History WebVideo / WormwoodInstitute

* RedHerring: An entity called the "Slanted Man" is revealed shortly after [[spoiler: Anya's disappearance]]. This entity is only mentioned twice and has no bearing on anything that's happened so far.

* CrapsaccharineWorld: At first glance, Wormwood seems like your average American high school. However, as each tape is archived, it paints a tragic tale of how a toxic school atmosphere can break down its students.

* NotHimself: During the "Stranger Offers Candy" skit, the girl recording the exchange finds the man carrying candy off-putting, calling him a "weirdo" under her breath as he leaves. Three episodes later, it's implied [[spoiler: the gummy worms have been laced with a drug that's making people act weird]].

* SeriousBusiness: PlayedForDrama. In "90's TV News Outtakes," The Male Host has a breakdown over his co-host getting one word of her script wrong, making it seem like she lacks school spirit over a simple misreading. He's so offended at the slight mistake that he fires her over it.

* EvilPrincipal: Wormwood is ran by one. He's borderline-worshipped by the student-body at-large and has cultivated an atmosphere of BlindObedience.

** Helena Ives, a student at Wormwood, was last seen leaving her dorm in the afternoon carrying nothing but a plastic bag. It's heavily implied in subsequent tapes that she ran away to escape the toxic school atmosphere of Wormwood. [[spoiler: She eventually comes back, bt the nature of the incident surrounding her remains hush-hush; implying it was by her choice]].

* TheFaceless: As of "90s TV News Outtakes", the Principal of the school has never been seen onscreen.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: After the first network hijack, The Male Host's behavior and mannerisms progressively darken. Visible bags start showing up under his eyes, his clothing becomes less colorful and he even starts rushing segments in irritation. This culminates in a meltdown at the end of "90's TV News Outtakes," wherein he emotionally-shatters his co-host over mis-reading a script line.

** The broadcast-hijacker. During both of their segments, they're either badmouthing the EvilPrincipal or trying to warn students of how dangerous the place can be.

* GovernmentDrugEnforcement School Drug Enforcement: Downplayed. Shortly after "90's Drug PSA," gummi worms becomes a free food that can be found in any vending machine on-campus. "90's High School Hallways" implies [[spoiler: these worms are laced with something to keep people in line]].

* BigGood: Student Council campaigner Anya presents herself as an attempt to be one in "90's Campaign Ad." She's blunt about how horrible life in Wormwood Institute actually is and promises numerous improvements if she's voted in. [[spoiler: [[StatusQuoIsGod Not only does she lose to the male host (who wins by a landslide)]], but she ends up disappearing too]].

* MundaneHorror: The premise. Wormwood Institute is a BoardingSchoolOfHorrors trying and failing to pass itself off as paradise. Everything about is ''too serene'' and ''too perfect.'' Terrible things happen regularly and any attempts to improve the facility are stifled by brainwashed masses too mentally-damaged to care.

* [[GovernmentDrugEnforcement School Drug Enforcement]]: Downplayed. Shortly after "90's Drug PSA," gummi worms becomes a free food that can be found in any vending machine on-campus. "90's High School Hallways" implies [[spoiler: these worms are laced with something to keep people in line]].

* BigGood: Student Council campaigner Anya presents herself as an attempt to be one in "90's Campaign Ad." She's blunt about how horrible life in Wormwood Institute actually is and promises numerous improvements if she's voted in. [[spoiler: [[StatusQuoIsGod Not only doe she lose to the male host, who wins by a landslide]], but she ends up disappearing too]].

** Student Council campaigner Anya disappears shortly after [[spoiler: Helena comes back]].

* BigGood: Student Council campaigner Anya presents herself as an attempt to be one in "90's Campaign Ad." She's blunt about how horrible life in Wormwood Institute actually is and promises numerous improvements if she's voted in. [[spoiler: [[StatusQuoIsGod She loses to the male host, who wins by a landslide]]]].

* TheAlcatraz: The campus is surrounded by unusually-long barricades and the faculty is insistent that students stay within the boundaries to avoid encountering the "Slanted Man." Near the end of "12 Hours of Relaxing 90's Ambient Music," the video is hijacked by an unknown party implying that [[spoiler: Wormwood isn't actually a school and that their families want them out of there]].

* RecycledFootage: Keenan and Thompson's Weather segment from "90s' High School" is re-used shot-for-shot in "90's Drug [=PSA=]."

* PrimaDonnaDirector: In "90s TV News Outtakes", the male host goes ballistic on his female co-host for messing up on her script, to the point where she is on the verge of tears by the end of the tape. He fires her shortly after this.

* DoNotAdjustYourSet: "90's Broadcast Gets Hijacked" is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. The Principal's birthday broadcast is hijacked by an unknown party threatening to expose "his lies."

* MundaneHorror: The premise. Instead of housing secretive shadowy conspiracies or eldritch monstrosities, Wormwood Institute is a BoardingSchoolOfHorrors trying and failing to pass itself off as paradise. Everything about is ''too serene'' and ''too perfect.'' Terrible things happen regularly and any attempts to improve the facility are stifled by brainwashed masses too mentally-damaged to care.

* TheRunaway: Helena Ives, a student at Wormwood, was last seen leaving her dorm in the afternoon carrying nothing but a plastic bag. It's heavily implied in subsequent tapes that she ran away to escape the toxic school atmosphere of Wormwood.

* BigGood: Student Council campaigner Anya presents herself as an attempt to be one in "90's Campaign Ad." She's blunt about how horrible life in Wormwood Institute actually is and promises numerous improvements.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: The male host of the program seems very cheery when delivering whatever news story on the tapes, but when the news broadcast is done for the day, he doesn't hesitate to act as a jerkward to his co-host for saying a line in the script incorrectly.

* TheRunaway: Helena Ives, a student at Wormwood, was last seen leaving her dorm in the afternoon carring nothing but a plastic bag. It's heavily implied in subsequent tapes that she ran away to escape the toxic school atmosphere of Wormwood.