Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

I'll tell you why so serious

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

HORROR HIGH is not a good movie but what it lacks in an engaging plot, three- dimensional characters, and technical skill it makes up for in low-budget charm and bloody messes. It's the formulaic paint-by-numbers story of a weakling being pushed around until he finally pushes back. The weakling in this case is high school nerd Vernon Potts (Pat Cardi). Vernon has two passions: science and guinea pigs. In fact, he's dedicated most of the past year putting together an in-depth biology report on his pet, Mr. Mumps. Vernon is, obviously, a laughingstock and everyone in his school hates him. His English teacher has no problem sabotaging his biology report to teach him a lesson. His coach is openly disgusted with our science nerd's lack of athleticism. And the school janitor holds a violent grudge against him for scaring his cat out of the science lab. The one person who doesn't hate Vernon is Robin (Rosie Holotik), seemingly the only rational human being in the entire school. There might even be some chemistry between the two of them but it's snuffed out by Robin's boyfriend, the popular jock Roger (Mike McHenry). When a late night study session leads to a conflict with the janitor in the science lab, Vernon is forced to drink the product of his guinea pig experiments: some sort of serum or chemical. The movie doesn't care to explain. What we do know is the formula turns Vernon in a killer beast and his tormentors better hide now.Subtlety is not a concern in HORROR HIGH. Everything that happens is telegraphed long before it happens and you see every plot point coming from a mile away. The first act spends all its time just lining up the victims like dominoes. The English teacher cuts up Vernon's biology report with her beloved paper cutter because he mistakenly turned it in instead of his book report (guaranteeing an F in both classes and ruining his grades out of spite). The janitor has a spazz attack when Vernon chases off his cat because it had been hanging around Mr. Mumps cage waiting for a snack. The coach just utilizes generic anti-nerd hatred, and Roger terrorizes Vernon in the locker room, going so far as to tear up his guinea pig notes. There we go, all our little victims lined up in a row. Then we move to the second act when the janitor literally forces Vernon, a teenager and student, to drink an unknown chemical concoction as punishment or, more accurately, bullying. Then the rest of the movie is a series of fun murders perpetrated by what I believe to be a were-guinea pig. In case you weren't sure what direction the movie was headed from the start, it opens with Vernon in English class watching a "Jekyll & Hyde" film. I'm not kidding; this is so tactless it feels like a student film. "It's so deep you, guys. There's, like, these themes running throughout it." And there's a were-guinea pig.It's stupid but it's charming. All of your characters are stock stereotypes without an ounce of characterization because the fun is in watching all the mean people getting their comeuppance. What little effort went into this movie seems to have gone to the horror effects. Good. If you're going to skimp on everything else, leave the money where it counts. The science lab leaves a big drum of pure sulfuric acid right there in the middle of the classroom, unsealed and everything. And you know what? It gets put to good use. The English teacher loves her paper cutter? Cool, because you know that'll pay off. I wish some more effort had been put into the makeup effects. The were-guinea pig is wisely kept to the shadows for most of the movie but it kills the illusion a little when you find out it's nothing more than a shaggy wig and some brown face paint. Again, the cheapness is semi-charming and I really think this movie would've developed a bigger cult following with a few changes. First, tighten it up. There is way too many lingering shots of nothing in this movie. Trim it down and keep the pace moving. Second, find a way to end the movie after the coach's murder. Everything after that is pointless and anticlimactic. I was actually enjoying the simple stupidity of HORROR HIGH for that first hour but that last 30 minutes lost me. A fan edit might be in order because some remastering and pacing touch-ups could do this movie a world of good and score this little movie that couldn't some attention.

The teaser plot about a high school student getting revenge on others who pick on him intrigued me enough to check this film out, even though I expected slight disappointment, and that's what I got, but the film had some good parts as well. Horror High puts the low in low budget, as I read that the budget was only $67,000, and that's even low for 1973 standards. It begins with a very cheesy song, and I almost expected the Partridge Family to be the performers, but it kept my interest anyway as young Vernon, the chemistry geek, gets bullied and teased because he wears David Byrne style glasses and is thin. Sounds like a good reason to me, doesn't it? Soon after, we meet Mr. Mumps, a guinea pig who's about to become a meal for the janitor's cat; even the janitor(Jeff Alexander)picks on Vernon. Since Vernon's a chemistry whiz, he mixes up some potion, and becomes a monster in the tired Jekyll and Hyde routine's that been beaten to death over the years. Without going into much detail, those who mocked Vernon are killed by him in goofy ways, like metal cleats stomping the much larger and stronger gym teacher to death in what is a facepalm moment. The meaner Vernon looks like a cross between Teen Wolf and a guy with motor oil splashed on his body. Pat Cardi did a fine job playing the tortured student with what he was given, and for some weird reason, there's some NFL players scattered throughout the film, like Mean Joe Greene(who actually kills Vernon, he plays a cop), Craig Morton, Calvin Hill, and John Niland, who has some scenes as the doomed gym teacher; that's probably what I'll remember most about Horror High, or the odd placement of music and sounds. I thought Paul Kent, who's not even mentioned in the credits for some reason on IMDb, had a few nice scenes as Vernon's dad, and even shares a phone call with his son, yet he's basically ignored during the latter half of the film, and I thought the writers missed a good chance of them meeting and the father potentially helping his son during the ordeal, but it never happened. I would say only watch this film if you have to, but please don't go out of your way to view it.

