Viewed – 23 October 2021 online rental

There’s not many new ideas in the horror genre, but on reading up on this slasher take on Freaky Friday from the Director of the equally unique Happy Death Day, I thought I’d give it a go. A serial killer has been stalking a small town and offing teens. So the local kids are a bit nervous. During one after-school party however, social outcast Millie finds herself the killer’s latest target when her mother forgets to come and collect her. However after being attacked, something strange happens, and despite surviving the encounter, following morning Millie wakes up to discover – she’s swapped bodies with the killer.

A great idea, making for a fun little slasher comedy-horror. After the body swap occurs, Vince Vaughn as the masked killer gets to play decidedly camp and is clearly having a ball. Kathryn Newton as Millie in serial killer mode is basically The Terminator, portrayed fairly one-dimensional. We get some entertaining kills, plenty of energy and a decent soundtrack. Yet the movie is also one of a glut of ‘woke’ message movies of late, particularly portraying the concept of male masculinity as something evil or wrong… sigh. It’s again very forced and completely unnecessary. However I still had fun with this.

I’d have liked some back story for Vaughn’s killer, especially how he knows about the mystical knife that causes the body swap, but anyone looking for depth should probably go elsewhere. Overall this was dumb, occasionally gory, frequently funny entertainment that’s still worth a watch … but is unlikely to become a classic of the genre.

Verdict: Good