Hell High  (1987)

Theatrical Release Information:
Hell High

This routine slasher-thriller deviates slightly from the standard formula by way of a fairly intelligent script which explores the murderer's motivation in far more detail than other films of the subgenre. The central character is high-school science teacher Ms. Storm (Maureen Mooney), a mild-mannered woman plagued by barely-repressed psychological traumas, who finally snaps after falling victim to a sadistic prank perpetrated by one of her students. Believed dead, Storm comes after the pranksters with homicidal intent. Though Mooney's well-portrayed transformation from victim to murderer provides an interesting role-reversal against slasher convention, the story still falters in the overall execution, bogged down considerably by some lackluster performances and very little actual suspense. Still, it's considerably better than Demented, an earlier, wholly unsubtle treatment of the same theme. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide