User reviews

Is a rough way of putting it. And never mind those Scream rip-offs or all those other cheap alien/creature-feature films from the 90's. This is a teen horror movie that gives you everything you'd want from a teen movie and everything you'd want from a creature feature, all in one. But what else is to be expected when you got Robert Rodriguez behind the lens? Any other director and this film would be tossed aside as just a teen body snatcher movie. But Robert Rodriguez shows here that he has the style to make it more than that.

Now, I've read the script to this movie before I even saw it and I kept thinking to myself, there has to be another draft of this, no way this could really work and be taken seriously... or as serious as you can take a movie like this. Yet not only was I surprised to see how much of the original script Rodriguez kept in, but I was even more surprised to see how well things actually played out. Sometimes I really love being wrong.

This film delivers, just as much as any other Rodriguez picture that calls back to the good old days of the Grindhouse and makes us forget that those movies weren't even close to par with these "tribute" films that somehow manage to surpass the movies they're tributing. You get everything you want and leave wishing you could spend more time in high school... or at least at this high school.

This film, to me, is the second in Rodriguez's own unofficial Sci-fi Grindhouse trilogy. Starting with From Dusk Till Dawn and ending with Planet Terror. Want to treat yourself to some fun? Watch all three back to back to back. You won't be disappointed.

7/10

Robert Rodriguez's spirited sci-fi/horror hybrid is one for the books, even if solely for rekindling the 'alien invasion' genre during the '90s. Taken over by alien parasites, this time it's high school teachers who can't be trusted anymore with a small group of students – amongst them soon-to-be famous faces of Josh Hartnett and Elijah Wood – discovering the terrifying truth. Kevin Williamson splendidly has his way with stereotypical teenagers in a clever script stuffed with titillating genre references. All performances are outstanding - particularly Robert Patrick eats up every scene he's in - and the K.N.B. Effects Group delivers some of their best work, mixing CGI with traditional monster mayhem. Even with its plot-twists revealed after a first time viewing, this one's worth revisiting.

Of course the story told by this film (aliens land in small Mid-West town and start taking over the humans) is very familiar but it is still a great story and this film tells it as well as any of the others (and better than most). There is a lot of humour, many very good action scenes, and some really nail-biting suspense. But what really makes this film special are the main characters: a delightful group of funny and interesting students, who have to cope with the trials of high-school life as well as the demands of defending the Earth against an insidious alien invasion.

If you know the other films of Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn) you will find another film which displays the same wit and assured lightness of touch that makes this director's work such a pleasure.

Great Stuff!

Herrington High School in Ohio has the usual groups of disaffected youths – the jock, the goth, the geek, the prom-queen, the drop out etc. However they are not the only ones acting out of the ordinary – the teaching staff all seem to be acting out of the ordinary – drinking water, acting sinister. Geeky Casey has the idea that the staff have been infected, taken over by aliens using their bodies as hosts. Casey's theory spreads to a group of students who decide to take a stand.

Oh my God – an enjoyable and quite clever teen movie! Something must be wrong! The plot is basically a teen twist on The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but is filled with clever references and jokes related to sci-fi. This makes it stand out from other teen movies in that it cleverly plays with the usual stereotypes and makes them feel fresh. The group itself is close to the usual group that learns to get along and accept each other (a la Breakfast Club) – except here they get along through drugs and the battle against aliens!

The director is better known for his big OTT action stuff but here he does a good job with a slow build up and a real feeling of paranoia. Of course it's not as good as the actual Body Snatchers but it still has a real good feeling of fear and tension. The effects are good but Rodriguez uses them sparingly for the most part helping the mood of uncertainty and fear.

The cast are all good. The teens play the stereotypes well but they are outshone by the adults who all get to ham it up in sinister roles. Many of the adults are wasted in minor roles – Hayek for one is barely in it, and MacDonald deserves more than a few minutes. Patrick is very good considering that it could have easily been his T2 role again – running in that distinctive way etc, but he is suitably sinister. Janssen is also good – transforming from a shy flower into her usual vamp. Cameos from Usher, Summer Phoenix and a seemingly pointless role for Harry Knowles (he's been bought!) don't spoil this.

