About the film (courtesy of Universal Pictures):
Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton) is just trying to survive the bloodthirsty halls of Blissfield High and the cruelty of the popular crowd. But when she becomes the newest target of The Butcher (Vince Vaughn), her town’s infamous serial killer, her senior year becomes the least of her worries. When The Butcher’s mystical ancient dagger causes him and Millie to wake up in each other’s bodies, Millie learns that she has just 24 hours to get her body back before the switch becomes permanent and she’s trapped in the form of a middle-aged maniac forever. The only problem is she now looks like a towering psychopath who’s the target of a city-wide manhunt while The Butcher looks like her and has brought his appetite for carnage to Homecoming. With some help from her friends—ultra-woke Nyla (Celeste O’Connor), ultra-fabulous Joshua (Misha Osherovich) and her crush Booker (Uriah Shelton)—Millie races against the clock to reverse the curse while The Butcher discovers that having a female teen body is the perfect cover for a little Homecoming killing spree.
Say what you will about this year, but I’m sure glad Universal Pictures and Blumhouse haven’t been practicing social distancing in the collaboration field. If 2020 is any indication of what the future holds for their partnership and their offerings of R-rated featured films, fans of the horror genre may have found new hope for the foreseeable future in the restricted arena.
Both, The Invisible Man (2020) and The Hunt (2020), exceeded expectations in terms of enjoyment and quality. Now, as the year winds down and people are craving a brief escape from reality for one reason or another, this perfect pairing box office is hoping to pull off a theatrical trifecta with their latest entry, Freaky.
Freaky maintains the light and comical school vibe that the Happy Death Day franchise brought with it as it slashed its to some impressive rated PG-13 kills. Director/writer Christopher Landon is allowed to go above and beyond with added “restricted” freedom, as if that doesn’t sound like a strange oxymoron, and we’re better off for it. Nothing like a throwback to the 80’s and watching blood fly around like confetti on New Year’s Eve.
This story of soul swapping is pretty familiar, not just because it’s a revamped/reimaged version of Freaky Friday (1976), but Landon provides a fresh pivot of horror and some enjoyable acting by the film’s biggest star, Vince Vaughn. Sure, he’s had his share of stinkers over the years, but he’s also had some very solid work. Freaky is one that the pendulum has swung in the right direction. By not being bound to playing it safe, this title brings some nice old school gore right to your face while allowing audiences to have fun with it.
There’s a little of something for everyone to enjoy in this silly, sappy, campy, slasher flick. Horror movies used to be one dimensional, but we’ve enjoyed a duality of shrieks and smiles from filmmakers in recent years and it’s a nice transition from the traditional. Freaky weighs in at 103 minutes, which may be a little heavy. Regardless, there’s enough going on to keep you honest and entertained throughout the bulk and that’s all one can hope for. Check this new release out in theaters now.
