Malibu High

Director - Irvin Berwick (Hitch Hike to Hell, The Monster of Piedras Blacas)
Starring - Jill Lansing, Stuart Taylor (The Waltons), and Katie Johnson (The Operation, Tracey On...)
Release Date - 1979
Genre - Crime/Drama
Tagline - "Every teacher in school wanted to FLUNK her...but nobody dared"
Format - BluRay (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

       I decided to step away from horror for a little bit and check out some Vinegar Syndrome releases that have been placed on the back burner since I became ill.  After watching the unusual erotic crime film China Girl I decided to keep the sleaze going and toss in Malibu High.  The artwork put me in mind of a late 70s and early 80s teen sex comedy like Porky's and Meatballs.  Sadly, it was neither.  The film was not bad in anyway but the artwork did not fit the film.  Malibu High was actually a very dark and bleak crime drama but we still got some sleazy scenes.  Thank you Vinegar Syndrome for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out!
     The film follows highschooler Kim Bentley (Lansing) who was just dumped by her boyfriend for another girl.  She gives up on academia and starts slacking.  Overtime her grades start reflecting her negativity and risks not graduating so she sets in motion to seduce her mail teachers in order to get an "A" in her classes.  When this works satisfactorily she decides to become a prostitute and make some serious cash. When her pimp fails to offer her the right percentage she leaves him for another one that turns her into a hired gun.  While pulling a hit she finds herself taking out the father of her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend. After she takes him out she is spotted by them and is forced to make a run for it before the police arrive.
     Malibu High was not the film I was expecting.  My initial thought of the film is that I was going to watch a sleazy comedy from the late 70s but the film is actually a little more to it than that.  There is no humor but it is gritty and fast paced.  I enjoyed it but I'm still a little mad that the artwork was not an accurate depiction of the film.  The acting in this one is entertaining.  The cast could have used a little more experience but its far from being bad.  Jill Lansing is great as portraying a bitch.  Her character is really hard to like but she is pretty and does a solid job on her performance.  The supporting cast is solid as well but no character truly stood out...not even Jill Lansing's Kim.  The story for this one is very entertaining.  Following a beautiful young woman as she screws her way to a diploma before killing people was fun but I do have some problems with the overall film.  It is awkward watching a supposed high school girl sleep with teachers.  Putting the setting in college would have made it less awkward.  I did enjoy the speed of the film and how quick the story was to pick up.  Finally, the film does have several on screen kills.  These kills are extremely lackluster and unoriginal.  The effects were nonexistent making it impossible to enjoy.  Overall, Malibu High is not the film you expect but you will still enjoy yourself.  It is sleazy at times before it gives us grit.  Check it out!