Overall as a sci-fi horror it's pretty good if not great – there are better films around. But as a teen movie it is head and shoulders above the rest of this rather sorry genre and has enough tension, drama and references to be very enjoyable.

Fun and Interesting characters and cool visual effects are the key to this Sci-Fi Thriller, which is largely based on 'The Invasion of the Body Snatchers'

I won't introduce the characters here, as the movie introduces (Clea DuVall, Laura Harris, Josh Hartnett, Shawn Hatosy, Jordana Brewster and Elijah Wood's characters) really well as the students at Herrington High, they each have their own individual personalities that evolve as events in the film unfold.

The Faculty is littered with top names like Robert Patrick, Famke Janssen, Bebe Neuwirth and Salma Hayek who all begin to behave strangely, un-nerving the students.

A small pocket of students begin to believe in a conspiracy among the teachers and it's up to them to save the world from invasion.

Great performances from the cast (Josh Hartnett in particular), a fun script and a cleverly re-written story all conspire to make the Faculty a cracking 100 minutes of all out entertainment.

7/10

It's a Robert Rodriguez film. It's a Kevin Williamson screenplay. You already know that it's in the same vein as'Bodysnatchers,' etc. Anybody who *doesn't* know this but saw and enjoyed the Scream flicks or the "I Know ..." movies is likely to enjoy this.

No, it doesn't really have the same underlying Red Scare theme of the original Bodysnatchers (or Arthur Miller's Crucible), although it *is* about what every modern high school movie seems to be about: how much their presumed roles imposed on teens makes their lives painful, and how great it is to unleash those strictures. Sure, it's not Bergman, but who really expects haute couture from a sci-fi horror flick? Oh, and any 'homophobia' attributed to the movie (as opposed to some of its high school student characters, just as occurs in real life) is questionable at best.

"The Faculty" is no more and no less than another entry in 'new geek cinema,' slightly more intelligent and self-referential than your standard SCI-FI Network fare. Appreciated on its own terms, or anything close to them, it's a lot of fun!

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).

This is one of those films that you will love if you enjoy sci fi films. It is a satire of one of the best there is out there. Satires are only appreciated by a certain audience. If you didn't like "Heathers", "Scream" or "Shaun of the Dead", then don't bother watching this unless sci-fi comedies is your thing. This isn't just a comedy, it is shocking and has great twists and thrills along the ride. At times it is down right scary. Even sexy (nudity)! It is all around entertaining with some pretty good acting. My personal favorite is the couple that is always fighting, watch out for them! If you loved at least one of the FOUR film versions of "Invasion of The Body Snatchers" then you will truly enjoy the satire of this film, and how much it truly honors previous classics in the way that "Scream" did. Now some say this film is for Teenagers who don't know any better than to think this is a great sci-fi film, but the biggest fan of this film that I know is my 63 year old mother, and I am surely not a teenager anymore.

This film is a classic, and yes, it does feature teenagers as the main cast (not the actors.) But the adult characters make a great performance, and even Jon Stewart is pretty entertaining as the science teacher.

One film that you should stay for the cast credits just for Jon's appearance!

Maybe if I was 17 instead of 33 I would enjoy this film...I kinda doubt it though. I remember liking movies like "Westworld" and "Alien" when I was a teen and compared to "The Faculty" those films were pure genius. And unlike "The Faculty" those films still stand up and will still stand up 20 years from now. Unlike another reviewer's comments, "The Faculty" doesn't have an original bone it's decayed body. This hideous hybrid of "Aliens" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" mixed with "Scream" (and even the more obscure "Class of 1999") is so dumbed down it makes something like Beverly Hills 90210 seem like high art in comparison. Rodriquez has made only two films worth seeing, the ultra low budget, "El Mariachi" and the made for HBO, "The Roadracers." Everything else he's done is a bloated mess... this film hits a new low.

