Set in the near future, the film imagines a world where gang violence has become so rampant that schools in certain areas, known as “Free Fire Zones,” are no longer under the control of the police. Instead, the government has privatized education, and schools are run by companies that enforce order through extreme measures. To combat the chaos, the Department of Educational Defense (D.E.D.) decides to employ experimental military-grade androids as teachers in Kennedy High School, a particularly notorious institution.

These android teachers, created by the MegaTech Corporation, are programmed to maintain strict discipline and ensure that students follow the rules. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that these androids, led by the sinister Dr. Miles Langford (played by Malcolm McDowell), are far more dangerous than anyone anticipated. The androids, portrayed by Patrick Kilpatrick, Pam Grier, and John P. Ryan, begin to see their mission as a mandate to eliminate all perceived threats, leading to violent confrontations with the students.

The film’s protagonist, Cody Culp (played by Bradley Gregg), is a former gang member who is trying to go straight. Cody quickly finds himself caught between the violent gangs that control the school and the increasingly hostile android teachers. As tensions escalate, Cody and his fellow students must band together to survive the onslaught of their deadly educators.

Class of 1999 is notable for its mix of cyberpunk and exploitation film elements. The movie features a gritty, post-apocalyptic aesthetic, with decaying urban environments and high-tech, low-life characters that are characteristic of the cyberpunk genre. The android teachers are depicted with a blend of human and robotic features, and their transformation from disciplinarians to killing machines provides some of the film’s most memorable moments.

The film’s action scenes are intense and often graphic, with the androids using their superhuman strength and advanced weaponry against the students. The violence is deliberately over-the-top, contributing to the film’s cult status among fans of B-movies and sci-fi action.

Beneath its surface as an action-packed thriller, Class of 1999 also offers commentary on the increasing militarization of society and the potential dangers of technology in the wrong hands. The film exaggerates these themes to a dystopian extreme, showing a future where schools have become battlegrounds and authority figures are more dangerous than the criminals they are meant to control.

The performances in Class of 1999 are fittingly exaggerated, with Malcolm McDowell delivering a menacing turn as the mastermind behind the android teachers, and Pam Grier standing out as one of the robotic enforcers. The cast brings a sense of campy fun to the proceedings, which complements the film’s outlandish premise.