Extracurricular (2018)

Directed by: Ray Xue | 90 minutes | drama, horror | Actors: Keenan Tracey, Brittany Raymond, Spencer Macpherson, Brittany Teo, Stephen Bogaert, Emmanuel Kabongo, Luke Goss, Joshua Joel Bailey, Richard Clarkin, Madeleine Claude, Suzanne Cyr, Trisha Larocque, Shanel Maida, Jean Paul Najm, Rachel Noel-Gard , Emilie Ullerup, David Webster

If you thought that students who get the best grades are only concerned with their school performance, you are wrong. In their spare time they are mainly engaged in plotting assassination attempts. The students in ‘Extracurricular’ have some strange extracurricular activities. But how long can this go well?

Director Ray Xue zooms in on the violent tendencies of Miriam, Derek, Ian and Jenny. This foursome gets a kick out of blood. The police have their hands in their hair and are trying to apprehend the perpetrators of the horrific murders.

Films about murderous youngsters are not new, but Xue manages to give his film a special atmosphere. The villains are young, smart, and sharp, but still immature. There’s something childlike about them, while at the same time being ice cold and calculated. The cast is doing well and given the limited budget, Xue made a good choice in the casting. The actors perform well.

The murders are also nicely graphically portrayed. The soundtrack and camera work help to create a nice uncomfortable atmosphere. ‘Extracurricular’ is at times an exciting and disturbing film that gets under your skin. A little more depth in the form of a motif would have done the film well, but unfortunately that is not in it. The reason for the murders remains underexposed and that is a shame.

What Remains is an enjoyable thriller that shows murders from the killer’s point of view. What matters here is the execution of the perpetrators and not the consequences for the victims. This twist gives Xue’s film a special ambiance. This film will not become a classic or cult hit, because this production remains too superficial for that. Fans of smooth slashers made on a modest budget but with a lot of love for the genre will certainly appreciate this film.