by Shane Conto
What were your thoughts when you first saw the trailer for Happy Death Day? I remember thinking it was going to be the latest addition to silly trash cinema. But…it wasn’t. To be honest, I really enjoyed it along with its sequel. Christopher Landon has proved to be a talented filmmaker who takes genre tropes, pokes fun at them, yet still delivers on those very genre trappings. Throw in a strange melding of the plot of an unrelated film and you got yourself a Landon film. What mash-up would make for great horror movie viewing? How about taking the basic plot of an old Disney family film like Freaky Friday but adding a serial killer? Sounds like a winner to me! Landon probably thought the same thing when he thought about it. Now we have Freaky.
Blumhouse puts Landon back in the driver’s seat with a new script of his delivering another fun romp of a horror-comedy.
Even crazier…this time it is rated-R. Landon injects the film with plenty of practical effects that look convincing and silly in all the best ways. Landon’s films have a specific look to them with a glossy feel and that works nicely as the film sets up this beautiful little town as its setting. Everyone knows everyone and they are mostly friendly. This sets up for a great twist as the film gets really bloody and gory. The pacing was well done as the story zips along at an energy filled rate. There are some moments that deliver some emotion and focus on its themes, but the film keeps the thrills coming. The film does fall into a few horror tropes where some scenes feel like they are just there for the characters to become canon fodder and the third act feels a little dragged out. That “fourth act” idea is a common trope of horror and it feels like it is dragged out here (but it does hammer home some of the female empowerment commentary from the film).
Landon proves that he is a clever writer with his work on the script for Freaky.
Where the film might fall victim to some horror tropes, Freaky also has fun with even more of them. Whether it is the general role reversal at the core of the film or some funny jokes that feel right in line with the meta-humor of films like Scream, Freaky provides plenty of laughs. There are some solid visual gags as well that fit well among the more gross out visuals of a slasher film. What made Happy Death Day so much better than it should have was the presence of a real heart at the center. Freaky delivers some solid emotional connections when it comes to our protagonist’s family. Millie is your standard “scream queen”, but having her inhabit the body of a man makes her experience considerably more interesting. The Blissfield Butcher is stereotypical in terms of serial killers with a uber macho perspective. Where the film might lean too heavily on flat characters and standard slasher film tropes, the clever dialogue and humor make this a much fresher experience.
One of the strongest aspects of this film has to be the energetic and charismatic cast.
Kathryn Newton is a charming young actress who gets to have plenty of fun when she becomes a crazed serial killer inside the head of a teenage girl. Newton gives a confident and unnerving performance. You can see she is having a ton of fun with her portrayal. Speaking of having fun…how much fun did Vince Vaughn have playing this role? Vaughn can be an intimidating presence (just watch Brawl in Cell Block 99 if you don’t believe me) and he certainly is at the beginning of the film. But once the turn takes place, Vaughn is really having a blast. It is unfortunate that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle already did this gag so well with Jack Black because it makes this gag feel a little less fresh for Freaky. Vaughn does go all in with this film and plays the role for plenty of laughs. The amount of charisma Vaughn has as a performer really makes it work. One particular shout out to Misha Osherovich who plays the gay friend of Millie because he delivers every line with so much energy and commitment that he just might be the real MVP of the film.
So…does Freaky deliver the scares and laughs that we all need right now?
It sure does. Does Freaky deliver on its fun mash-up presence to give audiences something fresh? It sure does. Does Freaky deliver one of the best films that Blumhouse has put out? Not quite. But you know what? You will have plenty of fun along the way.
Grade: B