## The Faculty: High School is Hell, Especially with Aliens
Remember that specific, slightly manic energy that pulsed through late-90s teen horror? After Kevin Williamson blew the doors off with Scream, everyone was scrambling for the next witty, self-aware scare-fest. Enter The Faculty, a film that felt less like a careful imitation and more like Robert Rodriguez grabbing Williamson’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers-meets-The Breakfast Club premise and injecting it with a shot of pure cinematic adrenaline. Finding this gem on the video store shelf felt like uncovering a slightly dangerous secret – was it horror? Sci-fi? A high school drama gone berserk? Yes, to all of the above.
Paranoia in Plaid and Piercings
The setup is beautifully simple, tapping right into that universal feeling of teenage alienation: the teachers at Herrington High are acting weird. Weirder than usual. It starts subtly – the withdrawn art teacher suddenly brimming with unnerving pep, the aggressive football coach chillingly focused. Only a motley crew of students, representing every major clique (the sensitive nerd, the icy queen bee, the rebellious bad boy, the naive newcomer, the gothic outsider, the jock), starts to piece together the horrifying truth: their educators are being taken over by parasitic aliens. It’s a classic paranoia narrative, brilliantly transposed onto the simmering tensions and social hierarchies of high school.
What makes it click, beyond the inherently creepy premise, is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue, bearing Williamson's fingerprints (though the original script existed before him, his polish is evident). The teens banter, posture, and snipe at each other with a familiar rhythm, even as they’re fighting for their lives. Retro Fun Fact: Williamson reportedly did a significant rewrite on the script by David Wechter and Bruce Kimmel in just a few weeks, infusing it with his signature pop-culture savvy and character archetypes, fresh off the success of Scream and Dawson's Creek. It definitely feels like his playground.
A Cast of Future Stars and Familiar Faces
The ensemble cast here is a snapshot of late-90s rising talent. You've got Elijah Wood as the earnest Casey, finding his courage amidst chaos; Jordana Brewster nailing the initially aloof Delilah; Clea DuVall giving Stokely her memorable goth cynicism; and Josh Hartnett, in one of his breakout roles, smoldering as the smart-mouthed Zeke. They form an unlikely, bickering alliance that feels genuinely earned. Shawn Hatosy, Laura Harris, and even Usher Raymond round out the student core effectively.
But oh, the faculty! Seeing established actors like Robert Patrick (channeling some T-1000 intensity), Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie (horror royalty!), Bebe Neuwirth, and even Jon Stewart (as a science teacher!) gleefully play the possessed authority figures is a huge part of the fun. Retro Fun Fact: Salma Hayek, a frequent Rodriguez collaborator, has a smaller but memorable role as the school nurse; Rodriguez often finds ways to include actors from his 'troupe' in his projects, adding to that familial, energetic feel.
Rodriguez Unleashed
This film moves. Robert Rodriguez, already known for his hyper-kinetic style in films like Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn, brings that same restless energy here. The editing is rapid-fire, the camera swoops and dives, and the action sequences have a raw, almost messy intensity. Remember that scene where they try to identify the aliens using Zeke’s homebrewed diuretic drug? The suspense is palpable, built through quick cuts and escalating panic. Rodriguez famously works fast and often handles multiple roles (director, editor, sometimes composer or cinematographer). Retro Fun Fact: The Faculty was reportedly shot relatively quickly, fitting Rodriguez's efficient filmmaking style, which helped keep the $15 million budget relatively tight for a studio sci-fi/horror flick. It went on to gross over $40 million domestically – a solid return demonstrating audience appetite for this kind of genre mashup.
Creature Features and Practical Magic
While there's definitely some late-90s CG here (particularly the larger alien queen), The Faculty benefits immensely from some gnarly practical effects, courtesy of the wizards at KNB EFX Group. The initial reveal of the smaller parasitic creatures, the unsettling transformations, the decapitated head skittering on tentacles – these moments have a tactile grossness that digital effects often lack. They feel slimy, tangible, and genuinely threatening in a way that holds up surprisingly well. Compare the visceral impact of seeing Robert Patrick’s head split open versus smoother, perhaps less impactful digital transformations common today. Didn’t those creature moments feel genuinely shocking back on a fuzzy CRT? They absolutely landed with a splat.
Not Just Another Brick in the Wall
The film’s soundtrack is also pure late-90s gold, capturing the era's alternative rock vibe. The standout, of course, is the cover of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" by the supergroup Class of '99 (featuring members of Alice in Chains, Rage Against the Machine, and Porno for Pyros). It perfectly encapsulates the film's theme of student rebellion against oppressive (and alien-controlled) conformity. The music isn't just background noise; it's part of the film's energetic identity.
Final Judgment
The Faculty isn't high art, and it wears its influences (and its era) proudly on its sleeve. Some of the character arcs are swift, and the plot barrels forward with Rodriguez's characteristic disregard for lingering contemplation. But it's incredibly fun, stylishly directed, sharply written (mostly), and features a killer cast clearly having a blast. It perfectly captured that late-90s moment where teen angst, sci-fi paranoia, and horror movie tropes collided in a gloriously entertaining package. It was a decent performer at the time but has arguably grown into a beloved cult classic for those who remember catching it on VHS or late-night cable.
Rating: 8/10 - This score reflects the film's sheer entertainment value, energetic direction, memorable ensemble cast, and effective blend of genres. It successfully delivers thrills, laughs, and some genuinely cool creature moments. While a product of its time with some familiar tropes, its execution is sharp and its pacing relentless, making it highly rewatchable. It's a near-perfect example of late-90s studio horror filmmaking done with verve and style.
VHS Heaven Verdict: A gloriously hyperactive blast of high school horror, The Faculty remains a potent dose of late-90s nostalgia that still packs a punch – proof that sometimes, the teachers really are out to get you.