Films sharing characteristics with 1998’s The Faculty typically blend science fiction, horror, and teen drama. These narratives often feature a parasitic or alien invasion threatening a high school setting, with a small group of students uncovering and combating the extraterrestrial menace. Common themes include paranoia, body horror, social commentary on adolescence, and the struggle against conformity.
This subgenre taps into primal fears of the unknown and the loss of identity, amplified by the anxieties inherent in the high school experience. The blend of genres provides both thrilling escapism and allegorical explorations of societal pressures and the challenges of growing up. Emerging in the late 20th century, this type of film gained popularity alongside a resurgence in teen-centric horror and science fiction, reflecting cultural anxieties about the future and the complexities of adolescence.