When I’m reviewing a horror film in 2020, I look for certain things when deciding if it’s going to be a positive or negative critique. Sure, Teacher Shortage is packed with genre celebrity cameos, an 80’s vibe that puts most try-hard atmospheres to shame, and decent special effects that were executed at exactly the right time. But what really blew me away, most importantly, was the growth from the film’s crew and the script that genuinely kept me on my toes. Shot by Fright Meter Films and Huey House, Teacher Shortage sees the horror of high school clash with the mind of a deranged lunatic when a collaborate weekend between teachers and students at Prescott High School ends in a bloodbath. Written and directed by Troy Escamilla (Party Night, Mrs. Claus), Teacher Shortage stars Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre), Debra Lamb (The Invisible Maniac), Tamara Glynn (Halloween 5), Kaylee Williams, Mel Heflin, Julie Anne Prescott, Roger Conners, David E. McMahon, Chris Jehnert and Samantha Marie . Now, let me dive deeper into why I enjoyed it so much.
Going back to the growth I mentioned above. I’ve watched and reviewed Troy Escamilla’s last two features. They were somewhere above the median of average, but Teacher Shortage is the first project under his belt that had me saying “wow.” This flick was actually great. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the efforts of cinematographer and editor Derek Huey; who stepped up in a big way and helped nurture this film into a bonafide slasher hit. These guys went above and beyond for this production and it shows in the finished product, which will undoubtedly find its way into a distributor’s catalog in no time. I mean, fuck, the high school background extras were probably the best I’ve ever seen in an indie film, and the lead and supporting cast were on point with their performances; perfect casting across the board. In the past I’ve been slightly critical of the picture quality of Fright Meter Films’ movies, but those complaints aren’t relevant to this review anymore. Although there were some audio issues, this baby looks like it had a much bigger budget than previous projects from this team. Throw in the special effects that were timed with precision and a killer’s costume that reminded me of Scream‘s Ghostface and, yeah, Teacher Shortage threw a school-book through my expectations.
I really want to go in depth into why Teacher Shortage blew me away, but I’m going to tread lightly as to not spoiler important pieces for whomever may find this title in the future. So, I’ll say it like this… Teacher Shortage took a very overdone concept and flipped it on its head, making certain characters the victims of the killer’s wrath. This tactic has not been executed before, and this is the first movie to see a psychopath target this specific group of people. Originality is key, yal, and that’s why I’m going to champion the Hell out of Troy Escamilla’s new flick. The script was written beautifully, too, with no cringe-worthy dialogue and eyeball rolling cliches. It was refreshing to see a slasher film with 80’s nostalgia brought to life without completely beating the audience over the head with atmosphere. It breathes on its own, allowing the audience to fall in love with a new story while enjoying a classic horror approach. And, as a gay man, I was happy to see an LGBT story-line written in as more than just a joke or background character. The abusive of power between characters was actually quite hot, and I didn’t expect a bit of erotica to pop up in a movie like this!
Produced by Troy Escamilla and Derek Huey, Teacher Shortage has an excess of blood, guts and teenager angst, matched perfectly with drama, thrills and tons of surprises (like the first on screen kill). I love slasher flicks, and having Teacher Shortage be my first taste in 2020, well, I’m excited to see what the rest of the year has to offer. A step in the right direction, a little more experience, and all the right pieces falling into place helped Troy Escamilla create a film that’s going to put him on the radar. Teacher Shortage is a worthy addition to any movie night party, an indie masterpiece and a horror film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. You’re going to love it. Final Score: 8 out of 10.
