Typically, after viewing a putrid piece of cinema schlock, I attempt to distance myself from the work as much as possible and try not to dwell on the fact that I have wasted x amount of lifetime which I can never hope to get back. Yet, as occupational hazard would have it, I nevertheless am forced to return, however fleetingly, and review the feature in question. But not all is lost for, in the process, I get to do my Good Samaritan duty and attempt to forewarn other innocent souls of the dangers which lie ahead. Such is the case with Study Hell, a picture which the filmmakers took so much pride in, virtually no information on the film can be found. Perhaps they too are trying to distance themselves so as be able to plead the Fifth should the need arise.
At the risk of being vague, Study Hell is a waste of celluloid space. Director Mark McNabb “crafted” (and I use that term loosely) a sieve of a premise only to fashion an alibi to make a movie: an army captain named Don Keller (Steve McDougall, an actor way in over his head, which is somewhat of an achievement since there is nothing of substance to be found anywhere) suffering from shellshock, goes nuts after returning home to a job as a high school teacher. You know you are in deep water when the best actor is a subsidiary character (a janitor nonetheless) and faux character development strangles you with the rope upon which your disbelief formally hung. As such, the production cannot be blamed for housing the non sequitur of non sequitur endings for those responsible found themselves, not at the bottom, but under the barrel after implementing the arrow-through-the-head gag as a plausible special effect.
Sadly, as one’s eyes bleed while watching the feature, the viewer innately hopes Study Hell will inadvertently lapse into camp so as to make the film, cough, movie more bearable but alas, it never does, in lieu of the fact that–though there is a madman in their midst–two potential victims break to have sex before resuming the task of running for their lives.
Interestingly, with extremely poor features, blaring incompetence is usually reviewer fodder for a rap sheet for complaints but, believe it or not, Study Hell is fairly consistent in its failure. Thus, to comment upon the lighting, direction, editing, or score becomes moot and, as such, there is nothing more to mention aside from stay away–far, far away.
As a film critic, I have seen my fair share of poor features. Granted, Study Hell is miles away from being the worst, but–darn it–no one can blame Mark McNabb and Friends for not trying. With that, it is well known that poor sequels have the ability to detract from the legacy and potency of their predecessor yet, fascinatingly, Study Hell manages to somehow drain a smidgeon of life out of the genre as a whole and, hence, I’ll end with here’s a dab of celluloid refuse in your eye . . . .
-Egregious Gurnow
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
