Review: ‘Freaky’ Gives Us Some Gory Good Times

December 6, 2020

blumhouse freaky beyond fest 2020 — 'Freaky' courtesy of Universal Pictures

Following up his successful Happy Death Day series, Christopher Landon teamed up with Universal to create one of the few well-advertised horror films of the year, Freaky. Although a minimum budget was used (around $5 million), Landon was able to bring in heavy-hitting actor Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers, True Detective) and rising star Kathryn Newton (Detective Pikachu, Big Little Lies) and return to the under-utilized comedy-horror-fantasy genre that lured horror fans into loving his Happy Death Day films.

Freaky follows two characters throughout the film. The Butcher, a psychopathic serial killer that murders a slew of teenagers every year around the time of the small town’s homecoming dance, and Millie, a shy teenager juggling family loss, being bullied at school, and trying to find the courage to ask out her handsome crush. During the Butcher’s first kills of the year, he steals an Aztec ceremonial dagger from the house of one of his victims. A few days later, Millie finds herself in the crosshairs of the Butcher, and when he stabs her with the dagger, their consciousnesses are switched into each other’s bodies, activating a 24-hour curse that will become permanent if they don’t switch back. The Butcher, now trapped in Millie’s body, decides to wreak murderous havoc at school, while Millie, now in the body of the 6’5 Butcher, must convince her friends of her real identity and figure out how to break the curse.

Now, if you’re thinking that the name and plot sound familiar, it’s because they are. Freaky is obviously an intentional horror parody of Mary Rodgers’ 1972 children’s novel Freaky Friday. The book has already been adapted for film several times, including Freaky Friday (2003), starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.

The two leads are fantastic. Vince Vaughn is an imposing dude and always brings his A-game. After seeing how brutal he could be in Brawl in Cell Block 99, I’ve subconsciously wished I could see him as a Jason Voorhees-style slasher. He’s looming, quiet, and deadly in this film, at least until he gets switched, when he becomes the fast-talking comedian that we’re used to seeing in films like Wedding Crashers (2005) or Old School (2003). Kathryn Newton flawlessly transitions from shy, “unattractive” Millie to the stone-cold, “sexy,” badass killer Butcher. On the surface, it seems like acting chops wouldn’t be important for such a cheesy plot, but these actors are both weaving between two roles, and they each excel at both roles. The actors that portrayed Millie’s friends were funny and charming, adding some much-needed comedy. There was also an appearance from Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), which put a huge smile on my face.

One complaint I had with Happy Death Day was the lack of teeth it had as a slasher film. Call me old-fashioned, but I like my slasher films to have all the blood, guts, and gore I can handle. I was a little worried about getting more of the same, but Landon quickly backed up the hard R-rating with some early insanely brutal deaths, and they continue throughout the entirety of the film. The effects felt mostly practical, with some subtle CG added in. They weren’t overdone and I appreciate that as a horror film lover. I liked the fact that most of the victims in this film were already detestable characters. It felt kind of like a Friday the 13th (Freaky Friday the 13th?) film, and I similarly found myself celebrating the creativeness of the kills rather than worrying about the characters.

Because the story was an intentional parody, it suffered from feeling a bit predictable and a little too awkward and cheesy at times. I wish there was something in there that separated it from what it was parodying. I think this film had the perfect chance to break away and give us a true horror-style ending. Not that I had any real issues with the way it ended, it just felt like a bit of a missed opportunity to change things up. It felt safe and gave me exactly what I thought I was going to get the entire time. Not necessarily good or bad, but nothing new.

Overall, I enjoyed Freaky quite a bit. I wouldn’t rank up there with my favorite horror films of the year, but it was certainly some of the most fun I’ve had with one. I think Freaky is a great follow-up to Landon’s last films, and I wish it had gotten the theater release it deserved. I’m definitely excited for his next project. If you’re looking for some fun and gory good times, you should check this out, but I suggest going in knowing it’s a silly ride. Freaky can be rented on Amazon Prime for $19.99 USD.