Where do I start? I guess I'll start with the good stuff. The movie is a lot of fun, as much as it could be, with the premise that likely will make a lot of people click like I did. It's Back to the Future meets a horror slasher comedy, and for the most part, they do pretty well with that premise. It's briskly paced, if not rushed in certain scenes, and the whodunit mystery can be fun to pick a part, if not a little obvious by near the end.
Now, for what I didn't like. I love horror comedies. (I much prefer movies that are 80% horror with a dash of funny, not the other way around, which this is, but I'll take it.) They shouldn't go well together, but I think most people can attest that they do if done right. But a huge part of that of course, is the comedy being funny. If the movie isn't funny, Then all we are left with is a horror movie that's not scary because it's trying so hard to be funny, and a comedy that's not funny because, well, it's trying so hard to be funny
So why is this movie not funny? Well actually it can be. About 10% of the jokes are pretty damn decent and landed for me, simply because they didn't have anything to do with what the rest of the 90% of the jokes had to do with. Which is basically "wow everybody, the 80s sure were problematic weren't they?!" That's right people. Misogynistic people run rampant! The racists are in the streets! There is unwanted, touching everywhere at the smokers smoke indoors! And it is up to our hero Kiernan Shipka to stand up to all of it with... unfunny retorts and perplexed faces. Seriously I'm not kidding, at least 90% of the jokes are just her going "you can't say that," or "woah that's not okay!"
Before I go any further on this topic, let me be clear. I'm as progressive as the next person. I stand for all the change in the world but I think almost movie goers, progressive or not, can agree that there is a time and place for these kinds of politics and sometimes we just want to have fun at the movies and not be pandered to or talked down to. That being said, the 80s were indeed different (I know who knew??) and a couple well placed jokes about that could've been actually really funny, and do belong in a movie with this premise. But the movie makes it's whole comedy half about JUST that and it gets so old so fast. Like we get it movie the 80s were a different time! Please move on to another joke instead of repeating the same one over and over repackaged.
There is literally a joke in this movie where a female character invites some guys to a party, and when Kiernan gets mad because they're supposed to stay isolated, the other character goes "what you thought we were just going to lez out all weekend?" To which Kiernan responds with, and I'm not kidding: "gross. I mean what you said was gross. Not gay people. Gay people are amazing, your comment had homophobic undertones."
.... I mean come on guys. Really? Honestly, I would love to list word for word so many of the other jokes like this to show just how ridiculous and incessant they get, but I definitely don't have time for that and this is a review, not a total breakdown, so if you really wanna know for yourself, go watch the movie. You'll likely be annoyed like I was, but underneath all that, you'll also likely have fun like I did.
I certainly don't want my time back, I don't regret watching it, and I would recommend it to most people, but with the warning that the "comedy" might just get under your skin, and the horror will definitely NOT do that at all.
Now, for what I didn't like. I love horror comedies. (I much prefer movies that are 80% horror with a dash of funny, not the other way around, which this is, but I'll take it.) They shouldn't go well together, but I think most people can attest that they do if done right. But a huge part of that of course, is the comedy being funny. If the movie isn't funny, Then all we are left with is a horror movie that's not scary because it's trying so hard to be funny, and a comedy that's not funny because, well, it's trying so hard to be funny
So why is this movie not funny? Well actually it can be. About 10% of the jokes are pretty damn decent and landed for me, simply because they didn't have anything to do with what the rest of the 90% of the jokes had to do with. Which is basically "wow everybody, the 80s sure were problematic weren't they?!" That's right people. Misogynistic people run rampant! The racists are in the streets! There is unwanted, touching everywhere at the smokers smoke indoors! And it is up to our hero Kiernan Shipka to stand up to all of it with... unfunny retorts and perplexed faces. Seriously I'm not kidding, at least 90% of the jokes are just her going "you can't say that," or "woah that's not okay!"
Before I go any further on this topic, let me be clear. I'm as progressive as the next person. I stand for all the change in the world but I think almost movie goers, progressive or not, can agree that there is a time and place for these kinds of politics and sometimes we just want to have fun at the movies and not be pandered to or talked down to. That being said, the 80s were indeed different (I know who knew??) and a couple well placed jokes about that could've been actually really funny, and do belong in a movie with this premise. But the movie makes it's whole comedy half about JUST that and it gets so old so fast. Like we get it movie the 80s were a different time! Please move on to another joke instead of repeating the same one over and over repackaged.
There is literally a joke in this movie where a female character invites some guys to a party, and when Kiernan gets mad because they're supposed to stay isolated, the other character goes "what you thought we were just going to lez out all weekend?" To which Kiernan responds with, and I'm not kidding: "gross. I mean what you said was gross. Not gay people. Gay people are amazing, your comment had homophobic undertones."
.... I mean come on guys. Really? Honestly, I would love to list word for word so many of the other jokes like this to show just how ridiculous and incessant they get, but I definitely don't have time for that and this is a review, not a total breakdown, so if you really wanna know for yourself, go watch the movie. You'll likely be annoyed like I was, but underneath all that, you'll also likely have fun like I did.
I certainly don't want my time back, I don't regret watching it, and I would recommend it to most people, but with the warning that the "comedy" might just get under your skin, and the horror will definitely NOT do that at all.