Horror movies have always carried a social and political edge.

The horrifying aspects (the kills, the maddening character descent, etc.)

collide with the underlining text to create something far better than it has any right to be.

Poster art for The Massacre at Central High

Image via Jefferson Chacon

What is Massacre of Central High About?

Written and directed byRene Daalder,Massacre at Central Highwas initially released in September 1976to minimal fanfare.

Borrowingelements fromCarrie, released the same year, it became lost in the shuffle.

David, played by Derrel Maury, looks uspet while a group of bullies talk to him.

Image via MPI Media Group

And that wasnt for lack of strong story and character beats.

In the film, David (Derrel Maury) is the new kid on the block.

But hes not like the rest.

Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) as the prom queen in ‘Carrie’

He has a conscience.

When the resident tormentors take issue with him,strange and murderous things begin to happen around the school.

They’re all gonna laugh at you!

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David, clearly disgusted, eventually finds himself in their sight lines.

These themes boost what would otherwise be a ho-hum film.

And theres no avoiding having important conversations.

Cast Placeholder Image

Its not subtext; its all text woven into the story.

For these reasons alone, it’s not your typical high-school set thriller, likeSlaughter HighandCutting Class.

But its not exactly.

It’s more of a crime thriller.

Still, the film doesnt skimp on supplying plenty of inventive, throat-clutching set pieces.

and seemingly freak accidents.

With an unquenchable bloodlust, David turns his attention to various other students.

Theres death by locker explosion, erupting hearing aid, and a rock avalanche oh my!

These various sequences make the film a blast to watch.

Massacre at Central Highhas been overlooked long enough.