Harry Situation Reviews: Freaky

Alright, let’s get freaky!

Freaky is a slasher comedy film directed by Christopher Landon, who is by now best known for directing the Happy Death Day films, and it stars Vince Vaughn and Natalie Newton. The film centers around a typical teenager named Millie Kessler (played by Natalie Newton), who usually goes unseen by her high school peers. Then one night she has an frightening encounter with a serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher (played by Vince Vaughn). The Butcher attempts to kill Millie with a mystic dagger, but the dagger makes the two switch bodies. Now Millie inside the Butcher’s body must retrieve the dagger and switch back before the switch is permanent and before the Butcher can add any more victims in her body.

Obviously body-swapping stories aren't anything new in films. You got the two Freaky Friday movies and that one film that starred Kirk Cameron and Dudley Moore. But I'll give the film this much credit that it is unique that the body-swap involves a serial killer. And for what it's worth it's a fun film to watch.

The only reason to see this movie is to see Vince Vaughn act like a teenage girl. His scenes are the biggest highlights in the movie. He's great. I'm not usually a big fan on the guy since he tends to play the same character in most of the movies he's starred in. But it's nice to see him be something else.

The first ten minutes really do hook you into the film. It plays out like a classic slasher film like Friday the 13th (coincidentally this film came out last friday, the 13th). It opens with four teenagers in this big house and Vince Vaughn picks them off one by one Jason Voorhees style. It's pretty good and does help build some tension in the movie. And there are some effect kills and gore in this movie. One in particular is where the Butcher in Millie's body slices up the woodshop teacher with a buzz saw. That was pretty sick.

So the slasher aspect was good, how was the comedy? Now the tricky thing about comedy is that it can be hit or miss. And that's pretty much the comedy in this film, it's hit and miss. Some of the jokes work, like Vince Vaughn acting like a teenage girl, and the teenage friends that help Vince Vaughn out have a few good laughs. But other times the jokes don't always work. They feel like they're trying a little too hard to get a laugh in order to balance out some of the kills.

Also I feel the film becomes a little less interesting when we're following the Butcher in Millie's body. Natalie Newton is good in this film but she's very cold and emotionless as the Butcher. I think that's the point but it's far less interesting when we see Millie in the Butcher's body. The only time it gets good is when she's killing people as the Butcher. How messed up is that?

Also, something I've noticed while watching the movie is that the Blissfield Butcher isn't a smart killer. He (or she?) is leaving fingerprints all over the crime scene. Seriously, every weapon this person touches leaves evidence for the police. But if the police are anything like police in other slasher films, it means they're incompotent. You know what? That's something I want to see in a future film now. A slasher film but on the perspective of the police. I think that could sell tickets.

Overall this is a fun film to watch. I was lucky to see this just before my home state went into second lockdown no thanks to the fucking pandemic. This is a film that doesn't take itself too seriously. There's enough for the average viewer to enjoy. So I'd say give a watch when you get a chance.

Positives:

-Vince Vaughn

-Some good kills/gore

-Some good jokes

Negatives:

-Some jokes don't work

-Less interesting following Butcher as Millie

Final Grade: C+

So those are my thoughts on Freaky. Have you seen this movie? What were your thoughts on it? What's your favorite body-swapping movie or your favorite horror comedy? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check out more reviews here on Prose!

Best Quote:

Junkie: "Come back. I'll suck your dick. All of it."

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