A well-made film, _Massacre at Central High_, tells the story of a young man from a less fortunate background who finds himself attending an exclusive school along the Southern California coast. There, a group of students, overseen by a teacher with a Vietnam War past, work to maintain order and prevent trouble. The leader of this group, called the Sentinels (played by John Stockwell), attempts to recruit him, but his behavior becomes increasingly overbearing. This movie shares similarities with “Dangerously Close,” which came out a decade later and had the same producer. I mention this because their plots and settings have parallels, though _Massacre_ avoids the strange turn of events that occurs in the latter half of "Dangerously Close" and is generally better. It also echoes elements of "Tuff Turf," although it’s more concentrated; while “Tuff Turf” is enjoyable, it seemed to be trying to do too much at once. There are even touches reminiscent of "Eddie and the Cruisers," but without the music element. The soundtrack stands out as a strong point, showcasing popular 80's pop rock and new wave artists, including tracks like “Stripped” by Depeche Mode and “Blood and Roses” by The Smithereens. Carey Lowell performs adequately in her role, as do Dedee Pfeiffer and Karen Lorre; however, their characters don’t get the development they deserve. Conversely, Don Michael Paul is effective portraying a Sentinel exhibiting "toxic masculinity." If you enjoy other teen movies from the 80s like “Valley Girl” or “The Karate Kid,” chances are you'll find something to like in this little-known film. It had an impact on "Some Kind of Wonderful," which was released the following year, but _Massacre_ emphasizes the conflicts between the male students rather than focusing on romantic relationships. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 35 minutes and was filmed throughout the Los Angeles area, including locations like Glendale High School, Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas, Marina del Rey, and Redondo Beach. GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB