Review : Detention (2012)

Via comingsoon.net

A group of high school students are being hunted down by a killer named Cinderhella and have a couple of their friends murdered which leads to them being detained on suspicion. But with the world about to come to an end they have to find a way to escape detention and save the world.....


What??? That's the first question I asked myself after seeing and absorbing this. And I realized theres no definite answer. Cos you cant put this movie in a line or a sentence. Its a mishmash of several horror and scifi movies with its own unique voice. Countless pop references and 90's cultural references and scenes parodying some famous horror movies like Scream. And even some chick flicks. And time travel plus a bomb blast that can end the world. Its just amazing how many movies I have seen in this 93 minutes of exhilarating roller-coaster ride. And that's exactly what makes me go WHAT? But its all ok considering i've been entertained.


Director and co-writer Joseph Kahn(Torque) shows his music video background by starting of with an excellent start credit which gives us a glimpse of whats to come later in the movie. And after that its all a mad fun ride with witty characters and some amazingly bizarre sequences and quick change of scenarios as we move from one movie to another in the same film. It could have all gone awry but Joseph with screenwriter Mark Palermo bring control whenever it starts to look messy. No horror this. Its a comedy sci fi with a killer on the loose concept just for a couple of scenes. Where's the time to dwell on the killer when you have to go back in time to save the world and give birth to yourself? One of the most original movies to come in quite sometime,the director and writer have really done the indie scene proud. Well done....

The acting is simply phenomenal. These young indie actors have done themselves proud. There remains an untapped pool of talented actors and actresses in those D2V movies which mostly mistake for bad acting and poor production skills. Not this. The acting led by the Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson(Clapton Davis) and the Conjuring star Shanley Caswell(Riley) is awesome. They act their heart out and enjoy themselves as we enjoy too. Spencer Locke(Ione) and Dane Crook(Verge) are the other honourary mentions in this starcast. And not once will you feel that this a D2V. But considering the D2V is going to be the future I think this has to be expected. Well done cast....


As for cinematography its pretty nice. But the real cheer goes to the editing and special effects. The pacy editing and effects on a shoestring budget give this a very nice feel. Kinda would have looked good in a theatre. And with a pretty decent musical score to back it up,it ranks as one of the best of 2012...


HighTension Verdict: If you have been tired of cliched horror and horror-com this will wake up from your slumber. Some fine parody with a unique spin to integrate many films in one movie and a comic, although brief,killer which doesn't evoke any sense of dread whatsoever. And a funny storyline and dialogues with great special effects which turns the horror tag given to it obsolete. I am no lover of horror-com but i enjoyed it.

HighTension Meter: 7.5/10.


Best QUOTE: 

Principal Verge: I get it. Listening to your loud music, tripping out to Fraggle Rock. But the question is: What does the future hold for Clapton Davis?
Clapton Davis: Well, I am starting my own music site. Its going to list new releases and review albums from bands that nobody's heard of except for me and if they have I'll just dismiss them with scathing comparisons to avant-garde folk rockers. Everything's great on a ultra precise one hundred point scale and there's no place for feedback. If readers want to bitch about they'll have to go on their twitters. Good taste is not a democracy.
Principal Verge: And this pays what? 13.5 a year?
Clapton Davis: Free Costello tickets.