The Faculty (1998)

Tonight’s double-feature is a true tale of two films that tried to hit the same mark with only one of them even coming close. The Faculty has a cast featuring way too many big names. The previously mentioned Famke Janssen, Elijah Wood, Robert Patrick (of Terminator 2 fame), Josh Hartnett, Jordana Brewster (pre-Fast & Furious), Shon Hatosy, Clea DuVall and John Stewart were the heaviest of hitters on the cast. Oh, IT HAD USHER, TOO! Yeah, THAT Usher. Wild.

It’s a classic alien body-invaders plot that is a little predictable but it’s got a good pacing, fun set-pieces and enough jump scares to prevent getting campy. A solid little twist at the end makes it definitely a must-watch in the spooky season.

Spoopy Fact: Robert Rodriguez and Elijah Wood first worked together on this film and it would help Wood land a role in Rodriguez’s telling of the ‘Sin City’ film adaptation.

 

Disturbing Behavior (1998)

And here is where this pair of film flops. Starring Dawson’s Creek superstar Katie Holmes and a much lesser known James Marsden, Disturbing Behavior was an attempt at high school horror that just never connects. It’s about a transfer student who discovers that the popular clique in school harbors a dark secret. Shocker.

It’s not a great movie at all. In fact, the only time it was worth seeing was when it was the second half a double feature that I saw at a drive-in theater with a date…when I was in high school. The irony of all of this is not lost on me.

See it, though. You need to know how bad writing can completely sink a film. The redemption of ‘The Faculty’ will make you appreciate how good it is and how bad this is.

Spoopy Fact: There is literally none. This movie is an exercise in self-punishment.