"Unsettles without illuminating, marred by narcotic pacing and a blank lead performance."
-Justin Chang, VARIETY"It's both a supremely controlled exercise in form and tone and an intriguing exploration of the ways new technology intersects with age-old questions of dominance, control and individuality, particularly in the school setting."
-Andrew O'Hehir, SALON.COM
Similar to the themes of DEMONLOVER and the pacing of CACHE, AFTERSCHOOL is a deconstructed thriller examining the possible effects of new media's impact on young minds. For centuries society has been question its relationship to entertainment and violence and AFTERSCHOOL continues this interrogation through the YouTube generation. No one would argue that Campos is navigating new territory, but his direction is assured and thought-provoking. In his first feature film Campos demonstrates a degree of clarity lacking in most debut filmmakers. He is a perfect example of an American filmmaker inspired by and in conversation with the New European Extreme. Haneke is a notable influence on Campos as both seem preoccupied with the effects of the new media landscape and its own preoccupations with violence. A more disturbing version of Catcher and the Rye, AFTERSCHOOL taps into the fears associated with new media and the negative aspects of its interactivity.