The Faculty is an amazing film. Well-directed by Robert Rodriguez, this film will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. With a good, edgy story line laced with humor and with solid performances given by the stellar cast, the film will hit its mark with those who enjoy well made sci-fi films. Starring Clea DuVall, Josh Hartnett, Jordana Brewster and Elijah Wood those actors make this movie both thrilling and hilarious. This movie brings together six kids from different high school cliques: Casey the geek, Stockly the goth, Delilah the cheerleader, Marybeth the new girl, Zeek the juvenile, and Stan the jock. The plot of the movie is Some aliens take over all the faculty from a school and then try to start taking over the students as well. The queen alien was very scary looking. This film may not be Oscar worthy but it's definitely entertaining, This movie could of used a sequel.

This film fuses elements of the Breakfast Club with Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Robert Rodrigues makes entertaining films, and does so consistently. The Faculty is no exception, though the formula is radically different from his standard approach. In place of large guns, spectacular stunt choreography and a silly soundtrack, Rodrigues made "The Faculty" with a classy ensemble cast and some awesome special effects. The script is also very good, featuring strong characterization and interesting dialog. All of these elements make The Faculty a very watchable film, and make up for the completely unoriginal and not very coherent plot.

The film begins as a paranoiac comedy about a typical high school where the students and faculty see each other as alien species. Ho hum. However, after about 20 minutes of set-up, the faculty really starts to become an alien species, as they are assimilated by water-loving parasites with very bad attitudes and a kind of group consciousness straight out of Invasion of The Body Snatchers and Star Trek's Borg. Six kids, very unlikely team-mates representing the archetypal teenage personalities of the postmodern world, team up to try to save the world, once they realize that the aliens can be driven off by, of all things, caffeine. Especially impressive are Elijah Wood, Piper Laurie, Robert Patrick, Josh Hartnett and Clea DuVall.

Like most of Rodrigues' films, The Faculty never loses its sense of humor, and pulls off its own absurdity with artful visualization and a tight, driving pace. Unlike many of Rodrigues' films, however, The Faculty is disposable - it's not really meant to be viewed more than once. See it if you're a Rodrigues fan, or somebody who enjoys the obscure but growing genre of horror-comedy.

Almost everything about this movie is stupid - a school full of kids who brawl in the corridors like wild animals and become angelic students in class who sit up and listen attentively to even the most boring teachers, a cheap mixture of drugs that can soak up several hundred times its own weight in water, a high school Biology teacher whose knowledge about marine organisms would match that of a world specialist, etc, etc, etc. And yet it manages to be compulsively watchable. The direction is actually very good, and the acting is at least passable. Fortunately it didn't take itself too seriously (at least I hope it didn't). I was particularly impressed by the way it pointed out that The Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a take-off of The Puppet Masters, and then shamelessly proceeded to rip off both of them.

This is pretty much the typical slasher, with just one twist. It's also helped by the fact that there's other things going on than just a bunch of killings; there are conflicts between the characters from the very beginning, before the killing starts. This is pretty unique for a slasher, and it definitely helps the film become more interesting. The plot is interesting, well, more interesting than slasher plots usually are. The acting is pretty much all very good, the actors nearly all give top-notch performances. The special effects are good, and mostly pretty convincing. I've heard a lot of people complain that this movie is a ripoff of the Carpenter classic "The Thing". While that film is the better of the two, this is by no means a simple ripoff. The plot in this is not the same, there are just a few striking similarities. I would rather think of it as a reference, something to honor Carpenter's abilities - Rodriguez was inspired by Carpenter, after all. I would recommend this to pretty much anyone who enjoys slasher movies, sci-fi flicks, or crossovers of the two genres. It's very enjoyable; the only thing I hated was that they had casted Elijah "babyface" Wood in one of the leads... oh well. You can't always enjoy all aspects of a film. 7/10

I remember first seeing this movie when I was young and I really liked it. I watched it again last night and nothing has changed. The idea is a fresh new twist on a common story and it has a great cast. Probably the best cast of any sci-fi horror that comes to mind.Its entertaining but not that scary.

