JonteJak The Faculty is one of my all time favorite movies. From the start I want to let you know that I could be a little biased, it probably isn't the best movie of all time but I have such fond memories from the first time I saw it. I watched it in the cinema on a class trip to Stockholm with a bunch of friends when I was 14-15 years old and I thought it was awesome! Since then every time I watch this I just have the best time.The story could be described as a different and more modern take on "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". It also has some elements from Scream and other horror/thrillers from the same era.This movie captures so many things that I enjoy. It nails the late 90s feel with the music and how people dress. It doesn't take it self too serious. It has some twist and turns. The visuals are really great even by today's standard.It has some great established actors such as Salma Hayek, Robert Patrick, Jon Stewart and Famke Janssen. And it also have a lot of actors who were in the beginning of their career like Jordana Brewster, Josh Hartnett and Elijah Wood.From what I understand this movie is fairly unknown to most people. I have never met a person in real life who have seen it or even heard of it. I really want people to see this movie and just have fun. Don't take it to seriously. Just dim the lights, pump up the volume, sit back and enjoy this fun sci-fi horror/thriller! :)

Leofwine_draca This film starts off with an adequate plot, concerning suspicious events at a local high school. Halfway through, however, it loses all direction and momentum and simply becomes a roller coaster ride of increasingly bigger and better special effects, starting off with a tiny little alien creature to a huge, slimy monster. The obvious inspiration for the film is INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (which is repeatedly referenced, somewhat cheekily), but THE FACULTY is a lot less powerful than that masterpiece.The full implications of the alien take over are rarely hinted at, and put aside in favour of in-your-face shocks and thrills, which dampens the impact a lot. The killing blow, though, is the ending, a huge letdown. Compare this to the starkly powerful and horrific ending of the 1978 version of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, and you'll see that there is simply no match. THE FACULTY is nothing more than moving wallpaper, something to look at while you're eating your dinner. Similar to reading a glossy magazine, all style and not much substance. It can hardly be called a horror film at all really, but then again these days film makers seem to have forgotten what horror actually means; they confuse it with blood and guts and gory effects.I did like the little alien in the fish tank. I thought the special effect was very good indeed, and the first time you saw it, it was also very impressive. After the first couple of times though the novelty wore off and we'd grown used to the special effects, even if they did become more and more outlandish. The ending was also fun, with the fight against the big tentacled monster, even though it may have been cheesy and it may have been clichéd and unlikely. There were a lot of clever minor things throughout the film, it's just a shame they couldn't have put them together to make something cleverer as a whole. But what can you expect from Kevin Williamson? I didn't like the incessant swearing at all. There didn't seem to be much dialogue in this film, it was thrown aside to pave the way for a number of expletives. I also thought it was pretty stupid the way the film makers decided to have a naked girl in but then they were too scared to show her completely naked. I didn't think much of the child actors and actresses, who were typically mundane and boring, the outsiders we're over familiar of from all of the other mind numbing horror films which have been coming out these recent years.There are a few interesting actors amid the teaching group, namely Piper Laurie and Robert Patrick, the liquid metal man who is always sinister in any film he's in. Patrick was a good reason for me for watching this, I just wish he could have played a bigger part. I hated the glossy, DAWSON'S CREEK style of the film. I hated the self-referencing of Spielberg and other film makers (and even Neve Campbell, how original). I detested the stupid jump scares which weren't scary. And all of the other clichéd stuff (such as the alien slugs moving under the face from THE X-FILES. The finger cutting scene from THE BURNING. The head with tentacles from THE THING. The shadowy-jump scares from HALLOWEEN). But that's enough of me complaining. It is mildly refreshing to see a monster movie instead of having a maniac on the loose with a razor-sharp weapon. Just don't expect much more than something at a superficial level.

agenericperson Word of advice for writers, if your story idea is unoriginal then referencing that fact can give your story more credibility. However referencing how unoriginal your idea is repeatedly will only hammer home the point that we, the audience, should be watching better films.That brings us to the oddity that is The Faculty. This film is entirely a product of its time. You tell right away this film was conceived in an office somewhere to be popular with the MTV generation. The soundtrack is a hodgepodge of what you'd hear on the radio at the time. The setting the film up as a high school version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or rather The Puppet Masters as the film is oh so willing to remind us, feels like shameless pandering. You can even see the jock vs outcast sentiment echoing through American youth at the time, the same sort of cultural sentiment which only a year later escalated into the Columbine Massacre. The film's saving grace was the fact it occurred at a time in which R rated films could be marketed to youths, because let's face it the film wouldn't have worked without the gore and the monster effects.The casting is really off here. Sure there are some great actors. There's also a rare on screen appearance by Jon Stewart. But all in all the casting choices give the film a lack of cohesion, like they just threw a bunch of random people in a movie.There are some great moments in the movie. It's probably worth a watch for the curious, but I wouldn't expect much going into it. It's basically a high school version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers where drugs are used to save the day (it sounds more interesting that it is). There is a plot twist near the end that is is predictable only because of how stupid of a twist it is. You'll be saying to yourself, "I bet... No wait, there's no set up for it.... That's too stupid." The film could have been saved a little more if it played up it's campy elements more, played more to the underlying humor of the concept. There are moments where it does this, for instance the football game where the team has signs with "kill" and the coach is moving with such cartoonishly gleeful gestures. Moments like this are great. Sadly they are few and far between. It's hard to believe Robert Rodriguez directed this.

