Student Bodies

I recently watched Scary Movie 5, and I think I may have laughed twice. When a spoof is done right, you are laughing so hard at one joke that you miss the next two. Mel Brooks is a master at this. As is Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker. The new generation doesn't seem to get this. They think if you mimic a scene from a popular movie that it counts as parody. I'm talking to you Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg. Date Movie, Epic Movie, and Disaster Movie isnt spoofing, it's copying. Since I brought up Scary Movie 5, I thought I'd talk about the original horror spoof, 1981's Student Bodies.

Mainly targeting the Halloween/Friday The 13th films that were being released around the same time, the movie focuses on Toby, Kristen Riter, a virginal student at Lamab High School. Her female classmates are being stalked and murdered by the Breather, Richard Brando. You don't see the Breather, but you see what he see's, ala Halloweeen. Plus he describes all of his actions and makes prank calls to his victims, all the while breathing heavily.Some of his murder weapons include a paper clip, an eraser, and a horse head book end.It's up to Toby to find out who the Breather is before she becomes his next victim.

Brando and an actor known only as The Stick are the true standouts in this. Brando with his heavy breathing and frustration when things don't go to plan are really funny. The Stick plays Malvert, the school janitor and prime suspect. I don't know where they found this guy, but he is truly bizarre and hysterical.

Writer and codirector Mickey Rose really knew his source material, perfectly spoofing the slasher films of the time. He is no stranger to parody. He cowrote Bananas and Take The Money And Run with Woody Allen, two of Allen's best. This was codirected with Michael Ritchie, who's helmed a lot of classic comedy himself. He directed Fletch, Wildcats, and The Golden Child to name just a few. Ritchie wasn't happy with this film though and had his name taken off the credits. And yet he had no problem taking responsibilty for Cops And Robbersons.

Don't let Ritchie's actions deter you though. Student Bodies is a really funny flick. I know a lot of you probably remember it from the early days of HBO, but it's not brought up that much anymore and is definately worth revisiting.

Available on dvd and blu ray. Yes, blu ray!