Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		2.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Class of Nuke 'Em High Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 28, 2015

Attempting to outwit and outrun their 1984 cult hit, “The Toxic Avenger,” co-directors Richard W. Haines and Lloyd Kaufman (billed here as “Samuel Weil”) return to the dregs of humanity with 1986’s “Class of Nuke ‘Em High,” which turns out to be the next logical step of splatter stupidity for Troma Entertainment. Instead of defining the origin story of a reluctant superhero, the production settles on absolute chaos, braiding a tribute to teen cinema of the 1950s with a gore zone spectacle of the 1980s. It’s wild work, exploring a premise with surprising potential, but like most Troma endeavors, it doesn’t know when to quit, gradually working from a cheeky serving of carnage to noisy bedlam, losing a balance between creepy and silly that aids digestion of the feature’s first two acts. “Class of Nuke ‘Em High” is only fun in the build-up to pandemonium, not when the effort finally reaches its orgy of graphic violence and aggressive slapstick, making the climax strangely anticlimactic.

A nuclear meltdown as occurred in Tromaville, with manager Mr. Finely (Pat Ryan Jr.) refusing to take responsibility for the ecological disaster, preferring to cover-up all evidence and deny involvement. Unfortunately, toxic waste has seeped into neighboring Tromaville High School, causing havoc with the student body. Ruling the hallways are The Cretins, a gang of punks led by Spike (Robert Prichard), who beat up the scrawny, turn out the teachers, and sell weed to idiots. Eddie (James Nugent Vernon) is one such buyer, purchasing a tainted joint waiting to be unleashed during a frat party. When school sweethearts Chrissy (Janelle Brady) and Warren (Gil Brenton) sample the goods, they’re suddenly hit with hallucinations and a slow ride towards mutation. With the school eventually taken over by gang warfare and a roving monster, it’s up to Warren and Chrissy to save the day.

“Class of Nuke ‘Em High” doesn’t waste any time. In the opening five minutes of the movie, there’s a nuclear reactor meltdown and the high school begins breaking out in horrors, with one straight-A student melting into a violent, sludge-spewing zombie. And this is before the opening titles. It’s a fine introduction from Kaufman and Haines, who seek to continue the “Toxic Avenger” aesthetic, introducing audiences to another corner of Tromaville, where the residents have unwisely built a community in the shadow of a nuclear power plant. If there’s a larger message on the dangers of pollution and lasting environmental damage (along with industry corruption and haphazard safety standards), it’s largely drowned out by the feature’s habitual use of exaggeration, with The Cretins a prime example of the absurdity found in “Class of Nuke ‘Em High.” Pierced, painted, spiked, and prone to carrying animal bones to achieve hallway domination, The Cretins are essentially the bad guys of the picture, using their powers of intimidation to sell dubious joints for outrageous prices and scam old ladies out of their purses. For Tromaville residents, the spreading evidence of nuclear waste is the least of their problems.

The Frankie and Annette of “Class of Nuke ‘Em High” are Chrissy and Warren, two virgins in love, waiting for the right time to take their relationship to the next level. Unfortunately, this critical de-virginization comes at a price, with their pot-laced union resulting in hallucinations involving a giant mutant penis and a pregnancy of sorts, with Chrissy barfing up a demon seed that matures in the school’s fallout shelter. Performances are big and loud, keeping in step with beach party influences, and the broadness of the early going actually works in the film’s favor, finding misadventures with the students and their adolescent interests creating a genial atmosphere of goofy banter and high school clichés. While plot is minimal, “Class of Nuke ‘Em High” gets passable mileage out of science lab laser inspections, a bake sale catastrophe, and party scenes, generating a decent amount of screen energy that helps the movie through a few dud scenes and cross-eyed storytelling, which never gains momentum.

Class of Nuke 'Em High Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation runs into its fair share of trouble spots, offering rough reel changes, judder, mild flicker, and scratches along the way, coupled with the movie's inherent cinematographic limitations. Still, some sense of clarity remains, with passable detail on characters and ghoulish events, capturing facial textures and gore zone particulars. Colors are encouraging, offering secure primaries and DayGlo extremes, while skintones appear stable and true. Delineation isn't challenged in this brightly shot effort, but depths and shadows are preserved. Grain is on the chunky side, with a few noisy bursts.

Class of Nuke 'Em High Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 Dolby Digital sound mix doesn't support a secure feeling of cinematic chaos, plagued by a high-pitched ringing that carries throughout the entire picture. While it doesn't dominate the track, it's difficult to ignore. Damage points are obvious, with a few audio dropouts and fluctuating levels between reels. Dialogue is adequately intelligible, but not profound, with crispy highs and slightly muddy lows, while sound effects tend to push out the human element, finding horror happenings loud and blunt. Soundtrack cuts aren't crisply detailed but they manage, adding some needed weight to the listening experience.

Class of Nuke 'Em High Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features Lloyd Kaufman.

• "Lost Scenes" (7:07, SD) provide a peek at what passes for characterization around these parts, detailing more interplay between Warren and Eddie, and showcasing more menace from the monster.

• "Sweethearts on 'Class of Nuke 'Em High'" (5:29, SD) catch up with Robert and Laura Prichard, who met on the set of "The Toxic Avenger" and developed their relationship while making "Class of Nuke 'Em High." A discussion of their initial meeting (making out in the back of a car during a chase) and Laura's recollection of her experience with a stalker who was also a crew member are fascinating.

• "The Man Who Made the Nuclear Power Plant" (:39, SD) is a brief overview of optical tricks hosted by matte photographer Theo Pingarelli.

• "Troma T&A" (2:07, SD) introduces a "Tromette of the Week," who stumbles through her introduction before a short striptease.

• "Vintage Troma" (14:40, SD) is an unexplained event inside the Troma offices where Kaufman views a video of a subordinate urinating into a bag. A discussion of prosthetic quality and motivation ensues. Missing is any type of context.

• "PSA" (1:33, SD) features Motorhead member Lemmy, who pleads for hermaphrodite tolerance with help from Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

• "Radiation March" (:56, SD) is a short dance piece concerning the dangers of pollution.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:56, SD) is included.

Class of Nuke 'Em High Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The film builds to a showdown conclusion, where The Cretins, the students, the monster, the faculty, and reactor employees combine to celebrate doomsday with outrageous violence -- a school takeover scenario that isn't nearly as fun as it should be. Kaufman and Haines aim for noise, not escalation, which leaves the picture winded long before it has a chance to locate what passes for an ending (it's more of a promise for a sequel). Not that "Class of Nuke 'Em High" is ever measured, considered entertainment, but its spiral into chaos isn't inviting, failing to pay off the inventive absurdity the production has been building with thespian and editorial indulgence. "Class of Nuke 'Em High" doesn't create a craving for future chapters in the Tromaville saga, but if one is willing to forgive an addiction to excess, the opening sections of the movie manage to unearth enough bloody nonsense to carry the effort to the end.