Fun low-budget high school slasher parody with not enough laughs
Cops (e.g. Pepper Martin & Maureen McCormick) arrive upon the bloody aftermath of a massacre at a high school where a film is being made. The story switches back to tell how the massacre happened. The cast includes Lori Lethin, Brendan Hughes, Alex Rocco, Andy Romano and Scott Jacoby.
“Return to Horror High” (1987) is a fun slasher parody with great mid-80’s ambiance (styles, mullets, etc.) that should be enjoyed by those involved in horror filmmaking (since the story focuses on the making of a slasher at the high school). A young George Clooney shows up for about 10-12 minutes in the first act. Meanwhile cutie Lori Lethin does well in three roles.
Unfortunately, there aren’t enough laughs and some of them are really lame. Plus the film bogs down in the second half with filler material involving the two main characters and their search of the school (Brendan Hughes & Lori Lethin). The third-rate vibe doesn’t help. Still, it’s amusing mindless mid-80’s satire.
The movie runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot at Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta, California.
GRADE: C-