Detention: The Siege at Johnson High

Detention: The Siege at Johnson High
Directed by	Michael W. Watkins
Produced by	Matthew Loze Steve Natt
Written by	Larry Golin
Starring	Rick Schroder Freddie Prinze, Jr. Katie Wright Alexis Cruz
Music by	Brian Adler
Distributed by	Hill/Fields Entertainment (USA)
Release date(s)	May 19, 1997
Running time	93 min.
Language	English

Detention: The Siege at Johnson High (a.k.a. Hostage High and Target for Rage) is a 1997 drama thriller film based on the Lindhurst High School shooting which was a high school shooting and siege on May 1, 1992. The film stars Rick Schroder, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Katie Wright, Alexis Cruz, and Henry Winkler. The script was written by Larry Golin and directed by Michael W. Watkins. The film was released on May 19, 1997.

Plot

The film takes place in the fictional Johnson High School. Years ago, Jason Copeland, now 24, failed his final exams and did not graduate, for which he still holds his History teacher, Mr. Kroft responsible. He decides to take revenge and enters the same school with a 12-gauge shotgun, a revolver, and a massive supply of ammunition. He first starts shooting around, hitting several students. After shooting Mr. Kroft, he decides to take as many hostages as possible. Among them is Aaron Sullivan, a gifted but lazy student who is assigned to answer the phone. Meanwhile, Frankie Rodriguez, the class clown, is ordered to be the message boy, picking up and delivering information and other stuff from the FBI - including the phone - to Jason.

On the other line of the phone is Skip Fine, the only hostage negotiator in their town, despite being generally regarded as less than the brightest penny on the local police force. He attempts to convince Jason to release his hostages and is almost successful, until Jason suddenly hears a noise from the halls. Frankie is set out to locate the remaining persons in school and he finds a filled class room, but only takes back one pupil. Jason soon notices this, when he hears an FBI agent trying to break into that room. He ends up shooting him and taking the remaining students hostage.

Meanwhile, Skip decides to quit, feeling he is not prepared enough to be involved with such a responsible job. Jason, however, refuses to talk to the FBI and insists on speaking to Skip only. From this point, Jason softens up, allowing the hostages to order food. Not realizing the seriousness of the situation, most hostages still think Jason is only using the weapons as a threat, and most of them do not realize he has already fatally hit people, including Mr. Kroft. Aaron, meanwhile, wins Jason's trust and is able to deliver local cop Matt Eckert a list with the names of all 62 hostages. Matt is shocked to find out that among them is his daughter Samantha. On his way back, Aaron and Frankie find the body of Travis McGill, one of the few students killed, and they finally realize how dangerous Jason really is.

After being back in the room where the people are taken hostage, Aaron is allowed to let 15 people go. He offers Samantha to be one of them, but she insists on staying. When Jason finds out six students have already been rumored to be killed, he loses his temper and puts a gun to Samantha's head. Skip, however, is able to talk him out of shooting her. Afterwards, he loses his attention for a moment, during which Aaron and Samantha help several people escape. A sniper is ready to shoot Jason, but Skip insists on convincing Jason to give himself up instead. Soon, another 20 students are released and Jason signs a contract in which he agrees on letting go the remaining hostages if he is sent to jail for under five years.

Despite an attempted attack on Jason by Frankie, for killing Travis, every student is eventually released. Jason thanks Aaron for his help and gives himself in to the police afterwards. Aaron and Samantha are embraced as the heroes of the tragedy and Jason is sent to death row for killing four people.

Characters

• Freddie Prinze, Jr. - Aaron Sullivan
• Rick Schroder - Jason Copeland
• Katie Wright - Samantha Eckert
• Alexis Cruz - Frankie Rodriguez
• Patrick Malone - Travis McGill
• Pat Finn - Mr. Kroft
• Troy Bryant - Matt Eckert
• Ren Woods - Mrs. McGill
• Henry Winkler - Skip Fine
• Michael Flynn - Sheriff Randall

External links

Detention: The Siege at Johnson High at the Internet Movie Database