This movie is about a group of students that attend high school. Everything goes along as normal until one day they start noticing their teachers acting very strange. After witnessing the teachers attack another teacher they reason the teachers have been taken over by aliens and the students are next.

This movie was actually pretty good even the monster that looked pretty cheesy didn't take anything away from this. Definitely a fun movie and entertaining watch.

A group of students suspect that their teachers have been overtaken by alien creatures, they have to overcome their differences, and unite if they're to save the school and humanity.

Imagine being in school, and daydreaming about invasion of The Body snatchers, that's what comes to mind when I think of The Faculty. I think this film has aged quite well, I think I prefer it now to when I originally saw it back in 1998.

It's bags of fun, it's over the top, it's camp, it's sexy, it's got more stereotypes than you could ever dream of, where else could you see a film where drugs save the world.

There are some genuinely good horror sequences, I've always enjoyed the opening, it's very creepy.

It's interesting to see how this film served as a vehicle for so many up and coming stars, it is quite literally loaded with talent, literally and physically, that 1990's era where only beautiful people went to school. The likes of Salma Hayek, Famke Janssen, Jordana Brewster and Josh Hartnett.

Robert Patrick is excellent as the coach, not long before he'd take join The X Files.

7.5/10.

Finally after the appalling "I Know what you did Last Summer" franchise, writer Kevin Williamson comes back strong with this enjoyable slice of movie literate, sci-fi black comedy.

Cult director Robert Rodriguez skilfully mixes shocks with laughs in this pseudo-remake of "Body Snatcher" movies. If you are willing to sit back and disconnect your brain for two hours, you could naturally do a lot worse than this.

Recommended! 8/10

Every high school has its issues. Whether it is misbehaved youth, poor budgeting management, inadequate staff or out of date supplies, there's always something that needs work. Interestingly enough, most students would likely say that it's their teachers that make their time feel like a waste. Sometimes this is true, while other times teachers are used as scapegoats for another person's problems. But what if the teachers were the problem and their intent was much more serious than one would expect? This is what happens when a random cluster of students at an ordinary high school discover that their teachers aren't what they appear to be.

Directing this movie is Robert Rodriguez who has a story in the genre of horror for the second time - before that was From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). Accompanying Rodriguez is writer Kevin Williamson who also wrote for Scream (1996) and the rest of its later sequels. The strange thing is, much of the material Williamson uses is blatantly taken from other movies. Yet he does it in a way that at least credits them and somewhat morphs it into his own without coming off as complete copy. For example, there are some conversations that discuss the previous "Invasion of the Body Snatcher" films. The leads even come up with a test to determine who is real and who isn't, just like John Carpenter's The Thing (1982). Again, it's not new, but it at least aims to entertain with a slightly different angle.

The cast contains various new and old actors. Some of which the new actors would become highly regarded in the current day. Playing some of the faculty, you have Robert Patrick, Salma Hayek, Famke Janssen and even Jon Stewart. The young actors include Jordana Brewster as the uptight prissy girl, Clea DuVall as antisocial introvert, Laura Harris as the newcomer to the school, Josh Hartnett as the stayback senior, Shawn Hatosy as the Jock, Usher as his best jock friend and Elijah Wood as the bookworm. All of them portray their characters accurately considering they all look like highschoolers. Perhaps the most interesting character is Shawn Hatosy for playing a jock that decides that grades are more important than sports. That's rare for an athlete. Other than that, these characters are fun to watch but none of them stand out enough to be truly memorable.

