Freaky Review: Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton Go Wild in This Winking Horror Comedy – IndieWire

Christopher Landon knows his way around horror. After jumping on the Paranormal Activity bandwagon the filmmaker wrote its second, third, fourth, and fifth installments, which include the best and worst of the found-footage franchise Landon turned his affection for the genre toward its dark comedy. He directed Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse in 2015 and created his own clever franchise with the one-two punch of Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U.

His latest original vision, Freaky, isnt quite up to the charms of Happy Death, but its still entertaining and smart where it counts. A blood-spattered twist on the Freaky Friday mythos that dares ask, Hey, what if you were a nice high school kid who ended up switching bodies with a psychotic serial killer who looks like Vince Vaughn?, the film is bolstered by go-for-broke performances from Vaughn and Kathryn Newton, as well as Landons sharp humor (and sharper kills).

Opening on Wednesday the 11th and playing that for every laugh it can get Freaky kicks off in traditional horror fashion, focused on a group of naughty teenagers giggling about a loser murderer who definitely, absolutely, for sure isnt coming to kill them. Vaughn is cast as the truly cracked Blissfield Butcher, and while Landon and Michael Kennedys script doesnt do much to flesh out his character a similar issue when it comes to the baddies in the Happy Death Day franchise they do have fun using him as something of a stand-in for plenty of classic madmen. In short: He hates teens!

Photo Credit: Brian Douglas/Univ

While the legend of the Blissfield Butcher remains oddly underbaked (especially for a dude who has apparently been doing this for decades), Landon and Kennedy make up for that with a series of inventively icky kills and a fast-moving introduction that lays out some essential rules to guide the story. While Vaughns monster might be thinly drawn, Newtons good-hearted Millie fills the gap and continues Landons tradition of crafting darling, if unexpected heroines.

Freaky doesnt skimp on the meat and potatoes of any good body-swap movie: having a ton of fun watching two different people awkwardly slip into their new corporeal figures (and lives). Both Newton and Vaughn dig into their new parts with gusto, and while early scenes play a bit broad, the duo eventually settle into their roles with remarkable ease. Millie, so used to not being seen and respected, cant help but enjoy getting stuck in Vaughns giant body (turns out, people really do listen to large white men!), while the Butcher delights in the anonymity afforded by Newtons form.

Along the way, the pair discover more about themselves and each other (kind of), accidentally solve a few problems (the Butchers treatment of Millies mean shop teacher, played by Alan Ruck, takes the cake), and put on a masterclass in physical comedy. There is at least one instance of Vaughn gamely proving his Millie-ness with a silly high school cheer, and Newton derides a truly scary level of enjoyment out of mean-mugging as an evil killer. These people have range, and Freaky doesnt waste an inch of it.

Photo Credit: Brian Douglas/Univ

Less successful are some of the films other tropes. For every smart twist, theres a less effective one: Millies big sister (Dana Drori) delights as a tough-talking local cop, but thats also tied up in the played-out revelation that the whole family is marked by the still-fresh death of their patriarch.

Even more boxed in are Millies best friends, the prototypical sassy gay guy (Misha Osherovich as Josh, who gets time to shine in the films second half) and the smartypants Black girl (Celeste OConnor, still bursting with star power). While ripe for more pointed jabs, Freaky doesnt interrogate them to their full potential, though at least Osherovich and OConnor make out with some jokes about how things usually go for people like them in horror movies (read: badly!).

Still, Freaky has enough snappy fun to keep it ticking along to the inevitable shock ending, forcing together two delightful powerhouses in a battle royale that seems primed to kickstart another new franchise for Landon. (Thats not a spoiler, simply the nature of the current genre beast!) Armed with his trademark wit and a pair of wonderfully game stars, Freaky might not be Landons best, but its well worth the wacky trip.

Universal Pictures will release Freaky in select theaters on Friday, November 13.

As new movies open in theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, IndieWire will continue to review them whenever possible. We encourage readers to follow thesafety precautionsprovided by CDC and health authorities. Additionally, our coverage will provide alternative viewing options whenever they are available.

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Freaky Review: Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton Go Wild in This Winking Horror Comedy - IndieWire