The Faculty (1998)

Another great ensemble horror film from 1998 is “The Faculty”, starring established horror or sci-fi actors like Robert Patrick (“Terminator 2”), Famke Janssen (“House on Haunted Hill”), and Piper Laurie (“Carrie”) as well as younger actors like Josh Harnett and Elijah Wood. The film was directed by Robert Rodriguez, who had already shown us that he knew how to have fun with a horror flick after directing “From Dusk Till Dawn”! “The Faculty” is basically a variation of the “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” story with a few plot points adjusted so it comes across as its own movie. The special effects are fine but a bit outdated compared to today’s picky standards. I really enjoyed the film and the tension that is builds when the characters become aware that there might be an alien amongst them.

High school students from various cliques and social circles are forced to band together when their school faculty members become influenced by a water-based alien that is able to take over its host. First the school and then world conquest! The school’s drug dealer Zeke (Hartnett) becomes the unintentional leader of the group after he figures out that his special drug cocktail can kill the alien host. Armed with the drug, Zeke and Casey, the school’s paper photographer, go out hunting for the queen to save their school and their friends.

Favorite moment – there is “The Thing” like scene where Zeke forces the group of students to take his drug in order to prove that they are still human.  Like the scene from “The Thing”, one of them isn’t and destroys the lab and most of the drug supplies they need to kill the invaders.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

There’s no doubt that the vampires in “From Dusk Till Dawn” are not your lovey dovey type of bloodsucker; they exist to drink your blood and steal your stuff. This movie presents the perfect situation for several dozen vampires to together and feed while enjoying some great tunes from the undead band. The foul beasts give the wicked Gecko Brother’s a run for the honor of being the most vile and it looks like an even race until Seth kills his baby brother (who’s been turned) and works with the family that he had taken hostage earlier in the film. So the vampires win the honor and prove that vampires can be downright nasty. 

The screenplay was written by Quentin Tarantino who also served as a co-producer and starred as the sick Gecko Brother Richard. The film also boosts a talented cast led by George Clooney and Harvey Keitel, along with Juliette Lewis, Tom Savini, Cheech Marin, and Salma Hayek. Oh, and it was directed by the one and only Robert Rodriguez!

"From Dusk Till Dawn" is about the Gecko Brothers, Seth and Richard, who are racing towards the Mexican border after committing a bank robbery and leaving several people dead in its wake. Things go from bad to worse for the brothers when Richard gives into his violent/perveted tendancies by raping and killing their hostage. With the Law closing in, Seth and Richard kidnap a family of three with consists of a pastor who has lost his faith and his two children. By gunpoint, Jacob (the father) takes the group across the border and to a truck stop where Seth has set up a meeting with a man name Carlos. They decide to spend their time waiting for Carlos inside the truck stop/strip club called "The Titty Twister". And once inside they quickly realize that they may have made the wrong decision after finding out that the truck stop is a front for a nest of sadistic, hungry vampires.

Favorite character - Tom Savini as Sex Machine. Enough said! I love (most) chances to see him on stage as well as his famous make-up creations!