A Simplistic Review I Back to School Edition: The School Duel
Hey Kids! It’s Back to School Time!
That wonderful time of the year where you’re ready to see your friends after a long Summer, you get to compare those rad new Jansport backpacks, those new shoes your parents got you, and if you’re in Florida that awesome new semi-automatic rifle your Dad left you so you can sign up for an awesome new after school program where you get to shoot people and maybe become the new “King!”
Oh, I must be confused (or maybe your confused), I thought I was in ‘The School Duel’ the feel good movie for this upcoming 2025-26 School.
ding-ding
Class is in session; time to LEARN something.
While surely I jest most of the time, much like most of the books this year that kids will read this year (that haven’t been banned yet) ‘School,’ in my opinion should be required viewing for a future that might not be too far away.
The premise is simple; Gun Control is outlawed in the Free State of Florida (where else). Every year kids from all over the state volunteer to take part in The School Duel, a winner-take-all survival exercise broken into multiple rounds until there is only one student left who comes The King, while all the rest become Martyrs.
Unlike other ‘kids-killing-kids-in-school-or-for-resources’ genre for the YA readers/viewers, the combination of religious fundamentalism, the erasure of gun control, media sensationalism, and for good measure, good old militarized indoctrination makes ‘School’ stand apart from it’s contemporaries; it has the balls to be released when it’s being released; in a time in America that is living up to this film’s possible future.
Sure, that might be hyperbole, and I’m wearing my cynical hat, shirt, pants, underwear (maybe) and socks, but while I take movies like ‘The Hunger Games’ with a grain of salt, the way ‘School’ stays grounded (especially it’s performances) it gives me pause on what’s to make this our new reality in a future that might not be too far away.
ring ring
Well, that’s all for today. Make sure read pages 60-69 in your workbooks and see you all tomorrow…
