Review of Detention (2012) by Eli T — 01 Jan 2014

Detention is, at its core, an oddball. The plot haphazardly flops around, spewing out ultra meta romanticized 90's and pop culture references in a blur of double conversations and dizzying jump cuts.

The ironic, wannabe hipster film employs such a determined use of exploitative psychosis that it doesn't even come across as pretentious - in fact, it can be quite fun to watch. Twisting and turning, ever-unfocused, and often disappointingly vapid, Detention nonetheless fails to be the cult horror-comedy it aspires to be.

With an obvious lack of plot, including a closing voice-over that sardonically complains about the soundtrack being played too loud, it hits the sweet spot of obfuscated chaos and barely tolerable pacing.

Extremely frustrating in some points, wildly entertaining in others, and blithely retrograde the whole way through, Detention's relentlessly esoteric quirkiness succeeds in transcending its low budget, creating a film that actually isn't half bad.