“Detention,” with a limited Houston engagement, blends humor, horror and fantasy in a way that does not exploit the usual formulas of each genre. | Courtesy of Sony Pictures
This film is what audience members would get if “Scream” met “The Breakfast Club” and had a run-in with “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
From Director Joseph “Torque” Kahn comes “Detention,” a hilarious, fast-talking and witty high school film with a stellar sound track and a serial killer named Cinderhella who terrorizes the students.
The film stars Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”), Spencer Locke (“Resident Evil: Extinction”) and comedian Dane Cook (“Dan in Real Life”).
Like “The Breakfast Club,” “Detention” defines the younger generation by focusing on high school life. However, “Detention” is shown in such a way as to mimic the multi-tasking, texting youth of today with a complex story line that compels viewers to watch and never look away.
Kahn explained in an interview that if you turn away from the screen for five minutes and come back, you will be lost.
“Detention,” in all its hilarious ’90s references and mature subject matter, makes for a new kind of midnight movie experience that will possibly make it a cult classic years from now.
College students will no doubt find it entertaining and relevant in the sense of pop culture.
Kahn has blended all of the known filmmaking aesthetics and made one of his own that goes to ridiculous heights, but remains entertaining and original.
Hutcherson and Cook’s acting hit career high in this film; you can’t help but laugh at almost everything they say or do.
The master of cameos, Jesse Heiman, also makes an appearance as a nameless nerd in the midst of the film.
Kahn mentioned the fact that “music changes a lot more than movies,” and that this film was the best way to challenge the new generation of youths by making a John Hughes-type film.
Kahn, with his expertise in music, adds a killer sound track. He also co-wrote the unique script that is both hilarious and weird. Kahn’s film, though, has to do with more than just witty dialogue, it also has elements of fantasy and horror.
By the time the film ends, audiences will need a few moments to process what exactly “happened.” It’s an all-new flavor of mental chewing gum.
“Detention” is something you don’t want to miss if you are tired of the same old, exploited formulas of filmmaking.
“These” “are” “distracting.”