Cemetery High

Cemetery High is a thoroughly intriguing and perverse mix of horror, late-80s teen angst, dark humor, and uncensored vengeance, directed by Gorman Bechard. The film stars young and vibrant actresses including Debi Thibeault, Karen Nielsen, and Lisa Schmidt. Released in 1988, the movie still retains a certain charm and rawness that perfectly captures the grasping and transformative period of the '80s, especially in the independent and low-budget film scene.

The film seeks to subvert and satirize the often-stereotyped genre of the high school drama. It features a series of rather outrageous and unforeseen twists that turn the conventional schoolgirl narrative on its head. The plot centers around a group of high-school girls who have suffered the harsh realities of society. Experiencing first-hand the contemptible way women are treated by their school's male student body and faculty, they are led into a sequence of severe actions.

Thibeault, Nielsen, Schmidt, along with their fellow cast members excellently portray characters who are pushed beyond their breaking point, resulting in a grim and sardonic saga of retribution. Initially perceived as innocent high school girls faced with uncouth behaviors and abuse by men around them, they respond by forming an unexpected vigilante group out for justice. The transformation of these characters from victim to justice-seeking vigilantes powerfully underscores the fine line between victimhood and survival.

The title, Cemetery High, not only denotes the literal cemetery the protagonists leverage for their nefarious activities but also subtly embodies the moral decay and societal degeneracy rampant in this seemingly ordinary small town high-school setting. The film tactfully involves elements that evoke thoughts about societal norms and the manner in which they impact the psychology of the youth.

What makes the film stand out is its unique frontiers of narrative storytelling. It strays from the regular tropes of damsel-in-distress to empower its female characters in an extremely unconventional and supremely dark manner. While humor and light-hearted banter do underscore some of their interactions, the film oscillates between the macabre and the comic, presenting an unusual palette for the viewers.

The film's cinematography and soundtrack capture the spirit of the 1980s flawlessly, bathing each scene in nostalgia. The makeup effects, though a bit amateurish, seem fitting for this over-the-top revenge fantasy flick. Despite a low-budget production, the movie went on to garner cult status due to its outrageous storyline and the performances that delightfully transcend the fence of the absurdity.

The performances by Debi Thibeault, Karen Nielsen, and Lisa Schmidt are beautifully layered and intensely satisfying. They succeed in embodying their individual characters and painting them with shades that range between vulnerability, feistiness, grace, audacity, mockery, and unabashed resiliency. Their performances arguably laid down some benchmarks for strong female leads that have since become widespread in crime-adventure narratives.

Gorman Bechard’s direction is unique; seemingly influenced by the narrative and aesthetic techniques of genre-defining '80s movies, he manages to create a balance between the darker philosophical aspects of the story and the more absurd, caricatural elements of the plot. Fast-paced, campy, and not afraid to venture into the unpleasant, Bechard combines horror and brutal justice to present an intense and unmistakably entertaining cinematic experience.

Cemetery High might not provide an intricate plot or high-end special effects, but with feisty characters filled with jilted youth angst and a refreshing blend of horror and humor, this film manages to keep the audience engaged and, more importantly, to provoke thought about the overlooked aspects of our society.

Overall, the film is a darkly humorous and unconventional wrangle against sexism and abuse. It uncovers the disturbing corners of a seemingly placid high school, using horror as a lens to magnify these areas. It invites the viewers to route for the misfit outsiders who decide to reclaim their dignity, making 'Cemetery High' an eccentric yet relevant venture into the world of low-budget cult cinema.