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Troma Entertainment are the reigning Kings of the nuclear horror movie. Green goo, grisly mutations and ghastly effects have given Troma the coveted title of the 'B-Movie Masters'. Their most infamous film to date, Class of Nuke 'Em High launched Troma into popularity within the trashy b-movie and exploitation scene. Without further ado, what's goin' on at Nuke Em' High? Before we delve into the toxic delights of Nuke Em' High, let's begin with a brief history of where the nuclear wasters began. Troma Entertainment was founded in 1974 by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman who are the reigning royalty of the "B-Movie". Trashy, crude and far below your standard Oscar nominee, Troma Entertainment are the bottom dwellers of the film industry. But who doesn't love a bottom dweller? They slipped into the circles of b-movies and exploitation movies, using the development of VHS to their advantage. Troma films are campy and cheesy and downright insulting to every "good" film out there but we can't help but love them. They have released cult classics such as Tromeo and Juliet (1997, also written by James Gunn, if you would believe), The Toxic Avenger (1986) and Rabid Grannies (1988). Troma Entertainment have also worked with Samuel L. Jackson, Billy Bob Thornton, Stan Lee and Lemmy to name a few so their success isn't limited. Oozing with toxic nuclear trash, Troma specialises in the weird, gory, grisly and down right disgusting. One of their most well known hits, Class of Nuke Em' High, is a film that is not designed to be taken seriously. It plays off of low budget, B-movie horror tropes and some of the 80s corniest elements. The synthesised music and the ridiculous plot line all add up, but it is all part of their campy charm and why Troma films remain the reigning kings of cult campy horror. Class of Nuke Em' High was released in 1986 as a "black comedy". Its gruesome practical effects and abundance of nudity made it a film that many dubbed as being in "poor taste", similar but not necessarily as bad as the VHS exploitation film trend that was raging in the 1980s. Tacky, gaudy and absurd whilst practically oozing a trashy style, the film has garnered a cult following with fans eagerly waiting for more installments to the growing franchise. It is not a film that will necessarily strain your intellects but one that provides the odd chuckle and a release into a world that breaks more laws than it enforces. Class of Nuke Em' High is self aware, screaming surrealism with its aesthetic, placing it as an instant cult classic. So what is Class of Nuke Em' High about? The film follows a radioactive water leak that causes a whole host of problems. The nuclear waste manages to contaminate a batch of marijuana growing in the grass which just so happens to be dealt to the classmates of the nearby high school. The radioactive substance that spreads through the school water supply and in the air, not to mention the drugs, wreaks havoc on the students. The honours society, once "nerdy" students with noses in a book become a rebellious gang known as "the Cretins" who torment students and distribute the radioative marijuana. The drugs cause a variety of catastrophic events such as questionable teen sex, toilet monsters and teen mischief at an all time high. Naturally, the plot is ridiculous and in some aspects, entirely implausble but plays up to its humour and its self aware style. Thematically, the film has a very anti-drug message told through nuclear fear, preying and perpetuating the concerns of the time. That and one that tells institutions and greedy corporate managers that nuclear power is anything but clean and safe energy. It takes jabs at fat cat businessmen and pokes fun at money grabbing workers who dodge safety for a few extra dollars. Contextually though, it is important to note that the film came out in December of 1986, the same year as the nuclear Chernobyl disaster. It is possible that the film is a criticism of the nuclear power industry and the lack of safety procedures and cutting corners that were accountable among many other things for the incident. However, I am more drawn to say that the two crossed over incidentally. This is not to say though that the film might be drawing on the fears of the masses of nuclear radiation. How else can we tell that the film is set in a school without the over the top "cookie cutter' stereotypes? There is a wide selection of caricatures of your high school stereotypes including the jocks and the jokers, the pretty girls, the stoners and the nerds. The characters all play along and resemble high school film tropes such as the protagonist, Warren (Gil Brenton), being egged on by his friends to have sex with the "prudish" girl and the "hard to get" attractive girls who sit on the top of the school heirachy. Our two protagonists, Warren and Chrissy, played by Janelle Brady, are the "pretty" couple who are your standard run of the mill heroes. They don't stand out particularly although their "joker" friends who are all down with the "peer pressure" churn out some clunky one liners. The Cretins though, also known as the "honour roll gone bad" are the most interesting characters. They have almost become de-evolved and animalistic, bones through their noses and tribal paint over their faces. They were the catalyst for causing more havoc within the school, victims of the nuclear waste in the water supply but also those who encouraged more mutations to spread. Their post-apocalyptic style stood out and made each one unique. Overall though, in terms of characters there were a few hits and a few misses. Some characters gave awkwardly said lines that were met with little response, almost wooden. However, I must address that this is all part of the aesthetic. Campy, low budget B-movies that they were hardly going to get the two Coreys in for. I am a sucker for traditional special effects, especially when it comes to blood, guts and gore. CGI just doesn't cut it sometimes. Troma are known for their stomach churning special effects whether it involves green ooze, thick blood or flesh literally sizzling. During the first few scenes in the film we are greeted with a "nerdish" students flesh being metlted from his body leaving only charred bone behind. The green ooze that splattered from students mouths as the nuclear waste ate away at their insides was vomit inducing, although anything green expelled from the body tends to be like that though. The dream sequences of Chrissy and Warren when they are on the toxic marijuana are disturbing and effective at making the spectator squirm in their seat. The body morphing special effects on Chrissy with her "mutation pregnany" are horrifically freaky and I was pleased to be met with the cliched trope of "it was just a dream". But the climax greets the audience with the toxic monster, the be all and end all. The monster oozed thick slime and a substance that reminded me of an infected wound. The liquid dripped down the creature as it caused mass injury, ripping through a Cretins head with ease. It was a real threat and demonstrated the capability of Troma and its special effects.
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AuthorFilm Studies Student at University. Currently researching Exploitation Cinema and 80s Horror. ArchivesCategories
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