Assassination of a High School President

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Brett Simon directs. M. David Mullen behind the camera. Daniele Luppi scores. William M. Anderson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Earned back only 1% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
• 2Released 18 years ago.
• 3Directed by Brett Simon, shot by M. David Mullen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Daniele Luppi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor William M. Anderson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Reece Thompson and Mischa Barton and Bruce Willis carry the top of the cast.
• 7Marketing tagline: "Politics, popularity, paranoia, pharmaceuticals. Are you in?".
• 8IMDB entry: tt1018818 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 9Classified under 19 themes, including "high school", "journalism", "investigation", "chewing gum".
• 10Released under 19 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography

M. David Mullen

Original score

Daniele Luppi

Editing

William M. Anderson

Production design

Sharon Lomofsky

Costume design

Amy Westcott

Sound

Leslie Shatz

Stunt coordinator

Douglas Crosby

Runtime

94 min · 1h 34m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$11,500,000

Box office

$69,564

Return

1% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

Assassination of a High School President (2008) ↗

Also by

Brett Simon

• 
  Better Start Running

  2018 · ★ 5.9

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

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Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Assassination of A High School President

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Andres Gomez2014-02-05
  ★ 8/10

  Really interesting movie that starts with a hilarious first half an hour but that it is unable to keep the level until the end. Still, it is worthy to be watched.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Yari Film Group

  US

• 

  Vertigo Entertainment

  US

Key crew

• CastingSuzanne Smith Crowley
• Costume DesignAmy Westcott
• ProducerBob Yari
• ProducerDoug Davison
• ProducerRoy Lee
• CastingBilly Hopkins
• CastingKerry Barden
• EditorWilliam M. Anderson
• Set DecorationRobert Covelman
• Art DirectionAnu Schwartz
• EditorThomas J. Nordberg
• CastingNancy Nayor
• Production DesignSharon Lomofsky
• Supervising Sound EditorPerry Robertson
• Sound Re-Recording MixerLeslie Shatz
• Property MasterAlmitra Corey
• Stunt CoordinatorDouglas Crosby
• Camera OperatorWayne Paull
• Music EditorRichard A. Harrison
• LeadmanDavid Scott Gagnon
• Supervising Sound EditorBarney Cabral
• FoleySanaa Kelley
• Sound Re-Recording MixerChris David
• Set CostumerTracy Nishimoto

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• high school
• journalism
• investigation
• chewing gum
• exam
• conspiracy
• school
• theft
• framed
• high school student
• frame up
• school paper
• investigative reporter
• drug
• student council
• narrator
• test
• high school president
• high school mystery

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical (limited)2008-01-17R

Also known as

International titles

• Assassination of a High School PresidentUS
• Убийство школьного президентаRU
• Assassinat d'un PrésidentFR
• 高中校长暗杀事件CN
• Merénylet a suligóré ellenHU
• The AssassinationGB
• Atentát na středníCZ
• Provas e TrapaçasBR
• Szkola zgorszeniaPL
• The SophomoreUS
• The High School ConspiracySE
• Asesinato De Un Presidente De La Escuela SecundariaSV
• La conspiración (El asesino)ES
• El asesinoES
• The Assassination - Al Centro Del ComplottoIT