Student Bodies Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Teens trying to get lucky keep getting unlucky thanks to a heavy-breathing weirdo with a penchant for paperclips and produce.

🍿 Student Bodies: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Breather’s Terror Begins

The film opens with Julie, a babysitter, receiving menacing calls from a heavy breather. This sets the stage for a series of murders at Lamab High, where students are targeted shortly after engaging in or planning sexual activity. The killer, known only as ‘The Breather,’ uses unconventional weapons, adding to the film’s satirical tone.

Toby’s Investigation and Suspicion

Toby, a virginal student, becomes entangled in the mystery as her friends become victims. She finds herself at several crime scenes, leading to suspicion from the school and law enforcement. This forces her to take initiative and investigate the murders to clear her name and uncover the truth behind ‘The Breather’s’ motives.

Escalating Chaos at Lamab High

The chaos escalates as the school continues its regular activities despite the ongoing murders. This includes a parade, football game, and prom, all serving as backdrops for further killings. The absurdity of the situation is heightened by the adults’ obliviousness and the students’ continued pursuit of romance despite the obvious danger.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Toby (Kristen Riter): The virginal high school student becomes the prime suspect and attempts to solve the murders plaguing her school.
• Hardy (Matthew Goldsby): Toby’s friend who assists her in investigating the murders and becomes a romantic interest.
• The Breather (Jerry Belson (as Richard Brando)): The heavy-breathing serial killer who terrorizes the students, making prank calls through a rubber chicken.
• Principal Peters (Joe Talarowski): The clueless and eccentric high school principal who is later revealed to be one of the killers.
• Mr. Dumpkin (Joe Flood): The creepy wood shop teacher with an obsession for horse head bookends, becoming a suspect in the killings.
• Miss Mumsley (Mimi Weddell): The principal’s assistant who is also complicit in the murders, acting as a secondary antagonist.
• Malvert (Carl Jacobs): The strange, gangly janitor known as ‘The Stick’ who is a red herring and provides comic relief.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, in order to achieve an ‘R’ rating today, a motion picture must contain full frontal nudity, graphic violence, or an explicit reference to the sex act. Since this film has none of those, and since research has proven that R-rated films are by far the most popular with the moviegoing public, the producers of this motion picture have asked me to take this opportunity to say “Fuck you.”” – This quote humorously addresses the lack of traditional R-rated elements in the film, directly breaking the fourth wall.
• The Breather: “(Heavy Breathing)” – The Breather’s signature heavy breathing on the phone becomes a running gag, parodying slasher film tropes.
• Principal Peters: “Hasn’t there been enough senseless killing? Let’s have a murder that makes sense!” – Principal Peters’ clueless remark highlights the film’s absurd take on the slasher genre.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $450,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: $5,165,432
• Worldwide Gross: $5,165,432

💥 Student Bodies Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, ‘Student Bodies’ isn’t high art, but it’s a blast from the past. The constant stream of silly jokes and ridiculous situations kept me entertained, even when the humor felt dated. I loved the ‘Breather’ and his bizarre weapon choices, and the constant commentary on horror movie clichés was surprisingly clever. The ending was a bit of a letdown, but overall, it’s a fun, nostalgic watch if you don’t take it too seriously. It’s funny that the movie literally stops just so a censor can have a direct word with the audience.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 1980s horror comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy spoofs and parodies”
  • “Those looking for a campy, low-budget film”
  • “People interested in the history of slasher films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence (comedic)”
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Potentially offensive stereotypes”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While aiming for ‘Airplane!’-style absurdity in the slasher genre, ‘Student Bodies’ mostly trips over its own feet, delivering jokes that are more groan-inducing than laugh-out-loud funny. A valiant effort, but ultimately falls flat.
• AllMovie: “A cult classic for those who enjoy their horror with a side of silliness. ‘Student Bodies’ relentlessly mocks slasher tropes, but its humor is hit-or-miss. Still, its sheer audacity and commitment to the absurd make it a memorable watch.

Audience Reactions

The absurdity and non-stop jokes make it a cult classic.: Viewers appreciate the movie’s self-awareness and relentless parody of slasher films.

Overall Consensus: A cult classic that’s either hilarious or painfully unfunny, depending on your taste for absurd humor.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Michael Ritchie, the producer, was so unhappy with the final product that he had his name removed and replaced with the pseudonym ‘Alan Smithee’.”
• “The movie was made during a writer’s strike, which allowed Paramount to hire non-union writers and produce the film cheaply.”
• “Richard Belzer, who provided the voice of ‘The Breather’, was uncredited for his role.”

🖥️ How to Watch Student Bodies?

As a cult classic, “Student Bodies” availability can vary. Check streaming services like Prime Video, Tubi, or Pluto TV for free or subscription-based viewing. Purchase options include digital downloads from platforms like Amazon, Apple TV, or Google Play Movies. Physical copies on DVD or Blu-ray may be available through online retailers, or secondhand markets.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Student Bodies, you might like these similar films:

• Airplane! (1980): Shares the same style of rapid-fire, absurdist humor and spoofing of genre conventions.
• Scary Movie (2000): A more modern parody of the slasher genre, with similar meta-humor and references to horror tropes.
• Scream (1996): A horror film that also satirizes the genre and is aware of its own clichés.

🛒 Student Bodies Related Products

• Student Bodies [Blu-ray]: Relive the hilarious horror parody on Blu-ray with improved picture and sound quality. A must-have for fans of cult classic comedies.
• Rubber Chicken: A hilarious and nostalgic gag gift, reminiscent of The Breather’s unconventional communication method. Great for laughs and pranks.
• Green Rubber Gloves: Inspired by ‘The Breather’ a subtle nod for fans that gets everyone laughing. Rubber cleaning gloves feature a textured grip and durable construction.
• Horse Head Bookends: Own a piece of the iconic slasher parody with these vintage-style horse head bookends, a quirky and memorable item from the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

Student Bodies features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “When the Saints Go Marching In” – performed by Lamab High School Marching Band

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Brandon’s Cult Movie Reviews: STUDENT BODIES (RE-UPLOAD)

Ever wondered if ‘Student Bodies’ holds up as a parody? Brandon Tenold dives deep into this cult classic, and his points about its unique brand of humor are spot-on. Definitely worth a watch if you’re a fan of the film!

10 Underrated Horror Movie Parodies

Think you’ve seen all the great horror parodies? This video argues that ‘Student Bodies’ is an underrated gem alongside other hilarious films. I didn’t realize how many I’d missed, and it’s a fun watch!

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