BA_Harrison High school nerd Vernon Potts (Pat Cardi) spends every spare minute of his day in the school lab trying to perfect his formula for enhancing his guinea pig's physiology; when the rodent finally mutates and kills the janitor's cat, the moggie's furious owner forces Vernon to drink his own potion, causing the usually meek student to become an uncontrollable monster driven to settle the score with anyone who has ever made his life a misery.Vernon's chemical concoction might be a scientific revelation, but the formula for this film is nowhere near as ground-breaking, following in the well-trodden footsteps of numerous Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde rip-offs; but even though the film is predictable stuff, there is still plenty of fun to be had from this contemporary take on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic.The cast is surprisingly good, Cardi impressing as the affable biology buff, scrumptious redhead Rosie Holotik (as caring classmate Robin Jones) making for an appealing love interest, and Austin Stoker putting in a decent turn as Lieutenant Bozeman, the cop tasked with solving all the murders at the school. A reasonable helping of gore also adds to the enjoyment factor, gruesome highlights including a bloody face-melt, a corpse in an acid vat, Vernon's nasty English teacher losing her fingers under a guillotine blade, and the school's coach being trampled to death by Vernon wearing spiked running shoes. The film ends on a suitably tragic note, Vernon gunned down by the police in front of a horrified Robin.

wbswetnam This film actually isn't bad. The movie centers around a highly intelligent but thoroughly nerdy high school boy named Vernon Potts. Vernon spends his days in the library or the high school chemistry lab, working on "formulas" which ultimately transform him into a homicidal monster after he drinks his research cocktails. He uses the monster within to exact revenge on his tormentors, namely the high school janitor, the unforgiving English teacher, and the unsympathetic phys ed teacher. Typical of what you'd expect from a horror film, you see blood and gore from several of Vernon's victims.Compared with many horror films of today, it's really not so shocking by comparison I think. There's a scene of a head floating in an acid vat, someone's fingers getting chopped off by a paper cutter, and some blood splatter. There's no nudity or sexuality.There are several improbable scenes / concepts with the film, mainly, how is it that a high school level student is able to master biochemistry and pharmacology to create this "Mr Hyde" concoction? Additionally, any teacher as heartless and cruel as the Phys Ed and English teachers in this film would be fired instantly today. Oh well - enjoy the film as you watch Vernon take on his tormentors and dispense some good ole blood-splattering justice.

MartinHafer 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.

Coventry This appears to be another one of those obscure early 70's cult favorites that a lot of people vividly remember as one of many nostalgic late Saturday night flicks that turned them into horror fans for life. Although I'm from a different generation, I'm fascinated by tracking down these movies based solely on the enthusiast reviews of first-hour fans. Sometimes you stumble upon hidden gems like way (for example "Where have all the People Gone") and sometimes you find movies of which you don't understand the fuzz about. "Horror High" is a bit in between; not an undiscovered masterpiece but definitely not a waste of time, neither. It's a fun and light-headed little monster movie with a handful of cool gore effects and even a couple of suspenseful moments. The film is basically a high-school variation on "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" – the opening sequences even openly refer to Robert Louis Stevenson's legendary horror story – with a nerdy chemistry whiz kid transforming into an aggressive monster, through drinking a self made potion, and executing bloody revenge against all those who wronged him. Vernon Potts is a typical high school loner who's continuously experimenting in the chemistry room, but further neglects all the other classes. He's the prime target of mockery in school; for the football jocks but also for the sadistic teachers and nasty janitor. When the latter forces Vernon to drink the potion that drove his Guinea Pig Mr. Mumps crazy with aggression, he becomes his vengeful alter ego. Soon the malignant English teacher Mrs. Grindstaff and the corrupt coach McCall will experience Vernon's wrath. "Horror High" is a hugely predictable and sometimes even downright boring, but it undeniably remains a charming and adorably shlocky 70's effort. The trashy low-budget make up effects are tremendously entertaining to watch (imagine yourself faces being pushed into barrels full of acid, fingers being cut off under a paper-guillotine and bodies being spiked through gym shoes) and the unknown lead player Pat Cardi does a fantastic job as the tormented nerd. Halfway through the film, there's a completely irrelevant and pointless interlude in which the film follows around Vernon's estranged father as he's arguing with his new girlfriend and making a business phone call. If anyone can explain the significance of these 10 totally unnecessary padding minutes, please email me!