Freaky: The Gen Z version of Scream

When Wes Craven released Scream back in 1996, he truly changed the horror genre. After over a decade of slasher movies being overdone and beaten like a dead horse (pun intended), this classic provided a fresh take by providing humor, wit, and self-awareness. While it certainly wasn't the first horror comedy to break the fourth wall, it was effective enough to create a slasher renaissance. The next five years saw a whole slew of Scream copycats that included I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legends, and Valentine. Even though that hype train has since left the station, Craven's beloved love letter to the horror genre continues to influence some of today's horror movies. Last night, I saw what could possibly be Generation Z's version of Scream. I am, of course, talking about Freaky.

Freaky focuses on a high school student named Millie (Kathryn Newton) who unintentionally switches bodies with a serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn). This is due to the fact that the Butcher stabs Millie with an ancient knife that he stole from a previous victim, and now Millie must stab him in 24 hours in order to get her body back. Yes, this is pretty much a slasher version of Freaky Friday. It's also one of those horror movies with a premise that could make someone a laughing stock if executed improperly. Fortunately for Freaky, it was directed by Christopher Landon, who started off in the horror/thriller genre writing films like Disturbia and four of the Paranormal Activity films. He even directed the fifth film in the franchise, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, but it wasn't that well received. Not willing to give up as a horror movie director, Landon continued directing and really struck gold with Happy Death Day, which has been described as Scream meets Groundhog Day. With a film like that, it's really not that surprising that Landon would go on to direct a movie like Freaky.

Unlike Happy Death Day, Freaky actually goes for that hard R rating by giving us plenty of cursing and blood. And unlike most R-rated horror movies that really go for that rating, the cursing and blood don't come across as overdone, feeling like a true Scream-esque movie. As I described earlier, Wes Craven's classic slasher is a love letter to the horror genre with all its references, whether they're called out by name or by imagery. Although Landon's film doesn't namedrop a bunch of movies, some of the shots are direct homages to classic shots from movies like Halloween and The Shining. Just like Scream, the characters are very self-aware and know what's going on. Yes, they are kinda cliche, but they mostly come across as genuine. While I thought that most of the focus was on the comedy, there were a few moments that actually scared me, and it still felt like a somewhat even blend of horror and comedy. Honestly, this feels like something Craven would make today if he were still alive.

One common issue that most slasher movies have is the acting. Sure, most people watch slashers for the blood and boobies, but terrible acting can really bring down a film. It may have been more excusable back in the 80s when slashers were purposely cheesy, but times have changed. Fortunately for audiences, the acting in Freaky is actually pretty top-notch for a slasher aimed at teenagers. Kathryn Newton is pretty believable as both an adorable outcast and a serial killer dressed like a badass. She is no stranger to the horror genre, having starred in Paranormal Activity 4, one of the four movies that Landon wrote for the franchise. She actually won a Young Artist Award for her performance, but it was clearly her performance in Freaky that will undoubtedly solidify her as a modern-day scream queen. Newton's costar, Vince Vaughn, also delivers a strong performance despite previously appearing in a poorly-received horror film. I'm obviously referring to Vaughn's performance as Norman Bates in the Psycho remake that no one asked for. Even though I was fully aware of his involvement in that movie, I had faith in him. After all, he clearly had the comedic chops for this kind of role. Now, Vaughn may be known for his appearance in comedies, but he has also delivered dramatic roles in movies like Hacksaw Ridge and Brawl In Cell Block 99. I will admit that Vaughn actually scared the crap out of me as the Butcher because I wasn't used to him being so imposing. It's safe to say that viewers will definitely forgive Vaughn for his portrayal of Norman Bates after seeing what just might be one of the best performances in his career. The rest of the cast is pretty solid as well, with Misha Osherovich and Celeste O'Conner providing some funny and sweet moments as Millie's friends Josh and Nyla. Yes, the token gay and black friends are cliches that we've seen before, but the characters' self-awareness of this fact and their believable friendship with the protagonist make their performances very enjoyable. Another cliche that we get is the popular and athletic love interest that the outcast falls for, but Uriah Shelton gives a genuine performance as Millie's crush Booker that really makes you root for them to be together. And although we don't see too much of Katie Finneran as Millie's mother Paula and Danna Drori as Millie's sister Char, they still come across as loving family members who are doing everything they can to be there for Millie. Also, I really liked how Paula kinda reminded me of Nancy's mother in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Oh, and speaking of 80s movies, Millie's woodshop teacher is played by Alan Ruck, who is most well-known to cinephiles as Cameron in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Every horror movie needs a solid cast, and this cast doesn't disappoint.

All in all, this is a pretty solid horror movie. I would've liked for it to be just a tad bit scarier, but I believe that fans of Scream will enjoy it. The comedic timing is on point, the acting is amazing, the horror elements are on full display, and I truly believe that Wes Craven would've loved it. Who knows? Maybe this movie will pop up the next time Ghostface asks someone what their favorite scary movie is.

Score: 4.5/5