An all time favorite, I too discovered this on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater, which first showed it on November 20 1976, one of 13 Crown releases that debuted that season ("The Devil's Hand," "First Spaceship on Venus," "Terrified," "Carnival of Crime," "They Saved Hitler's Brain," "The Hostage," "Nightmare in Wax," "Blood of Dracula's Castle,""Terror in the Jungle," "Blood Mania," "Point of Terror," "Stanley"). Under the Crown title "Twisted Brain," this film proved to be the most popular, despite the occasional brickbats from shortsighted viewers who want to carp about the low budget and "amateurish acting" (according to Leonard Maltin,who rated it a BOMB). There are people who watch movies but never enjoy them, and their comments are always welcome on IMDb, which not only supplies exhaustive credits (even those unbilled), but provides a forum for fans and buffs alike. My observations are simple: does the movie in question accomplish what it sets out to do? Obviously, Pat Cardi was not just the star here, he was also one of the investors, and generally, all films are made to at least earn back its cost. If the filmmakers are not interested in quality, they fail in that capacity. In opposition to all those who want to disparage this film, it truly succeeds in what it sets out to do, and a low budget does not automatically mean poor quality, especially when imagination and faith is rewarded by the viewer's involvement. I fell for Rosie Holotik myself, I despised the janitor, the English teacher, the coach, and the self-satisfied jocks, just as Vernon did. I loved "Vernon's Theme," as performed by Jerry Coward, with lyrics by Joy Buxton. I also loved the 2 songs featured in 1972's "Stanley," both written and performed by Jack Vino: "Sparrow" and "Start a New World." Only in the 70's would you hear these tunes in a movie, unavailable from any other source. Lastly, I don't get the point of giving NFL football players prominent billing at the beginning, when only John Niland has anything other than a walk on bit. Niland, an Iowa guard who played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1966-1974, receives more brickbats as Coach McCall than any other cast member, but his casting made perfect sense, and his performance was better than one would expect from a non-actor. Pittsburgh's "Mean" Joe Greene, so named from his days with the "Mean Green" at North Texas State, can be clearly seen as the cop who blows our protagonist away with what appears to be a machine gun. As an assistant coach, is Abner Haynes, also from North Texas State, who played from 1960-1967 for the Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets. All the other players were cast as anonymous policemen: Chuck Beatty, again from North Texas State, who played from 1969-1972 for the Pittsburgh Steelers and St.Louis Cardinals; Calvin Hill, who played from 1969-1981 for the Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Cleveland Browns; D.D.Lewis, who played from 1968-1981 for the Cowboys; Craig Morton, who played from 1965-1982 for the Cowboys, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos; and Billy Truax, who played from 1964-1974 for the Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams. Every one of them either played college ball in Texas, or professionally for the Cowboys, and since this was shot in Irving, they provide some marginal trivia value for this film. Perhaps this feature supplies the same local pride that Pittsburgh feels for "Night of the Living Dead." Best wishes to Pat Cardi, whose only other film I have seen would be the ultra rare "Let's Kill Uncle" (1966), also during the late 70's. Glad to see that he's one of those rare actors who enjoys responding to feedback on IMDb.

Wow. I am amazed I went beyond the opening song with this film. After all, the song was just horrible in every possible way--whiny, bad and dreadful. Was this a portent of more awfulness to come or was this low-budget film actually worth seeing?The star of this film is a nerdy high school student (who, incidentally was 23 when the film was made). He's mistreated by his teachers, the janitor and his classmates. Like such to be Vernon Potts and you know that based on the title of this film that eventually all these people will have a major butt-kicking coming by the end of the film. But, in the meantime, we are treated to scene after scene of the most ridiculously nasty treatment of poor Vernon. Subtle this isn't.Later, a deranged (and horribly acted) janitor freaks out and forces poor Vernon to drink some formula he's been working on in the lab. And, not at all unexpectedly, Vernon is now a crazed killer beast. I love how incredibly stupid and cheesy the first act of retribution is--when he shoves the janitor's head in a conveniently placed bucket of sulfuric acid (I always have a few sitting around the house for just such emergencies). When Vernon has recovered, he's covered in blood and hides the evidence of his atrocity. Is this the last killing by good ol' Vern? Well, considering it's only the 25 minute mark, I doubt it.By the way, speaking of sulfuric acid in this murder scene, I noticed that the label on the drum was MISSPELLED!! Talk about sloppy!! Surely a chemical supply house can spell sulfuric!!The next day, the police come to the school to investigate the killing. This apparently was prompted when one of the kids in chemistry class opened the giant drum of 'sulphuric acid' and bits and pieces of the janitor and his cat were floating in it.There's more to it than this, but frankly it's all so dull and pointless I'll just wrap it up now. Overall, the acting, writing, special effects and direction totally suck. There really is nothing of interest or value in the film other than small parts played by Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill and quarterback Craig Morton and linebacker D.D. Lewis, as well as Pittsburg Steelers defensive tackle Joe Greene and Chuck Beatty. It's interesting for anyone who watched football back in the 1970s--otherwise I have no idea why anyone would want to see this stinking film. Also, I hope I didn't miss any other players who were in the film--I'm trying my best considering that I was pretty young back then and my crazy old man memory isn't perfect!Worthless--a complete waste of time.