Pep Squad

In the 1998 film Pep Squad, director Steve Balderson weaves a caustic and satirical portrait of high school politics and teenage life in midwestern America. The film explores the chaotic, often surreal world of high school through a comedic yet dark lens, focusing on the intense competition for the esteemed title of prom queen. With main characters played by Brooke Balderson, Amy Kelly, and Jennifer Dreiling, Pep Squad is a unique blend of dark humor, satire, and thrilling suspense, offering a distinctly unconventional take on the theme of high school drama.

Set in the fictitious Oak Hill High School, the plot of Pep Squad centers around the battle between three girls—Cherry (Brooke Balderson), Terra (Amy Kelly), and the popular Beth (Jennifer Dreiling)—which intensifies as the impending decision of who will be crowned prom queen looms. The movie deftly highlights the pressures and anxieties that are intrinsically tied to teenage life, and the social divisions and eccentricities of high school culture are amplified—for comedic and satirical effect—throughout the movie's sharp narrative.

Brooke Balderson delivers a standout performance as Cherry, showcasing her significant acting ability to perfectly capture the duplicitous sweet-and-sour persona of her character. Cherry is introduced as a calm, poised, all-American girl—loved by her peers and the adults around her—but a shift occurs as the movie moves forward, revealing a darker, more manipulative side of her character, all underscored by the subtle desperation to clinch the coveted title of prom queen.

Amy Kelly brilliantly embodies the character of Terra, an average student thrust headlong into the chaos of the prom queen competition. Terra's ordinary life quickly spirals out of control, and the viewer can't help but watch as she stumbles through a bizarre and confronting chain of events, always maintaining her naïveté despite being embroiled in a world of schemes and backstabbing.

Jennifer Dreiling brings to life Beth, the classic, over-achieving popular girl of the school—loved, envied, but also resented. Beth embodies the clichéd 'popular girl', thriving in the petty politics and ladder-climbing world of high school popularity with a vicious edge barely hidden under the façade. Her ruthless ambition to become the prom queen sets off a series of tumultuous events that form the backbone of the movie's storyline.

The narrative itself is tumultuous, a roller coaster ride of events—Cherry's unsettling descent into darker territories to secure her victory, Terra's unpredictable reactions, Beth's relentless plotting, all culminating into an explosive climax that embodies the movie's dark comedy.

The movie's background score, by the Dead Milkmen, adds a distinctive layer of humor and intensity, helping transition from comedy to suspense and back again. Balderson uses this to his advantage, creating moments that are simultaneously humorous and unsettling, a testament to his skills as a director. The film’s attention to the details of '90s Americana, including fashion, décor, and habits, add another layer of entertainment value, sure to tickle those with nostalgia for the era.

As a director, Steve Balderson deals with the subject matter with wit and charm, while managing to spotlight the multiplicity and depth of his characters along with their various idiosyncrasies. What makes Pep Squad special is how it uses exaggerated satire and keenly-observed humor to shed light on the quintessential high school experience—the joys, the traumas, the passions and the petty rivalries.

In conclusion, Pep Squad is an entertaining film that delivers a unique blend of dark comedy, absurdist satire, and suspense thriller elements. The performances by Brooke Balderson, Amy Kelly, and Jennifer Dreiling are noteworthy, making it a worth watching for those who enjoy unconventional takes on typical high school drama. With its impressive execution of a narrative that is as engrossing as it is intense, Pep Squad stands apart as a compelling and unique piece of cinema from the end of the 20th-century.