a starter pack of twenty films that take us into the horrors of high school • Journal • A Magazine • , Life in canada

High school is already a horror movie: the fluorescent-lit hallways, hormone-fueled chaos, authority figures who just don’t understand and cliques that might as well be cults. The horror genre has always thrived in teenage terrain, where coming of age often means coming apart.

In the ’70s and ’80s, high school horror emerged as filmmakers began to realize the potential of the high school setting and the angsty teens who occupied it. I’d argue that the subgenre truly found its voice in the ’90s, cementing it with its own distinct identity, blending social commentary with supernatural or slasher horror to reflect the fears and struggles of adolescence.

The magic of this subgenre is that we don’t expect teens to be rational. They make terrible choices, they split up, they run upstairs instead of outside! But that emotional chaos is the whole point—high school is where everything is dramatic, hormonal and the stakes (social or otherwise) feel life-or-death.

While this starter pack serves as an introduction to the high school horror subgenre, it can also serve as a gateway to horror itself. There’s a universal relatability in a lot of these characters who are just dealing with the horrors of growing up. And since these films often genre-blend with comedy and romance, there are some chances to catch your breath.

So, grab your lunch tray and get ready for a crash course in high school horror. Don’t forget your hall pass!