into the world of fate and how impossible it is to outwit it.
Heathers (1989)
Blending black comedy with horror elements, Heathers delves into the dark side of high school cliques and social hierarchy as Westerburg High's Veronica Sawyer tries to fit into Chandler's toxic Heathers clique.
This classic Mean Girls story shows what would happen if the Plastics weren't too busy collecting information for their Burn Book and went straight for the kill.