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Dead Deer High

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In the aftermath of a tragic shooting, a once-brilliant slam poetry team has lost their voice. While their English teacher, Mr. K, struggles to overcome his crippling fear of returning to the classroom, the team of young poets, led by Stephanie, must prepare for this year's slam championship just a few months away. The odds are stacked against them: they've lost their star poet, team members JT and Kyle are constantly fighting, the parents and administration are worried this is all "too soon," and the competition is tougher than ever. To win, and to heal, Mr. K and the kids must learn the power of their own voice on the national stage.

Critics Reviews

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Alan French Sunshine State Cineplex 1d
3/10
Dead Deer High is an admirable attempt to cover serious topics, but it gets in its own way rather than trust the audience. Go to Full Review Codie Allen Geek Vibes Nation Mar 14
9/10
Ultimately, Dead Deer High is not a film about closure or easy resolutions. It’s about witnessing grief, the messy process of healing, and the ways people—especially young people—use art to navigate trauma Go to Full Review Abe Friedtanzer Awards Buzz Mar 12
7/10
Rochelle’s second feature film is one that speaks to the present moment and a seemingly endless cycle of loss followed by devastation and inaction in a very potent way, through words. Its young cast proves to be its strongest asset. Go to Full Review Giovanni Lago Next Best Picture Mar 12
3/10
Rochelle’s intentions are pure, but her inability to rise above the screenplay and direct performances that are, at the very least, watchable leads to a film that struggles in everything it wishes to excel at. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Jo Rochelle

Director

Zack Kozlow

Actor

Holden Goyette

Actor

Kyla Brown

Actor

Christian Cruz

Actor

Ayanna Berkshire

Actor
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Dead Deer High

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the aftermath of a tragic shooting, a once-brilliant slam poetry team has lost their voice. While their English teacher, Mr. K, struggles to overcome his crippling fear of returning to the classroom, the team of young poets, led by Stephanie, must prepare for this year's slam championship just a few months away. The odds are stacked against them: they've lost their star poet, team members JT and Kyle are constantly fighting, the parents and administration are worried this is all "too soon," and the competition is tougher than ever. To win, and to heal, Mr. K and the kids must learn the power of their own voice on the national stage.
Director
Jo Rochelle
Producer
Joshua Roark
Screenwriter
Joshua Roark
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 41m