The Faculty is a late-90s sci-fi horror cult classic directed by Robert Rodriguez, blending high-school drama with body-snatching paranoia. Below is a complete, spoiler-filled guide covering everything from its plot structure to easter eggs and behind-the-scenes insights.
Detailed Summary
The Strange Behavior at Herrington High
Herrington High School is your typical American high school battleground—cliques, bullies, burnout teachers—until the faculty suddenly start acting… off. Coach Willis is the first to show unnerving signs of aggression and abnormal behavior. Soon after, other teachers begin mirroring this cold, alien-like demeanor.
The movie wastes no time signaling that an extraterrestrial presence has invaded the school. Students notice, but of course, no one listens to them.
The Outcast Breakfast-Club Squad Forms
A mismatched group of students—Casey (the geek), Delilah (the popular girl), Stokely (the goth), Stan (the athlete who wants to quit), Zeke (the genius rebel), and Marybeth (the new girl)—band together after Casey discovers a bizarre parasitic creature near the football field.
They quickly realize that the teachers are being taken over by alien parasites. When they test Zeke’s homemade drug, “SCAT,” on infected faculty, it reveals the aliens’ vulnerability, pushing the students into full survival mode.
Identifying the Alien Queen
The group concludes that killing the “queen” parasite will free everyone from infection. But determining who the queen is becomes a tense guessing game. Suspicion turns inward, tempers flare, and paranoia spikes—classic body-snatcher tension.
Marybeth, the seemingly sweet and innocent newcomer, eventually reveals her true nature as the alien queen. Her transformation is one of the film’s most iconic sequences.
Movie Ending
After Marybeth fully exposes herself as the alien queen, she hunts the remaining uninfected students through the school’s locker rooms. In a desperate confrontation, Casey lures the massive alien form into the retractable stadium bleachers. As the bleachers close in, the alien is crushed—but not before infecting Casey with a parasite.
In a painful struggle, Casey stabs the alien with SCAT just before the bleachers lock, killing her and destroying the parasite. Once the queen dies, the remaining parasites in infected people dissolve. The entire town is freed.
The aftermath reveals a dramatically changed social landscape:
- Stan and Stokely become a couple.
- Zeke joins the football team.
- Casey becomes a media hero.
- Delilah tones down her mean-girl persona.
Casey ends the film as both a survivor and an unexpected symbol of bravery, subtly highlighting one of the movie’s themes: ordinary people can be extraordinary when circumstances demand it.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Faculty does not have a post-credits scene. Once the ending montage concludes, the credits roll traditionally.
Type of Movie
The Faculty is a sci-fi horror thriller with strong teen-drama elements. It blends body-snatcher paranoia with a playful 90s tone, making it both suspenseful and fun.
Cast
- Elijah Wood as Casey Connor
- Josh Hartnett as Zeke Tyler
- Clea DuVall as Stokely Mitchell
- Jordana Brewster as Delilah Profitt
- Shawn Hatosy as Stan Rosado
- Laura Harris as Marybeth Louise Hutchinson
- Robert Patrick as Coach Willis
- Salma Hayek as Nurse Harper
- Famke Janssen as Miss Burke
- Jon Stewart as Professor Furlong
- Bebe Neuwirth as Principal Drake
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Marco Beltrami, known for his work on Scream and Halloween H20. The soundtrack heavily features 90s alternative rock, including covers of “Another Brick in the Wall” by Class of ’99 (Layne Staley + Tom Morello), perfectly enhancing the rebellious high-school atmosphere.
Filming Locations
The movie was mainly shot in Austin, Texas, and surrounding towns.
These locations were chosen because:
- They offered an authentic small-town American high school vibe.
- The school buildings had the right mix of “ordinary” and “slightly eerie.”
- The open fields and stadium allowed for large-scale scenes, like the alien showdown.
The setting reinforces the idea that even the most normal places can hide unimaginable dangers.
Awards and Nominations
While the film didn’t win major mainstream awards, it received recognition in genre circles, including:
- Saturn Award nominations for Best Horror Film
- MTV Movie Award nominations for its cast performances
It has since become a cult classic, earning long-term appreciation.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Robert Rodriguez infused the film with his signature gritty/DIY style, even within a Hollywood framework.
- Many cast members have shared that the creature effects and makeup were so realistic they were genuinely unsettling to work with.
- The SCAT powder used on set was mostly sugar and caffeine powder mixtures.
- Jon Stewart joked that his character’s dramatic death scene required the most time he ever spent in a makeup chair.
- The football scenes were filmed during real Texas heat waves, causing multiple crew members to overheat.
Inspirations and References
- Loosely inspired by the classic sci-fi tale “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”.
- The screenplay incorporates tropes from teen 80s films, especially those by John Hughes.
- The faculty-as-monsters concept references earlier horror movies such as The Thing and The Puppet Masters.
- Kevin Williamson (of Scream fame) polished the script, bringing meta-humor and self-aware dialogue.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Known removed content includes:
- A longer ending sequence showing more town reactions after the invasion.
- Additional scenes of Marybeth trying to blend in with other students.
- Extended transformation shots deemed too graphic for the film’s rating.
No official alternate ending was produced, but early drafts suggested the queen might survive in a cliffhanger-style twist.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The Faculty is not based on a book; however, a novelization was released after the movie.
Differences in the novelization include:
- More inner monologues for each student.
- Additional backstory for Marybeth explaining her motives.
- More graphic descriptions of parasite transformations.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Casey discovering the alien parasite on the football field.
- The drug-test scene where each student must inhale SCAT to prove they’re human.
- Marybeth revealing herself as the queen in the gym showers.
- Zeke crashing his car into the bus during the chaotic faculty ambush.
Iconic Quotes
- “If you were going to take over the world, would you blow up the White House Independence Day-style? Or sneak in through the back door?”
- “I think aliens are taking over the school.”
- “Guaranteed to jack you up.” — Zeke
- “I don’t belong. Not really.” — Stokely
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The parasite design is subtly inspired by H.R. Giger’s early concept sketches.
- Many faculty names reference classic sci-fi authors.
- The alien queen’s final form shares design similarities with The Thing, a nod Rodriguez confirmed in interviews.
- Zeke’s basement lab includes posters for classic B-horror films.
Trivia
- Elijah Wood described The Faculty as the project that helped him transition from child roles to more mature ones.
- Josh Hartnett improvised much of Zeke’s sarcastic dialogue.
- The film was shot before CGI became mainstream, so practical effects dominate.
- The alien queen required multiple puppeteers and animatronics.
- Robert Rodriguez reused some crew from From Dusk Till Dawn.
Why Watch?
Because The Faculty perfectly captures that rare blend of teen drama, sci-fi paranoia, and horror fun. It’s stylish, suspenseful, surprisingly clever, and filled with early performances from actors who later became major stars. If you love body-snatcher stories, 90s teen movies, or creature features, this one is essential viewing.
Director’s Other Movies
- El Mariachi (1992)
- Desperado (1995)
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
- Spy Kids (2001)
- Sin City (2005)
- Planet Terror (2007)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
- Scream (1996)
- The Thing (1982)
- Disturbing Behavior (1998)
- Slither (2006)
