Film: Detention Of The Dead
Starring: Jacob Zachar, Alexa Nikolas
Directed by: Alex Craig Mann

We would need to add a few people to the film staff if we hoped to cover every zombie film released in any given year, but every now and then a title comes along that seems to demand our coverage. Such a film must offer something new to the genre from the get-go and look nothing like any major title already embraced by genre addicts. It’s not an easy feat to create a title like this, especially in a time where cameras are affordable for pretty much everyone with a dream, but Alex Craig Mann’s Detention Of The Dead comes slightly closer than most (only to eventually fall apart entirely).

You can probably piece the setup together on your own, but the film opens with an obviously nerdy protagonist (Jacob Zachar) making his way to detention through the halls of his high school. He arrives to find the cute cheerleader (Christa B. Allen), her jock boyfriend (Jayson Blair), the class stoner (Justin Chon), the class bully(Max Adler), and his best friend (Alexa Nikolas) are all in the room as well. The group go about their individual conversations until the sound of a sick student in the back of the room grabs everyone’s attention. He’s not well, in fact, he’s the exact opposite of anything you would deem healthy, and shortly after being discovered turns into a member of the undead army. Realizing what is happening based on the signature goth girl’s fascination with Romero films, the crew work together in hopes they can make it out of the school alive.

Can you guess which stereotype is which?

Try as Alex Craig Mann’s film might, his skill with dialogue and camera work simply does not have the heart or sincerity to pull off the John Hughes atmosphere the film so desperately wants to create. The entire cast of characters have nuances drenched so heavily in ancient classroom stereotypes that they come off more cardboard than human. Lines that are intended to feel like normal conversation arrive flatter than a day old glass of soda, and the more they try to force hilarity the harder it is to continue watching. Thankfully, a strong performance from Justin Chon and a decent amount of low budget gore breathes a few legitimate laughs and gags into the mix to keep things moving, but moments of fun amidst a sea of mediocrity is not enough to hold your attention.

As the film’s Facebook teases, a movie like Detention Of The Dead was “bound to happen” one day. I only wish someone with a better knack for storytelling had gotten to the idea first. It’s clear Alex Craig Mann’s heart is in the right place, but his ambition exceeds his reach and ultimately makes for a lackluster viewing experience. One day he may create a truly great work of horror, but Detention Of The Dead is just another straight-to-VOD title you’ll forget as soon as your rental expires.

Score: D

Review: James Shotwell (Twitter)

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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