hellraiser7 The strange think about high school is despite everyone in close proximity with each other we don't really know the person we pass by because where never really ourselves.This film I feel is an under the radar gem, I may'be in the minority on this but this is one of my favorite alien invasion films and it's also one of my favorite films from the director Robert Rodregiez. This was one of the first times this director stepped out of his comfort zone to do something different and this to me is his only hit in that area.Yeah it's another horror film involving teens but what makes this different is that it's not a slasher; instead it's alien invasion. Which I think is a cool idea and a change of pace; instead of having the standard of having teens deal with some killer on the loose they have to deal with alien invasion and save the world which I think is awesome; it's pretty much "The Breakfast Club" mixed with "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" which I think is a great combo.I really like the high school atmosphere they create which doesn't feel like another positive stylized high school you'd see on any teen TV drama, but actually felt like a real high school as you see it's almost a cesspool of dysfunction. This I feel increases the realatablity factor because things like this do happen in high schools.The effects on the creatures are solid, it's a slight mix of both CGI and practical. The designs of the aliens are solid if not the greatest aliens, their pretty much nasty parasites or slugs that you just want to pour a big bottle of salt to.But to me it's not really the aliens that make the film it's more the characters and suspense that to me drive the film. I really like how the characters interact with one another, each of them at first are wearing psychological social masks to protect and hide themselves. But once crap goes down, they all take them off and be what they should be to win the war, themselves.Two of my favorites are Casey played well by Elijah Wood (TV's Over the Garden Wall) whom is an actor I really like. His character is great because he is a bit like myself. He's shy, a bit of a loner, ill confidant but not short of courage, but the guy is a real underdog. He doesn't have much luck with ladies, he's a target for bullies, doesn't have any friends or at least any we know about which is all the more reason we really route for this guy to win. Even like the chemistry he has with Deliah there's a bit of a Mary Jane and Peter Parker like vibe going on with both of them.Though my favorite is Stokely (Clea Duvall) whom I thought was kinda cute, she is a goth almost. She has a lot of attitude but what I love is that she is kinda a geek at heart since she's a big sci-fi fan as she reads lots of sci-fi books which makes her relatable since I'm also a fan of the genre and love to read the books in it. But also that deep down she is really possess a lot of warmth. I really like her interaction with Stan to me their the one couple in this film that stand out, I really like how both slowly open up and warm up to one another.I really like how there is a blend of both teen agust drama and the alien invasion suspense. And of course the film is light hearted fun as well, it doesn't take itself too seriously but has it's heart in the right place all the same.One of the dramatic moments that stand out is when Stan talks to Stokely about quiting athletics because he wants more and focus on academics to find himself. Which I though was a very humane moment and pertains to the theme of the film. Part of being a teen is about finding out who you are and figuring out what you can do, and sports careers aren't forever.It's true there not really much in action which is a bit of a first for Rob's films. But that's because this is more of a suspense thriller which I think is great and makes the protagonists and the actions they have to take more believable because their all just ordinary people; and the pacing is great there really isn't a slow moment or any time to really relax much. There is the sense of isolation but also at the same time community with the protagonists.One sequence which to me is one of my favorite one's of all time is seeing all of the character take the drug test which is reminiscent of the blood test scene in John Carpenter's "The Thing". That scene was also really funny as we see afterward their all kinda tripping. And of course yes they use drugs as a weapon against the aliens which I like because their using a non cleche weapon.I really like how the film tackles the issues of alienation and isolation that teens go though. But I also think on the fear on being pressured to conform to certain standards and norms that are constantly imposed on us and how it will turn us into something we don't want to be. And the film I feel has a good message which is to simply be yourself, determine your own identity don't let anyone or any system do it for you, it's your life you decide.Overall, "The Faculty" gets a pass.Rating: 4 stars