Final, The (2010)
Reviewed by Scott A. Johnson
Starring Marc Donato, Jascha Washington, Witney Hoy, Justin Arnold, Travis Tedford, Julin, Lindsay Seidel
Directed by Joey Stewart
Distributed by After Dark Films and Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Nerds and outcasts take a lot of flack from the popular folks for no other reason than they’re different. And for as long as they’ve been abused, there have been movies about them getting revenge. But instead of panty raids and hidden cameras a la Revenge of the Nerds, imagine what would’ve happened if the nerds were just a little more demented, if they had been pushed just a little too far. What would it be like if the popular kids really got their comeuppance?
The Final is the story of one such group of misfits pushed too far. They plan an elaborate costume party, drug the guests, and take out their revenge to teach them all lessons. Of course, those lessons must be painful and horrifying, but they need to be taught it seems.
While the film itself is the kind that makes people laugh nervously as it overstates its point, what makes this movie so well done is not only the actors involved, but the extreme level to which they go. Seriously, who hasn’t been picked on by the school’s ace jock? Or mocked by the flirty-slut-popular girls? And wouldn’t it be great to, oh…maybe cut off the jock’s fingers so he can’t play football? Disfigure a bitch because she deserves it?
While the ringleader of the group, Dane, does get a bit super-villainy and monologues throughout the whole thing, preaching about how wronged he was and how they turned him into a monster, it is surprisingly effective in this setting. However, the show is stolen, lock stock and barrel, by Lindsay Seidel, who plays the cute and demented Emily. When she’s on the screen, there’s a whole lot of spooky going on, and I mean that in a good way.
One reason why The Final rings so haunting is because of tragedies like Columbine, where the people who thought they were slighted decided to seek revenge. This film is the logical progression, showing just what can happen when someone is pushed too far.
4 out of 5
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