‘The Blackening Review: Tim Story Centers The Black Gaze In Horror Comedy Written By Tracy Oliver
Blackening is a powerful mix of satire and comedy that challenges and opposes the currents of the genre, especially its predominantly black cast. Directed by Tim Story and written by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, the film pays homage to popular films such as Scream, Friday the 13th and Saw along with Little Cabin in the Woods. Amidst the chaotic sheik, the narrative focuses on black American culture and all its complexities. Also starring Perkins, Jermaine Fowler, Antoinette Robertson, Dwayne Perkins, Cinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, Yvonne Orji and Jay Pharoah.
It all started in a cabin in the woods, like most horror movies these days. Morgan (Orgy) and Shawn (Farron), a couple who were part of a group of friends from college, meet after 10 years. The plan is to relax together and throw a big party. The two are curious when they find a game called Blackening in one of the back rooms. Armed with Sambo face timers, games and voiceovers, the two begin to develop an interest and passion for the game. The first question asked, "Name one black character who survived in any horror movie." They got the question wrong, so now there's hell to pay.
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The rest Lisa (Robertson), Nnamdi (Wallace), Dewayne (Perkins), Alison (Byers), Shanika (Mayo), King (Greg) and Clifton (Fowler) arrived much later and made sure they were all caught. Your personal luggage with you. Lisa and Nnamdi are getting back together after 10 years apart, and Dania is upset that they got back together, King is trying to forget the gang, Shanika and Alison just want to drink and get drunk, and Clifton, the group nerd, just wants to fit in. They also discover the Blackening game and let curiosity take over and draw you into a deadly game of cat and mouse. The team must now rely on them to survive. Their life and death situations encourage a deeper examination of their beliefs about race and identity.
Culture and friendship form the heart of the story, a group of friends who risk everything for each other. The concept of community is especially important during this conflict, which shows what the community is and what it is not. Consider, for example, Clifton as a character. As a black Republican who voted for Trump twice and whose team can't play the boring card game of spades, he's used to representing those more skewed relationships in society.
The script is paired with the story director to capture the culture through an unapologetically dark lens. The characters use African-American language as well as black body language, which still deviates from the usual Hollywood offerings. What really sets this movie apart is its humor, which doesn't distract from its heartwarming message with cheap laughs. The comedic elements disarm the audience, making them more accepting of the film's deeper themes.
Black humor provides a deep insight into black people in the American context. There's a spectrum, there's no one way blackness works and audiences will see this unfold, especially with a troubled crowd. Black culture does not exist in a vacuum, and the characters explore it from within. Findings from this assessment are applied to the party's survival skills to be used against the assassin.
The story also suggests that the characters may be people other than cis-heterologists. Black women, fat black women, and queer people who are often sidelined in mainstream media have a chance here because they show strength, intelligence, and ingenuity to become the ultimate savior. .
Blackout is one of the best comedies of the year. Blending and balancing elements of comedy, horror and insightful social commentary, this film will be talked about long after it's over.
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