Freaky (2020)
I don't know how much horror I actually expected going into this film, but it does not hold back on the gore. Freaky (2020), directed by Christopher Landon, can be best described as a raunchy teen comedy mixed with all the best elements of a slasher film. Taking inspiration (by the bucketload) from 2003's Freaky Friday, Landon's version takes Millie (Kathryn Newton), an unpopular teenager struggling with the death of her father and the day-to-day horrors of high school, and swaps her body with the Butcher (Vince Vaughn), a serial killer who resurfaces each year around homecoming to target high school students. In the body of Vince Vaughn, Millie must convince her friends what's happened and strike the Butcher with the same ceremonial knife he used on her before twenty-four hours are up, all while avoiding the authorities, otherwise the swap will become permanent.
This film is absolutely the best kind of horror-comedy: it's hilarious; it's satisfying; and, best of all, it doesn't shy away from the actual horror elements. Most importantly, it absolutely embraces the role of teen comedy, wholeheartedly embodying some tropes while subtly subverting others. The play-off of strengths between Millie (your average teenage girl) and the Butcher (a grown man who hunts down people for sport) was really well done and became a source of humour in itself. The cinematography of the fight scenes are impeccable and fun to watch.
For a film so set in darkness, I expected it to be difficult to make out anything that was actually happening onscreen, as is the standard for films these days. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the use of lighting. Whether the characters are being hunted by the Butcher through a glow-in-the-dark minigolf course (such a brilliant setting!) or hunting the Butcher through a do-it-yourself neon homecoming party, the scene is lit well enough to follow their actions. I love a film that actually lets you see what's happening, though I shouldn't have to say it as often as I do.
What I like most about this film was the references to earlier plot points. Some moments that could be dismissed as a throwaway one-liner or just another bit of physical comedy actually became really important towards the film's climax. A lot of films I watch these days don't bother continuing those threads, so it was really nice to see them reappear before the end. A detail I especially loved was the Butcher's choice of victims once he took over Millie's body; it was incredibly satisfying to follow the bloodbath as it progressed through the halls of a high school.
If you're looking for a fun and gory time, watch this film. You will not be disappointed.
