A Blood-Soaked Walk Down Memory Lane

Read Time:3 Minute, 57 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Totally Killer
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Genre: Comedy, Horror
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 45m
Director(s): Nahnatchka Khan
Writer(s): David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver, Jen D'Angelo
Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Charlie Gillespie, Lochlyn Munro, Troy L. Johnson, Liana Liberato, Kelcey Mawema, Stephi Chin-Salvo, Anna Diaz, Ella Choi, Jeremy Monn-Djasngar, Nathaniel Appiah, Jonathan Potts, Randall Park, Julie Bowen
Where To Watch: coming to Prime Video on October 6, 2023

RAVING REVIEW: Embarking upon a deliciously dark yet delightfully light-hearted journey through time, TOTALLY KILLER smashes through the decades, plunging viewers into a retro and self-aware 1987. Without unveiling too much of this tumultuous temporal journey, one finds an unexpected melding of horror, hilarity, and heart, crafting an adventure with a perfectly nostalgic delivery.

TOTALLY KILLER, a journey through time with fun nuances, tells us the story of Jamie Hughes (Kiernan Shipka), who unwittingly stumbles into the sinister shadows of 1987. Amidst the height of the Sweet Sixteen Killer’s reign, she unexpectedly meets her teenage mother, Pam, forging an alliance laced with fear. This unforeseen meetup navigates through terror, forming a timeworn bridge between two distinct generational lenses. With a very intentional homage to BACK TO THE FUTURE, the film delivers on the familiar while still creating its path.

Navigating through a treacherous path, which is the carefree world of the 80s, the audience is not only spectators but virtual inhabitants of this world thanks to a partnership between Prime Video and Blumhouse, orchestrated by the creative intellects including Nahnatchka Khan, Jen D’Angelo, David Matalon, and Sasha Perl-Raver. The narrative sails smoothly over a sea of suspense and mystery, evading the snares of over-complicated plots and excessive sentimental recollection. However, I will say that a horror film hasn’t had me thinking this hard for some time!

Peeled from the vibrant, chaotic folds of the 1980s, TOTALLY KILLER showcases a striking, visually captivating era, splattered with bright colors and subtle nods to the iconic pop culture of the period. Amidst the screams and scares, it breathes a vibrant, pulsating core of emotional richness, thanks mainly to the compelling mother-daughter dynamism between Jamie and a younger version of her mom, Pam, splendidly portrayed by Shipka and Olivia Holt, respectively. This dynamic explores the depths beyond conventional horror-comedy, transcending into realms of bravery, family, and unanticipated connectivity, presenting a rich, emotionally profound experience.

Amidst a torrent of terror and nostalgia, TOTALLY KILLER snarkily critiques both the culture of the 80s and the slasher genre itself, crafting a uniquely tailored narrative path pulsating with comedic vibrancy and shrewd societal observations. Presenting Jamie as the voice of contemporary logic amidst the seemingly unhinged chaos of 80s culture, the film offers an audience an anchor in relatability, aligning them with her modern insights and reactions in a bewilderingly amusing retro universe.

Despite adhering to some traditional slasher genre mechanisms, the film intertwines its comedic threads so skillfully that the narrative engages and serves as a subtle critique of the genre’s often formulaic approaches. Jamie's rationality, hailing from more modern times, colliding with the unfettered chaos of the 80s, becomes not only a source of continuous amusement but a savvy commentary on the oft-predictable journey of the slasher genre.

TOTALLY KILLER constructs a sense of dread, delight, and unexpected emotional poignancy into a piece that, even amidst its few missteps, proudly stands within the realms of horror-comedy. Marrying daring temporal escapades, sharp societal reflections, and compellingly intricate relationships, the movie crafts an enthralling and thought-provoking experience, leaving audiences suspended between amusement and reflective pondering, having been escorted through an eerily entertaining escapade of time, emotional ties, and terrifying scenarios.

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[photo courtesy of PRIME VIDEO]

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