The — Faculty
In the golden age of the “teen horror” revival sparked by Kevin Williamson's Scream , the genre delivered a host of imitators that tried—and mostly failed—to recapture that film’s self-aware magic. But nestled among those 90’s cult classics is a film that deserves a special place in the pantheon: The Faculty . Released on Christmas Day in 1998, this Robert Rodriguez-directed, Kevin Williamson-penned creature feature took the classic body-snatcher trope, transplanted it into a high school in Ohio, and injected it with enough punk-rock energy, clever meta-humor, and genuine scares to become a landmark film for a generation.
The term's usage is not universal. In British, Australian, and New Zealand English, "faculty" often refers to a sub-division of a university, such as the "Faculty of Medicine," which is a group of related academic departments. In these countries, the people we refer to as "faculty" in the U.S. are more commonly called "academics".
When horror fans talk about the titans of the 1990s, the conversation usually starts with Scream (1996). Wes Craven’s meta-slasher didn’t just revive the genre; it dissected it. But lurking just two years later, riding the same wave of teen angst and meta-awareness, is a film that deserves equal billing: . the faculty
Decades later, the film continues to find new audiences through streaming platforms and retrospective film festivals. It stands as a testament to a time when mid-budget, original genre films could take big swings, assemble incredible casts, and deliver pure, unadulterated cinematic fun.
The film also leaned heavily into its influences. It wasn't just a monster movie; it was a self-aware commentary on the genre. Characters openly discuss The Puppet Masters and The Thing , using their knowledge of movies to survive the real-life invasion. Why It Endures: The "Outsider" Theme In the golden age of the “teen horror”
The late 1990s witnessed a massive resurgence in teenage-centric cinema. Following the massive success of Scream (1996), Hollywood scrambled to replicate its winning formula: sharp-witted dialogue, an attractive ensemble cast of rising stars, and a meta-awareness of horror tropes. Amidst a sea of generic slashers, one film stood out by brilliantly blending Kevin Williamson’s signature teenage angst with old-school, paranoid science fiction. That film was The Faculty (1998).
Participating in administrative committees and community outreach. 3. Faculty Development The term's usage is not universal
Because faculty members are the "backbone" of educational institutions, significant resources are dedicated to their professional growth through . These programs aim to improve:
: Features a whimsical group portrait by Paul Kidby of the eccentric wizards of Unseen University, including Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully and the Librarian. Availability : It is sold through specialty retailers like the Discworld Emporium Discworld.com Academic & Film Contexts The phrase also appears in academic and media analysis: Academic Work Models
The film uses the literal "alien" invasion as a metaphor for the feeling of being an outsider in high school.