Back to school, commies!
I realize that suburban horror is a slow-growing "it" subgenre. It's never going to explode to the level of zombies or vampires. I would even say, public education is the new frontier in horror. The multiple narrator format is not exactly original but very effective, contributing to the effect of a puzzle.
If you are considering a career in public education, think twice. You will have to deal with the same mental torments as the martyr/protagonist Justine. As a teacher, there are so many things you cannot do. So many restrictions, taboos, hangups, hidden mines aka "boundaries". You cannot hug a crying child. You cannot give the child a ride home. In many cases it's almost easier to look away and pretend like you don't see the child's suffering, because there are ramifications for getting too involved. At the same time, there are so many stories of bullying, child abuse, abduction. As a teacher, you have to have thick skin and minimal peripheral vision. To preserve your own mental health, you have to tune down your empathy and altruism. This is the main theme of the movie.
There were a couple of moments that took me out of the story, oddly placed allusions and cameos. The shadow of a giant firearm hanging above the "haunted" house. A little too obvious. Is it a hint to a school shooting? The villainness, Gladys, is made to look like Pennywise's cousin. The bright orange wig and clownish makeup makes her stand out. She would have been much more sinister in the form of a regular soccer mom. That would help her blend in with the community and do even more damage.
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