If you're expecting a tension-filled horror film from the title 'Exit Pupils', you'll likely be disappointed. In this story, suspense and mystery take a backseat to an unexpected narrative focus: teen psychic abilities.
Making her directorial debut, Clare Cooney keeps us invested not with clever murder scenes or hair-raising panic but with a fascinating twist in our protagonist’s life. In a typical high school bullying scenario, we meet our hero, Javier (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio), a queer, Mexican-American high-schooler who is always at the receiving end of the jocks' high jinks. After a bad fall on the school staircase, he wakes up in the hospital to discover an unusual ability: he can visualize people’s pasts and futures simply from touching an object they've interacted with.
This newfound power becomes especially revolting when a killer prowls the school hallways just before graduation, and astoundingly, Javier is helpless to prevent the upcoming horror. Screenwriter Jose Nateras borrows the underlying plot device from Stephen King’s 'The Dead Zone,' yet masterfully adds his twists through the lens of high school, sprinkling in the right amount of humour.
Diaz-Silverio, as Javier, is brilliantly cast, being both smart and disarmingly funny. His bond with Bianca (Ireon Roach), characterized by her sharp-witted humor, adds further dimension to the story. As the plot unfolds, it becomes evident that the charming newbie, William (Ryan Foreman), also plays a significant role in Javier’s unusual circumstances. Other members of the cast, including the stereotypical mean girl valedictorian (Maisie Merlock) and a kind English teacher (Yani Gellman), add more color to this twisted tale.
However, this film is not without its drawbacks. Certain plot elements, like the details of the first murder on campus, leave room for skepticism. Also, the film's technical proficiency and pacing sometimes leave much to be desired. But, in the grand tradition of horror movies, 'Exit Pupils' leaves us dangling with the possibility of a sequel, hinting that the masked murderer is not done yet.
