‘Some are dying to leave the profession!’
Teacher Shortage is a 2020 American slasher horror film about a mysterious killer stalking and murdering teachers.
Written and directed by Troy Escamilla (Mrs. Claus; Party Night) the Fright Meter Films production stars Brinke Stevens (Delta Delta Die!; Jacko-O; Teenage Exorcist; et al), Debra Lamb (Blood Craft; Lake of Shadows: The Legend of Avocado Lake; The American Scream), Roger Conner (director and star of Rebirth), Julie Anne Prescott, Tamara Glynn and Kaylee Williams.
Plot:
What is supposed to be an educational and collaborative weekend professional development session for the English Department of Prescott High School instead turns into a blood-soaked nightmare when a masked killer targets them…
[May contain spoilers] Reviews:
“Given its limited budget, Escamilla has crafted an excellent body count movie with a narrative maybe slightly predictable, but yet this does not distract from how the story unfolds. Interestingly the director has chosen to add more LGBT characters into the mix, making this a refreshing change from the tried and tested tropes of slashers of yesteryear.” Bloody Flicks
“Teacher Shortage isn’t going to blow your hair back, but it has a lot more going for it than it doesn’t. The music is stylish, it really sets the tone right off the bat. The cast is solid, they all seem happy to be there and they definitely know what they’re doing. And who doesn’t love cameos from your favorite horror actresses?” Cinedump
“As the majority of the flaws present aren’t even that detrimental in any way, the positives here come off far more overwhelming into making for a highly enjoyable effort as this continues his ascent as a fine indie-based slasher director.” Don’s World of Exploitation
“Teacher Shortage builds to a satisfying climax, made even more so by a standout performance by Roger Conner in a twist that, albeit not ground-breaking, proves that you can have a hell of a fun ride without reinventing the wheels beneath you. Recommended.” Horror Fix
“All the cast did a phenomenal job. And I was highly impressed with a few actors I had never watched before. I highly recommend Teacher Shortage. If you are a fan of slashers, Troy’s other films, and giallo movies you will absolutely love this one.” HNN
“Teacher Shortage has an excess of blood, guts and teenager angst, matched perfectly with drama, thrills and tons of surprises (like the first on-screen kill) […] Teacher Shortage is a worthy addition to any movie night party, an indie masterpiece and a horror film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. You’re going to love it.” Horror Society
“Having seen Troy Escamilla’s previous films, I must say Teacher Shortage shows his growth and vision as a director. It’s a unique and fun murder story, that keeps you on your toes as you try to guess who the killer is. If you’re like me, you’ll have no clue… until the very end.” Pop Horror
“Being a slasher there are many kills, and they do ramp up in regularity, but they are nicely spaced so is always a new one to look forward to. In general, the editing has improved, I mentioned in my review of Mrs Claus that some of the kills came off as a bit stilted, but here with some fast-paced editing these kills are more fluid.” The Rotting Zombie
” …director Escamilla seems to take quite some inspiration from Italian giallo cinema from the 1970s and early 80s regarding his use of music and the rather stylish (yet pretty gruesome) murder scenes, which is a quality too rarely seen in today’s cinema and certainly adds to this movie’s charm. Well worth a look for sure!” Search My Trash
Release:
Bayview Films released Teacher Shortage on DVD on October 27th 2020. The film is also available to buy or rent on VOD from Amazon.com
Cast and characters:
Brinke Stevens … Kathryn
Debra Lamb … Sue Steel
Julie Anne Prescott … Bartender
Tamara Glynn … Linda
Kaylee Williams … Lauren Parker
Mel Heflin … Valerie Battles
Roger Conners … Michael Perry
Joe Grisaffi … Mr Blatty
David E. McMahon … James Curtis
Dan Braverman … Janitor
Madison Randolph … Student
Dave McClain … John
Chris Jehnert … Ryan Billings
Ashley La Porta … Brenda Newton
Maye Harris … Andrea Curtis
Filming locations:
Houston, Texas
Technical details:
86 minutes
Trailer:
Full film free to watch online:
