Freaky review

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Mass murderer and bullied teen swap bodies in this slasher flick… What more can I say?

Have I ever mentioned my disliking of slasher/horror movies? Something to do with watching Child’s Play at the age of 5, which also contributed to my hatred and fear of dolls. Doesn’t help that my daughter loves dolls – makes for a very edgy household here.

Maybe it was my false sense of confidence having sat through A Quiet Place Part 2 recently. But here I sat in front of a warning saying this movie contains graphic scenes of blood and gore – followed by ominous music. Not going to lie, I was ready to walk out. Luckily, I stayed put, as what came was a very fun movie.

Freaky follows a concept seen in many a movie before – two complete opposite characters somehow switch bodies and must find a way to deal with/overcome it. After a string of teen murders in the neighbourhood, a serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher, finds himself in possession of a magical dagger. Little does he know using this dagger and failing to kill the recipient of the stabbing will result in switching bodies with them. That’s what happens when he fails in his attempt to kill bullied teen, Millie. Whilst the Butcher seems to enjoy having a new body, and therefore identity, Millie doesn’t feel the same. She must find a way to reverse the switch by using the dagger on him/her again within 24 hours or risk being stuck in the Butcher’s body forever.

One of the reasons I probably enjoyed this movie is due to the lack of slashing after establishing the characters. Once the first 20 minutes of gruesome murders was over, the movie settles after the switch to develop the characters and finding a way for Millie, in her new body, to gain the trust of her closest friends. More slashing occurs but it’s not overdone like other movies. The more I read what I’m writing, the more I’m wondering what possessed me to watch this movie to begin with! Either way, I was able to stomach the gory scenes without flinching too much.

What I did find is that I laughed more than I expected to. Vince Vaughn is in top form here as the Blissfield Butcher – but especially as Millie. His acting as a teenage girl with his screams and flailing of arms was truly hilarious. I didn’t realise just how tall he is, which added an awkward physicality making it all the funnier. Likewise, Kathryn Newton’s portrayal of a serial killer was done well, with a cold stare that could kill in itself. The supporting cast of Millie’s best friends also did well, with the sassiness of her friend Josh a particular stand out. Then there’s the irony of Alan Ruck, who played the skiving best friend in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, playing Millie’s abusive wood shop teacher – quite the opposite of the teen character he once played himself.

For all the gore and laughs, Freaky wasn’t without heart though. There’s a scene where Millie’s mother opens up unknowingly to Millie, in the Butcher’s body, which I feel went down well. The rest of the movie plays out the plot but there does seem to be a strange pacing to the ultimate climax of the movie. At first, I thought they were setting up a sequel, but then the last 5 minutes concluded the story and it all just seemed a bit of the rushed side.

The only other gripe is why Millie didn’t approach her sister with the issue she’s having. Surely that would have helped her fast-track the problems she was facing. But I accept this is usually the case for slasher movies like this. If they follow the easier path, the movie would be over in like half an hour – and that’s not nearly enough time to shove a large portion of popcorn down your throat.

Verdict

I really enjoyed this movie. The balance of horror and comedy was perfect for me and really works. It was also nice to watch a movie that wasn’t longer than it needed to be – though maybe they could have had more time fleshing out the finale.

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