We Played a Game of Screen Drafts to determine the best School related Horror FIlms

My wife V chose this topic (with these restrictions: must have several scenes in school, must be about school in some way, no specialty schools allowed) and we made a top thirteen list (instead of the usual top 18) because 3 players took part (V, me and our friend Scott). Nick, who normally plays and will be back playing for the next game (ranking all The Crow and Jason films), was kind enough to provide trivia and play host for this game.

He opened with a delightful intro that ended this way:

"Good or bad, anyone who has set foot in a public high school can relate to many of the things the protagonists are going through. How many of us would have rather run from Ghostface than set foot in a gym class? Or hoped for death rather than taking an un-studied for biology test? Growing up is scary enough. Adding something supernatural to the mix just makes it a whole lot worse. Now, teacher leave those kids alone!!”

Trivia questions related to Idle Hands, It Follows, Jennifer's Body, Carrie and Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The available spots included

Option c: 13, 12, 9, 6 and 3 (two veto cards)

Option b: 11, 8, 5 and 2 (two vetoes and one override)

Option a: 10, 7, 4 and 1 (one veto and one override)

I won trivia and chose option a, Scott ended up with option b and V had option c. We all had one left over veto and one left over override from the previous game.

 13. Battle Royale (2000)

Vanessa picked this film because it was she liked the students and the brutality. I liked Beat Takeshi in a supporting role, but also worried this space for it was too low on the list. Scott had not seen the film but knew of its reputation. Nick enjoyed the film and the book it was based on.

12. Tragedy Girls (2017)

Vanessa picked this because she liked the commentary on school popularity and wanted to be friends with these girls. She enjoyed the twist of the film. For my part, I barely remembered the film and thought some it of (Craig Robinson for one) was far too silly. Scott felt it could easily be a number one or at least a top five. He did not veto because he did not want to forget to move it up. 

11. Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000)

Scott chose this primarily because it was about a school project, self reflexive and very entertaining. V and I had not seen this in years but felt no reason to veto an 11 pick.

10. Class of 1999 2: The Substitute

I chose this because of the crazy Nick Cassavetes' performance, a restrained Sasha Mitchell performance and a sex scene that was memorable and lengthy. It has a good deal of school related material in it. Vanessa found the twist of the movie interesting.  We discussed the wish that rich kids were attacked in school movies more than inner city kids.

09. Prom Night (1980)

Vanessa was vetoed four times at this spot before this pick. One of these films came up later. Vanessa even self vetoed. To go in order of veto with a note as to why: Signal 101 (Scott vetoed it without seeing because it sounded too much like Battle Royale and wanted something snazzier), Cooties (I vetoed, didn't like any of the characters), Ginger Snaps (I used my last veto because this needed to be higher), Mon Mon Monsters (This was a self veto because she had second thoughts while talking about it). She felt this list was lacking in classics and wanted to make sure Jamie Lee Curtis made the list. Scott then confessed he did not much care for Jamie Lee Curtis! It was shocking.

08. Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)

Scott enjoyed that the teens looked like real pimply teens. He found the characters and gore funny. We enjoyed the film okay but I had no vetoes either and V did not want to waste one.

07. Horror 101 (2001)

I  was vetoed for The Addiction. I found this to be the best of the watches (even if I knew that no one would be happy with it at number one) and the film was also the most school related in an academic sense. Scott found the film annoying and pretentious. I then tested the veto possibilities by playing a personal favorite starring Bo Derek primarily because it was about a school project and had a fun twist. It is opposite The Addiction in that it is dumb fun.

06. Carrie (1976)

V wanted to make sure this the list. But she may have played it too low. We talked about all the Carrie versions and how Chloe had to rely on her smallness, while Sissy relied on her oddball awkwardness. Everyone felt the emotions were handled better in the original.

05. Class of Nuke 'em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991)

Scott chose to follow up Carrie with a Troma film. It was a bold move; sadly, no one watched this one, just the original and the recent return to films. He described the plot that included giant squirrels, girls in gas masks + bikinis,  and sex studies. It sounded like a good time.

04. Ginger Snaps (2000)

I tried to play the French film Ms Hyde because it was about teaching methods and education in general. Vanessa did not care for the film much and wanted something a bit better so I gave her Ginger Snaps. I love the drug dealer character and the weird little sister. I love the awkwardness of the werewolf turn related to puberty and periods. Mimi Rogers as the mom is fantastic.  The practical effects were lauded by everyone involved.

03. Little Monsters (2019)

V loves Lupita. She loves Gad and the way the teacher is a hero in this one. She also loved the redemption of the uncle character. I felt the film was a little high, but had no vetoes to work with. Darth Vader was mentioned. Taylor Swift was mentioned. 

02. Idle Hands (1999)

Scott called it the pen ultimate stoner high school film. He argued that it is a cult classic so should be high. V and I could not quite finish this one. But V wanted to save her veto and nothing I could do here. 

01. My Soul To Take (2010)

 
The Addiction was vetoed again here (by Scott). I chose my second favorite Wes Craven (see the Craven game to played if you want to know how it ranked on there) because the vulture scene is one of the best school scenes ever. I also felt that the students seemed real to me. And Bug was a character that meant a lot to me. There was a Kevin Williamson and Diablo Cody thing happening in a lot of youth horror, and I am glad none of that stuff was picked. Nobody was happy with the pick. V wanted to save her last veto and Scott was veto-less. This was a good play because Nick was merely hosting. I knew he hated this one beyond reason. But I am happy to report that the film is the first one to make two separate lists, which possibly puts it in some kind of hall of fame.