Students suspect that their teachers are aliens after bizarre occurrences.

This is very much a film of the 1990s, especially the second half. That same teen horror subgenre that "Scream" mastered and "Disturbing Behavior" did well. Get a mix of teen idols, add a soundtrack, and boom, you have a film. This is no exception, with some of the biggest names of the time on the screen (now, about fifteen years later, it is interesting to see who is big and who is forgotten).

As far as being a "body snatcher" movie, it is pretty good. It is obviously aware of its past, as it overtly makes reference. But it also tries to steer clear of being a copy. Some references to past films are over the top, such as naming a character Edward Furlong. Really? Although not one of Robert Rodriguez's best films, it is still a nice trip down nostalgia lane. And it is probably not his worst (it may be time to stop with the "Spy Kids" and "Machete" sequels).

From PASTO, COLOMBIA-Via: L. A. CA; CALI, COLOMBIA+ORLANDO, FL The ONLY Tony Kiss Castillo on FaceBook!---------------------------

Don't you just hate those "friends" who belly laugh harder than anyone in the theater, and then, making conversation after the movie, you ask them, "Wow, you really enjoyed that, didn't you?" and they snap back, "What, are you nuts? That was the worst flick I've seen in years!" Well, that's definitely NOT me.

Despite priding myself on usually disliking a lot of the JUNK churned out by Hollywood, after seeing the FACULTY, and looking into the depths of my soul, I must admit, begrudgingly, it is a rather entertaining movie! Fast-paced, shrewdly pressing all the viewer's buttons, in the right order, it does exactly what its producers want it to: Take you on a cinematic ride!

Still, I'd like to issue TWO Brief Warnings:

1) If You're a Salma Hayek FAN.....Don't Blink! (You just might miss her altogether!) T. O. S. T. = About 4 or 5 minutes!

2) DON'T See IT a Second Time! It's like driving a car with no air in your tires! Believe me, I've tried it...Just doesn't work!

...Certainly, the first time, though, you should have some good fun!

6*...ENJOY/DISFRUUTELA! (Even if it's ONLY ONCE!)

Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!

This film starts off with an adequate plot, concerning suspicious events at a local high school. Halfway through, however, it loses all direction and momentum and simply becomes a roller coaster ride of increasingly bigger and better special effects, starting off with a tiny little alien creature to a huge, slimy monster. The obvious inspiration for the film is INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (which is repeatedly referenced, somewhat cheekily),but THE FACULTY is a lot less powerful than that masterpiece.

The full implications of the alien take over are rarely hinted at, and put aside in favour of in-your-face shocks and thrills, which dampens the impact a lot. The killing blow, though, is the ending, a huge letdown. Compare this to the starkly powerful and horrific ending of the 1978 version of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, and you'll see that there is simply no match. THE FACULTY is nothing more than moving wallpaper, something to look at while you're eating your dinner. Similar to reading a glossy magazine, all style and not much substance. It can hardly be called a horror film at all really, but then again these days film makers seem to have forgotten what horror actually means; they confuse it with blood and guts and gory effects.

I did like the little alien in the fish tank. I thought the special effect was very good indeed, and the first time you saw it, it was also very impressive. After the first couple of times though the novelty wore off and we'd grown used to the special effects, even if they did become more and more outlandish. The ending was also fun, with the fight against the big tentacled monster, even though it may have been cheesy and it may have been clichéd and unlikely. There were a lot of clever minor things throughout the film, it's just a shame they couldn't have put them together to make something cleverer as a whole. But what can you expect from Kevin Williamson? I didn't like the incessant swearing at all. There didn't seem to be much dialogue in this film, it was thrown aside to pave the way for a number of expletives. I also thought it was pretty stupid the way the film makers decided to have a naked girl in but then they were too scared to show her completely naked. I didn't think much of the child actors and actresses, who were typically mundane and boring, the outsiders we're over familiar of from all of the other mind numbing horror films which have been coming out these recent years.

There are a few interesting actors amid the teaching group, namely Piper Laurie and Robert Patrick, the liquid metal man who is always sinister in any film he's in. Patrick was a good reason for me for watching this, I just wish he could have played a bigger part. I hated the glossy, DAWSON'S CREEK style of the film. I hated the self-referencing of Spielberg and other film makers (and even Neve Campbell, how original). I detested the stupid jump scares which weren't scary. And all of the other clichéd stuff (such as the alien slugs moving under the face from THE X-FILES. The finger cutting scene from THE BURNING. The head with tentacles from THE THING. The shadowy-jump scares from HALLOWEEN). But that's enough of me complaining. It is mildly refreshing to see a monster movie instead of having a maniac on the loose with a razor-sharp weapon. Just don't expect much more than something at a superficial level.