Demolition High (1996)

Over the years, I had heard that this Corey Haim movie had managed to build something of a cult. So when it was given a budget re-release recently in a DVD pack of eight movies, I decided to give it a look. After watching it, I honestly can't figure out why there are people who like it. Haim (an actor who has never impressed me) is a poor leading man, who seems bewildered throughout and delivers awful one-liners in a sleepy style. And with Jim Wynorski directing - a director who hasn't impressed me much more than Haim over the years - the entire enterprise feels really cheap and sluggish, from the obvious stock footage and threadbare production values to the utterly routine action. As the movie progresses, you will feel more tired with every passing minute. Yet as I said, the movie still has managed to build a cult, which might explain why a sequel (!) got released the following year. I guess you can never be sure what will make moviegoers happy.

The main reason for praising this film is the appearance of Melissa Brasselle, featured on the video cover at IMDb, but not mentioned by the other reviewers, who prefer to fuss about Corey Haim. Well, all you fetish-lovers, admire Melissa in her tight black leather outfit, untamed dark hair, falling in luxurious waves, her half-open mouth, spitting out words signalling dangerous danger and dark desires (mostly to kill, which she hmmmm, really enjoys) and trying-to-be-funny lines (the last words to the poor old watchman at the gate, or about her working ethics). There are two other girls in the movie (the FBI chick and the cheerleader chick), both are blonde, dumb and survive. This is not fair! I really wait for "Part II: Melissas Revenge". Apart from Mr. Wynorski's shameless attempts to enter his name into the movie, there is nothing to praise.

I thought this movie was pretty good for Corey Haim. Whenever it's on I always have to watch because I love Corey Haim. It's the basic action flick with the occasional bad guys. I guess it's like a B version of Toy Soldiers. Overall it was pretty good.

Remember Toy Soldiers? Well, add Jim Wynorski and a low-budget and you get the picture. With more action, too. I'd call this Corey Haim's comeback performance. He's been in so many cheesy movies, we had all wondered. Demolition High is a fine action film in the mold of Die Hard...in school. School sucked, but this one seems better. And you got a whole slew of cameos. Some of the death scenes are inventive, too = 1. terrorist flying into band saw 2. lady terrorist getting stabbed by a ton of pencils shot from a fire extinguisher. My only complaint: there's like a total of 20 kids at this entire school. What, was Wynorski short of extras? Jim, throw me in part three, please!