Totally Killer review
Totally Killer has a terrific premise for a modern horror comedy influenced by the likes of Happy Death Day. A perky blonde has to solve the mystery of a killer happily slashing their way through a group of teenagers. But this time there’s time travel!
Thirty-five years ago, the town of Vernon was shocked when a masked killer viciously butchered three 16-year-old girls ending their killing spree on Halloween. Pam (Julie Bowen) and her husband, Blake (Lochlyn Munro, Peacemaker), survived the horror and are understandably super protective of their now 16-year-old daughter Jamie (Kiernan Shipka).
Like most teenagers, Jamie finds her folks overbearing and annoying. She can’t wait to ditch them to go to a concert with her genius best friend, Amelia (Kelcey Mawema, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before). Tragedy soon hits as the killer returns to strike again.
This leaves a grieving Jamie desperate to bring the killer to justice. It just so happens Amelia’s been working on a time machine off her mother, Lauren’s (Kimberly Huie) old designs. Maybe Jamie could go back and stop the killer back in 1987 before the initial victims are slain?
That’s a fun concept even with some similarities to The Final Girls. The jokes land harder, the action scenes more intense and performances are all around better here. Director Nahnatchka Khan (Always Be My Maybe) doesn’t go for the low-hanging fruit of cracking on 80s clothing and technology.
One time period complaint? The soundtrack could have used 10-12 more iconic 80s songs throughout.
MORE:
- DC Comics reviews 10/3/23 – Batman #138, Shazam #4
- Star Wars The Black Series Luke Skywalker – Imperial Light Cruiser review
- Loki Season 2 Part 1 review
- Daredevil TV Episodes and Recap Guide
Now in the 80s, Jamie is shocked to learn the school status quo seeing her high school administrators as students. Pam (Olivia Holt) is the queen bee of the school’s Mean Girl set and Blake (Charlie Gillespie) is a dumb, horny jock. Fortunately, Jamie can lean on teen Lauren (Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson) for assistance and possibly returning home to 2023.
Screenwriters Jen D’Angelo, David Matalon and Sasha Perl-Raver don’t play up the generational clash as much as possible. Jamie always holds the moral high ground calling out phrases, actions or imagery that in modern times would be problematic or “cancel-worthy.” Those jokes are about 50/50 as Jamie’s disgust at times comes off pretentious.
Jamie is never put in a position where she can be in the wrong or gain some insight from her “prehistoric” counterparts. A little give and take would have been welcome. Maybe just from the less tech savvy students being more resourceful since they weren’t raised to just Google something?
At times the tone shift is jarring from the at times goofy humor to the brutal murder scenes, but Khan balances it out well enough.
Shipka is great in the lead role. Jamie isn’t the typical slasher final girl. She’s fully capable of defending herself and has several encounters with the killer in surprisingly very physical fights. Khan has largely stuck to comedies, but it’d be interesting to see her handle an action comedy next.
The supporting cast handle their roles well with Johnson, Holt and Gillespie in particular standing out.
As usual with this style slasher, the killer’s reveal is key to a satisfying finale. Totally Killer has a solid payoff and an epilogue that made the investment worthwhile.
Given the setup of the film and the time hopping dynamics, it was a little surprising there wasn’t a post-credit scene. I’d be down for a sequel to Totally Killer. Maybe that follow-up could explore the 90s next?
Rating: 8 out of 10
Photo Credit: Amazon
You can check out Totally Killer on Amazon Prime.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.