The Faculty: Best Call Backs And References In The Cult Classic

The Faculty didn’t garner a massive response upon its release. However, many fans call the movie a cult classic in the years since its release. Some viewers say The Faculty is the best horror movie of the 1990s. At first glance, it seems to present a singular story perhaps rooted in action rather than subtext.

However, the film seems to reference several other works in science fiction and literature. Furthermore, there are strands in the script that follow themes and it sometimes calls back to earlier moments as the film continues. After seeing these moments, The Faculty seems richer than fans might initially think.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers

To fans of The Faculty, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers is the most obvious reference in the film. The plot mirrors the narrative of the classic sci-fi film and novel it is based on, The Body Snatchers. Furthermore, the title is referenced in the film by its characters.

When Stokely Mitchell and Casey Connor discuss the unusual behavior of the teachers at Herrington High, Stokely brings up the title and its similarity to their situation. Furthermore, Stokely points out that The Body Snatchers is “a blatant ripoff of The PuppetMaster.” In this line, she calls attention to The Faculty‘s reworking of The Body Snatchers‘ plot.

“The Only Alien In School”

One of the less noticeable callbacks in The Faculty appears after the invasion has begun to take over most of the school. When Stokely sits on the bleachers with Marybeth, they discuss the alien takeover. Stokely quips that she “thought the only alien in this high school was me.”

Keen listeners will notice this isn’t the first time this phrase is used. Before the main students fully have their suspicions confirmed, they discuss them in the science classroom. When Zeke Tyler pretends to be infected, then reveals he is mocking Casey, he stumbles into the room. He looks at Casey saying, “the only person in this school who is an alien in school is you.”

“Put A Pen In My Eye”

Many fans might say one of the most iconic scenes in The Faculty comes with Jon Stewart’s Mr. Furlong, the science teacher. He reveals he is infected and attacks the main group of students. He is taken down when a pen full of Zeke’s “scat” is stuck in his eye. The memorable scene drives the plot, revealing the group’s method of both testing their infection status and killing their enemies.

In an early scene in the movie, Mr. Furlong is introduced in the faculty lounge. The apathetic teachers complain about the upcoming day. Mr. Furlong can be heard making the sarcastic remark, “maybe I should just put a pen in my eye,” after he is ignored when trying to talk to Nurse Harper.

Robinson Crusoe

Early on in the film, Ms. Burke is shown teaching her class about Robinson Crusoe. Ms. Burke, one of The Faculty‘s more likable characters, asks her class what Crusoe’s greatest fear is. She says it is isolation, while Zeke elaborates that it is the “internal agony of his loneliness. “Isolation is one of The Faculty‘s consistent themes. The invasion brings together several students from different cliques that are each isolated within them.

Some are classic loners like Stokely, while others like Stan Rosado feel disconnected from the popular groups of which they are a part. Marybeth speaks of loneliness like Crusoe’s after she is revealed as the alien queen. She says that the main students lead a “disaffected lonely life.” She talks about trying to make them “part of something special.”

The Thing

The Thing is one of John Carpenter‘s highest-rated movies. The sci-fi horror classic seems to be given an homage during The Faculty when the main group of teens gathers at Zeke’s house. The group all must prove they aren’t infected by sampling Zeke’s diuretic drug which kills the alien parasites.

In The Thing, MacReady forces his group to take a blood test to see which one of them is infected by an alien force. He wields a handgun, making everyone participates, just like Zeke. He uses a scalpel to take blood samples, which Zeke uses on the parasite to investigate its makeup. In both scenes, one member of the group is revealed to be infected.

T2: Judgement Day

There are several apparent references to T2: Judgement Day in The Faculty. However, these aren’t as obvious as Invasion of the Body Snatchers or even Robinson Crusoe. The nods seem to appear in the names of the characters. They provide one of the multiple examples of The Faculty‘s self-aware nature.

Coach Willis is played by Robert Patrick who famously played the T-1000 in T2. There seems to be a nod to this with Casey’s last name of Connor, perhaps referencing Sarah and John. However, it is hard to argue that there isn’t a reference in the science teacher’s full name, Edward Furlong. Furlong famously plays John Connor in T:2.

“Guaranteed To Jack You Up”

Perhaps the most recognizable callback in The Faculty comes during its arguable peak climatic moment. After the alien queen is revealed and turns into a massive monster, Casey kills her with one final pen full of Zeke’s drug. He stabs her saying, “guaranteed to jack you up!”

This line is first said when Zeke is introduced to audiences. He sells two students the drug, handing them two pens saying, “guaranteed to jack you up.” Viewers perhaps don’t realize the importance of the pens when they are first established.

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