Bullet Points: 3:15

I always find the high school sub-genre of action movies to be a weird phenomenon. If people hated high school, do they want to watch a movie taking place in high school? If people loved high school, do they want to see all the negative aspects on the big screen? Additionally, action movies tend to have adult themes which limits a large portion of the audience that is actually in high school. For me, when a movie has gang violence and an entertaining story I don’t care where it takes place which is why I always make a point to go back to watch the 1986 high school gang action film 3:15. Luckily for you I just so happened to have done my homework the last time I watched so join me on a field trip to 3:15.

• Freshman – 3:15 starts off by introducing us to the Cobras, a Los Angeles gang who are out and about causing trouble. When they get word that a rival gang is encroaching on their turf and attempting to rape their women a huge fight breaks out. I can never be upset with a movie that gives me a nice action set piece right at the beginning. The Cobras are led be Cinco (Danny De La Paz) and he is hell-bent on sending a message to the other gang by killing a member. Jeff (Adam Baldwin, Digital Man) thinks that murder is too far and quits the gang right there on the spot and 3:15 quickly jumps one year in the future.

• Sophomore – Jeff has become a regular student who is trying to keep his head down while avoiding the Cobras (and related all female Cobrettes), M-16s, Tams and every other ethnic stereotype gang at Lincoln High School. Jeff aligns more with the jocks because he is on the basketball team and is dating Sherry (Deborah Foreman, Waxwork) when everything in his world turns when Principal Horner (Rene Auberjonois) has Detective Moran (Ed Lauter) bust the drug dealers in the high school. Horner only wants to stop the drug trade in Lincoln High, but when Jeff refuses to help Cinco hide his stash Horner has unwittingly started a war because Cinco thinks that Jeff was the one who went to the cops. If Jeff goes along with Horner and Moran, Cinco will be in prison but will be labeled a narc by the entire school. If Jeff doesn’t go along with Horner and Moran, Cinco will be free… free to murder Jeff.

• Junior – Jeff becomes very popular with the rest of the student body because they believe he stood up to Cinco, except that when Cinco gets released nobody wants to help him with his Cobra problem. (This is especially true of Jeff’s tough talking but meek acting friend Chris played by Scott McGinnis.) Moran knew that arresting Cinco wouldn’t stop the drugs and Horner is willing to let Jeff suffer to stop the Cobras. Cinco knows the way to get to Jeff is through Sherry and he uses her to goad Jeff into a fight. The only question is when the fight is going to be.  Hmm… when could the fight be? Before school wouldn’t make sense. There is no reason to do it at lunch time. How about after school… say at 3:15!!!

• Senior – The problem with calling a movie 3:15 is that it leaves out the surprise of what is going to happen. Going into the movie, you know things are going to come to a head at 3:15. The good thing is that 3:15 has enough suspense and tension building throughout the film that you know things are about to explode. The end fight provides some exciting action, with some surprise characters showing up, and some truly negligent police and school administration actions. A high school has many different classrooms and hallways that if you are going to set an action set piece in a high school you better use the unique areas like shop class and locker rooms to full effect and 3:15 doesn’t disappoint.

3:15 is a perfect example of the high school action sub-genre being a little confusing. The intended audience is clearly not meant for the young high school age with its violence and adult themes (I really didn’t get a chance to get into the subplot with Cinco, his girlfriend and Jeff). What 3:15 does is let the movie tell an entertaining story that happens to take place in a high school allowing for all action fans to enjoy. When you are looking for something to watch during spring break or summer break, you can do a lot worse than 3:15, but if you need an extra credit for watching I happen to have some 3:15 Bonus Bullet Points.

• Also Known As – You might find 3:15 as 3:15 the Moment of Truth, 3:15 a Time for Dying, or Showdown at Lincoln High.
• One and Done – 3:15 was directed by Larry Gross who besides directing a few television episodes only has one feature film credit, 3:15. Gross has some excellent writing credits on his C.V. like 48 Hrs. and Streets of Fire… he must be chums with Walter Hill.
• Game Time Quote – “I got a game for you and it’s called go f**k yourself.”
• Bricklayer – Jeff is supposed to be a star basketball player, but he has one ugly shot.
• Familiar Faces – Sherry’s father was played by Wings Hauser (Deadly Force) in an uncredited role. Sherry’s mother was credited and played by Nancy Locke (as Nancy Locke Hauser). In a big stretch, the then husband and wife played husband and wife. Mario Van Peebles (Blowback) plays Whisper, the leader of the M-16s. One of the Cobrettes was an early role for Gina Gershon of Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back fame.
• Soundtrack – The soundtrack fit 3:15 perfectly with special recognition going to “Out of Control” by Bob Conti and Joe Esposito.
• Prophetic Quote – “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York.”