Class of Nuke Em High is one of the most defining films of the golden era of Troma, following The Toxic Avenger, of course. Released just two years after Toxie, Class of Nuke Em High was Troma's biggest video hit of the 80s, selling 100,000 copies in it's initial release alone! It, along with The Toxic Avenger, can not be missed by any self-respecting Troma fan.

The story goes something like this: Tromaville High School has having some problems ever since a nuclear power plant moved in a quarter of a mile away. The honors society has turned into violent drug-dealing punks known as the Cretins and students are melting away from contaminated water. After the Cretins sell some marijuana that was contaminated by the nuclear waste, the students begin to act even more strange. Caught right in the middle are a young couple: Chrissy and Warren. After having a hit of the radioactive marijuana, they experience freakish mutatations. They both begin to have bizarre dreams, Warren, bent on stopping the Cretins, finds himself having superhuman strength, and Chrissy finds herself orally giving birth to a freakish fetus that turns into a hideous monster when it meets up with some chemical waste in the high school basement.

Sure, the acting is sub-par, but think of all the classic independent horror movies that don't have good acting either. Okay, it may not have a perfectly consistant plot, but remember: this is a Troma movie! Class of Nuke Em High is a perfect representation of the usual claim that Troma movies are like comic books on celluloid.

The effects in the film, though often criticised by Lloyd Kaufman himself, are actually quite good, in my humble opinion. Within the first few minutes, we see the famous Bromo Seltzer puke that Troma's become famous for and towards the end, there's the "paper-mache monster" you often hear Lloyd complain about. I honestly don't think it looks bad at all. Actually one of my favorite effects ever in a Troma movie. Go figure.

Anyway, as I said before, no self-respecting Troma fan can miss Class of Nuke Em High. That's just how it is. If you haven't seen it, get off the internet and get a copy. But come back to this site after you get done, of course. :)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars