FREAKY (2020) AND NOW… SLASHER MEETS BODY SWAPPING. MOVIE REVIEW

Freaky Friday the 13th.

The Blumhouse formula does it again. If in Happy Death Day (Christopher Landon 2017) they amalgamate the slasher genre with a time loop, now in Freaky it does it with body swapping. Not for nothing the original title of the movie was going to be Freaky Friday the 13th. As we have mentioned in other articles, Blumhouse’s proven formula is to make a low-budget film, with witty stories and a cast of unknown actors. Although in Freaky, they go a bit out of this formula with the presence of Vince Vaughn.

The Butcher vs Millie

The film begins in the purest slasher style, with two teenage couples having a night outdoors outside a large mansion where one of the girls lives. The Butcher makes her appearance and does his thing. Before retiring, he is attracted by an ancient dagger that is on display in the same mansion and decides to take it with him. We change the scene and we meet Millie, an ordinary girl member of a family who is dealing with the death of her father and her mother’s alcoholism. Although Millie is not popular and is attacked by other students at school, she maintains a good friendship with his two friends, Nyla and Josh. These two characters are destined to have an encounter that will bring bloody as well as hilarious repercussions to everyone around them.

Vince’s show.

Kathryn Newton is fine in her dual role of the insecure girl and the angel-faced killer, but the one who steals the attention is Vince Vaughn. With his imposing stature, Vaughn easily looks what a serial killer should look like, but it is in his role imitating a teenage girl that his comic side shines through. Vaughn is having fun with the role and it shows. The scenes in which he has to play a fragile teenager in the body of a strong, tall assassin are extremely funny. Also, Vaughn has good chemistry with Millie’s friends Nyla and Josh and between the three of them they pull off funny scenes. In particular, Misha Osherovich as Josh, the gay friend that all girls desire, stands out.

Funny situations.

The story puts an entertaining twist on body-swapping, which was already used in both versions of the movie Freaky Friday and others. But the best part is that director/writer Christopher Landon knows how to make the most of funny situations. Millie in The Butcher’s body can’t help but notice his most comfortable way to go to the bathroom. Or how the Butcher realizes that he does not have the same killing capacity in the small and weak body of a teenage girl. Although in some moments the rhythm of the film stops to give some unnecessary attempt to add some sentimental moment.

Generic production values.

Likewise, as we have mentioned in other reviews of other productions following the Blumhouse formula, the technical aspects are nothing special. Not bad, just generic. Neither the direction, nor the edition, nor the music, etc. stands out. All the elements around the story and the performances are designed as mere add-ons. Also, the film has numerous continuity errors, more accentuated at the end of the film. But hey!. Which slasher movie doesn’t have them.

Amusing spin.

Another typical Blumhouse movie. With just efficient manufacture level but of a great degree of entertainment. A witty and funny story, with a moderate level of violence, typical slasher cliches, with good jokes, and  Vince Vaughn having fun in his role make Freaky Friday an excellent option for a Friday night with soda and a basket of popcorn.