The Final (2010)

Using gruesome forms of torture, an unpopular high school kid leads a group of outcasts taking revenge on the "cool" kids who've always harassed them.

The bullied kids have banded together and plan to use their combined knowledge of horror movies to "teach them [the bullies] a lesson." To their credit, they do not intend to kill or harm any innocents, only to maim the bullies and leave then scarred so they will always remember be outcasts themselves. Every detail has been meticulously planned and they get them there under the guise of an "invitation only" Halloween costume party. On the night of the party, they pray for forgiveness and get to work.

 

The Final is a movie about bullying, taken to the absolute extreme. No time is wasted getting into the story as all the time before the torturing is spent visually explaining how bad the bullies are and how justified the kids are in retaliation. The Bullies, for what it's worth, are pretty unrepentant and literally tell them that the only reason they do what they do, is because they know that they can't be stopped. [Because they're bullies. And that's what they do!!!] So when they get revenged, you aren't supposed to feel bad for them.

I didn't know what to expect, but I definitely did not expect this. On one end, bullying is real and people do snap. But on the other end, if you let it break you, you're weak. Yes, it's easier to get a gun and kill, than it is to train and get revenge by being better person. But which is more satisfying?

[Oooh shit, I'm here comes a rant]

The problem with anti bullying movies is that it won't stop people from being bullied. To me it makes the victims look worse for having to go to such lengths.

And what's the end result? Maybe bullied kids should leave a note explaining in clear terms just why they've snapped. Maybe then we can address the core issues and stop blaming stupid shit like video games.

[Phew. Rant over. Cue somber point in 3..2..1...]

Everyone has a breaking point, but the lamest part is the realization that we can all be caught up in a revenge fest when bullying goes too far. These kids made sure to avoid the innocents, the ones in real life don't often make that distinction.

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Only of Nerd Rage!
Nudity? No