The creature itself in this movie isn't memorable either. However, in spite of that, its presence is still not to be missed. To explain it, it basically is like trying to explain what John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) looked like; you can't. It's a thing. Considering this movie partially exists in the horror genre the gore is respectable. Some of the gore moments are a little unpredictable but most are cliché because of them being taken from other films. For the most part, the CGI is convincing enough to get by even though there are some moments where it looks dated too. Helping to enhance the experience of horror is composer Marco Beltrami's score and unfortunately, it's not his best work. His music can be heard when it comes to the scares, but he missed a lot of emotional cues that could've been used. Oh well, it's still fun though.

Its concept is not new but it has moments that make it different from past films with a decent cast and special effects. Its music could've been a little better though.

Lets get this out of the way; the acting in this movie is terrible. The plot is absurd, and the dialog is ridiculous. This movie is really entertaining to watch, however.

I have no idea whether or not this movie is intentionally funny. I don't see it billed as a satire or a comedy, so I gave it 4 for being unintentionally (supposedly) funny.

Josh Hartnett's face literally can't show emotion. I've seen like 7 of his movies, and I'm convinced now of this. Prepare for that dead-eyed look on his face the entire movie YET AGAIN.

Elijah Wood is trying. But he just doesn't look his part. He looks like a dork but he doesn't play one that would rise to the occasion as much as his part calls for.

Jon Stewart's goatee. Shooter McGavin is in this movie. Hyde is in this movie. Salma Hayek and Jordana Brewster are crazy hot and bad in this movie.

If you're like me and enjoy well-known people in bad movies, this is your movie. If you want a competent horror or thriller movie, this is literally the worst choice you can make.

Take a familiar story (Invasion of the Body Snatchers), make it feel original thanks to a great script, add a stellar cast, and fantastic visual effects, and you have 'The Faculty'.

After an impressive nail-biting opening scene, the film introduced the characters in a humorist way. Within the first few minutes the film reeled me in hook, line and sinker, and I couldn't wait to see how the story unfolded. Having seen 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', 'Body Snatchers' and 'The Invasion' I was curious to see how they were going to make it feel original.

By golly, this was fascinating!! The performances are brilliant, and the film was so fast-paced there was not a single dull moment. I literally found every second amazing. It was captivating, it was fresh, it was funny, it was scary. I liked the characters, and thought Robert Patrick was especially good as antagonist Coach Willis (and looking good in the process, I might add...).

The visual effects are awesome, and as the film progressed and things got really out of hand, the effects got better, and the suspense intensified . I also loved the soundtrack. 'The Faculty' was such a pleasure to watch. This is top-notch entertainment. Well done to director Robert Rodriguez; this was stunning!!

Would I watch it again? Yes, yes, yes, and again!

"The Faculty" is a no-brainer piece of trash that is neither funny, entertaining, or original in any way.

The story is basically "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" meets "The Breakfast Club". Aliens slowly take over the bodies of the teachers, and a group of outcast high school students are the only ones who know it. It takes a while for all of them to understand what is happening, but by then it is too late. Now it is them against the entire faculty. How's that for a lame story line. I can only guess that this movie is aimed at teenagers, but I don't know many teens who liked it.

The script by Kevin Williamson offers nothing new, it simply tries to repeat the success of "Scream" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer". There is the lame dialogue from the heroes, the one-liners that don't work, and the usual masturbation and sex jokes ("No more flogging the Bishop, son").

Simply put, I have seen movies like this done a thousand times before, and a thousand times better. You'd be better off renting "Scream".

All star cast, great pacing, decent directing/lighting/cinematography. A true time capsule of horror for the mid 90s.

While The Faculty was obviously made to be the "cooler" teen version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, it still has some fresh scares to offer. This horror movie feels pretty dated--and I'm not just talking about Josh Hartnett's hair, because I don't think that was ever in style--and it's obnoxiously vulgar, but it's got a solid premise and an impressive cast for the time. I had a fun time watching it.