GIRLS SCHOOL SCREAMERS (1986)

'GIRLS SCHOOL SCREAMERS,' SHOT IN VILLANOVA

Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - November 14, 1986

Author: Desmond Ryan, Inquirer Movie Critic

Girls School Screamers began life under the more unassuming title of The Portrait. By any measure, it's not a pretty picture.

This low-budget and lower-minded splatter-fest is, to my knowledge, the first horror film shot in Villanova. And its director, John Finegan, may well be shot by irate Main Liners if he ever shows his face again in Villanova. After all, the Main Line is still a place where slice and dice is what the servants do to make tea sandwiches.

But the truth is you don't have to be a patron of the Devon Horse Show to say a loud nay to what Finegan has wrought in Girls School Screamers. Finegan is a Philadelphia filmmaker who reasoned that the best way to establish himself as a director would be to catch Hollywood's attention with a horror film. The depressing thing is that he's probably right. Going back to Roger Corman cheapies in the '60s, more than a few now-respected moviemakers got their start in what is literally hack work.

These days, however, a newcomer feels compelled to go a cut below the competition. And so, although the splatter movie seems to have run its course, the ones that do show up make sure that everything but the ox is gored in style. Finegan tries to inject some humor into his stream of blood, but nothing here emerges as more than strictly and remorselessly routine.

The title change is the result of his film being picked up by Troma Inc., the exploitation specialists who were recently represented by The Toxic Avenger. Finegan made Girls School Screamers for an amazing $87,000, but his lack of resources shows, and the acting is dismal. In this kind of movie that doesn't really matter, because the audience for it is simply waiting around for the killing to start.

Every excuse for putting good-looking women in the path of an inventive murderer has been used up by now. Finegan tries the one about the girls being required to stay for the weekend at an ominous mansion and to respond to
manifest danger with consistent stupidity. I suppose a man has to start somewhere. He has nowhere to go but up after Girls School Screamers.

GIRLS SCHOOL SCREAMERS *

Produced by John Finegan, James Finegan and Pierce J. Keating, directed and written by John Finegan, photography by Albert R. Jordan, distributed by Troma.

Running time: 1 hour, 22 mins.

Jackie/Jennifer - Mollie O'Mara

Elizabeth - Sharon Christopher

Kate - Mari Butler

Parent's guide: R (violence)

Showing: At GCC Northeast 4 (midnight shows only)