Now this is a high school I wish I went too! At Crestview, cheerleaders get smashed in the face with basketballs, old Native American men get pushed out windows, wheel chair bound kids get dive tackled, and hot female nerds strip in the middle of class. Not only that, but there’s death and despair in the haunted library, baby! This is Bad Kids Go T0 Hell!
Bad Kids Go T0 Hell is a horror-drama based off the popular comic book series of the same name. The film is written and directed by Matthew Spradlin, and Spradlin has crafted a film that has a horror spin on it, but is ultimately The Breakfast Club on bath salts. In Bad Kids Go To Hell, six students find themselves locked in a huge and apparently haunting library during Saturday detention. After channelling the spirit of a recently deceased man – who lived on the property before it became a library – the students start dying due to bizarre and horrendous accidents. Is it the spirit of the dead man taking revenge on anyone who inhabits his former residence or is one of the bad but highly intelligent bad kids killing off their colleagues.
Bad Kids Go To Hell stars Judd Nelson (Cabin By The Lake), Chanel Ryan (Hobgoblins II), Amanda Alch, Marc Donato (Haunted High), Augie Duke (“Chemistry”), Roger Edwards (Spy Kids 4), and Ali Faulkner (Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1).
A few weeks ago I did an article broadcasting the limited theater release for Bad Kids Go To Hell. In the article I called the film, “PG-13 horror,” which the official Bad Kids twitter page denied. With all due respect, this film is very PG-13 horror, but you know what? I frickin’ loved it! There isn’t too much gore and the scares are pretty much non-existent, but the characters are what will really drag horror fans into this picture. The film is very character driven and each character has a torrent back story that interconnects with all the others. The script is very wordy and that is because it’s a deep, well thought out script. I give major props to Matthew Spradlin and Barry Werneck for creating a unique and in depth script. Bad Kids Go To Hell is a perfect example of horror films being intelligent, that there is a lot more to be afraid of than what weapon the killer can use, especially when the killer uses your own emotions and your past against you.
As I mentioned above, each character has a back story and I found those to be the most enjoyable portions of the film. I mean, yes, the parts inside the haunted library where you think the ghost is at work are entertaining, but the character backstories are funny! All funny! I would possibly say that Bad Kids Go To Hell is a comedy as well. What’s that you say – a movie can’t be a mystery, comedy, thriller, drama, and supernatural horror film all in one? Well, you’re wrong. You get all that and more when you watch Bad Kids Go To Hell.
Another cool thing about the movie is the various horror homages you pick up on. In no particular order I was able to pick up on nods to Scream, Carrie, Prom Night, and more.
My only real criticisms of the movie are as follows. There are two times that a – from what I believe to be – computer generated image is used during a big reveal. The CGI used looks hokey and out of place when its used inside a movie of such quality as Bad Kids Go To Hell. Even the rain and some external shots looked like they had been digitally added on a green screen…and somewhat badly. Also, the reason why one of the students is in detention despite being expelled was never really revealed. That or it just went right over my head…
I would definitely recommend this film to anyone. In terms of horror fans, I would recommend the film to those of you who don’t like in your face horror. Bad Kids Go To Hell is perfect for those viewers who enjoy a good, character given story in a creepy location with a tense action figure and occasional gore. All the acting is phenomenal, there’s a couple laughs, and pretty much everything you would look for in a good movie. But Bad Kids Go To Hell is more than a good movie, It’s a great movie. I just rated it 7 stars over at IMDB. You can currently find it for rent on Itunes and XBox Live.
