A One Mann’s Movies review of “Freaky” (2021).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Some B-movies really pack a much bigger punch than you would expect. “Nobody” is a perfect recent example. But movie karma needs to be balanced with something!
Butter wouldn’t melt. The virtuous but bullied Millie (Kathryn Newton). (Source: Blumhouse Productions).
Plot Summary:
Blissville is almost the perfect American small town. Except, that is, for its legacy of teens being brutally murdered by “The Butcher” (Vince Vaughn). His latest target is seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton). Millie’s already socially struggling, bullied at school and with a smothering newly-widowed mum. But her life turns upside-down when attacked at a sports ground with an ancient Aztec dagger. Swapping souls with the serial killer, she has just 24 hours to fix things before the curse becomes permanent.
HIs arm is about a quarter-back on the football field. (Source: Blumhouse Productions).
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton, Celeste O’Connor, Misha Osherovich, Katie Finneran, Dana Drori, Alan Ruck.
Directed by: Christopher Landon.
Written by: Michael Kennedy, Christopher Landon.
Nyla (Celeste O’Connor), ‘Millie’ (Vince Vaughn) and Josh (Misha Osherovich) face the other ‘Millie’. (Source: Blumhouse Productions).
“Freaky” Review:
Positives:
- If you are into your “teen slasher” movies, then this is more of the same and features some innovative ways to dispatch the victims. One is certainly no way to treat a fine wine!
- Vince Vaughn has fun mincing around as his alter-ego and Kathryn Newton (soon to be in the next “Ant-Man” movie) is personable enough as the cutie-cum-serial-killer.
- It’s always good to see Ferris-actor Alan Ruck on the big screen. Here, he actually plays two parts in the film. (This joke (C) One Mann’s Movies.)
Alan Ruck as a bullying woodwork teacher, about to get a close shave. (Source: Blumhouse Productions).
Negatives:
- It’s flagged as “comedy/horror” but failed to meet my personal 6-laugh test. It’s just not funny enough to pass muster unless, that is, you view crude dialogue as “funny”. And the dialogue does get ickily crude at some points. For example, when evil-Millie ends up alone with three jocks, there’s a line of misogynist dialogue (that I won’t repeat) but which sets the level.
- As a Blumhouse production, the horror is ultra-gory which will put off many viewers lacking a strong stomach. But because of the associated black comedy, the horror isn’t remotely tense or scary. This might be why the film only got a UK-15 certificate. But my personal view is that, with the violence and the offensive dialogue, the BBFC under called this one, and it should have been an 18.
- There’s a lot of schmaltz layered on regarding the relationship between Millie and her mum (Katie Finneran, channelling a Laura Dern look). A store cubicle exchange between Finneran and Vaughn is particularly stomach-churning.
- The movie leaves logic at the door many times. A formulaic post-finale ending assumes a superhero ability to shrug off bullets.
Sisters re-enacting “Unhinged“. Dana Drori and Kathryn Newton. (Source: Blumhouse Productions).
Summary Thoughts on “Freaky”:
The ‘body-swap idea has gone through dozens of movie versions, with Disney’s “Freaky Friday” the most well known: it’s actually had two outings, once in 1976 with a young Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris and again in 2003 with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie-Lee Curtis. (The latter is a firm Mann-family favourite).
This new version tries a serial-killer twist on the story, which is a good idea. But, in my view, the movie fails to execute well on the concept. The director is Christopher Landon who did the “Happy Death Day” movies. This is in a similar vein. So I’m quite happy to concede that, for the target audience of teens who enjoy those types of flicks, they might get a fun Saturday night out with this. But, for me, this fell between the stools of comedy and horror and is instantly forgettable.
Trailer:
The trailer for “Freaky” is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqPnIcDW9g0 .
