The Blackening Film Review: A Fresh Take On Horrorcomedy
There are almost as many films that are satires of horror stories as there are mainstream horror films. 25 years ago, when Scream became a cultural phenomenon, it was fresh and smart, but anyone making the same claim today needs to dig a little deeper. Tim Story, director of The Barbershop and Fantastic Four, found an interesting take on blackening.
A group of friends gather at a cabin in the woods for a reunion on the weekend of June 11th. In the middle of the party, the lights go out and while searching for a solution, they find a room with a game called Blackness. A mysterious figure appears on screen and says that the only way to save a trapped friend is to sacrifice the person they consider "the best". Unable to answer, they go in search of the killers and use their knowledge of horror movie plots to keep them alive.
The film's catchphrase, "I can't kill them all first," perfectly sums up the story's intended message. In classic horror, like many genres, black characters are stereotyped and often the first to die. An excellent screenplay drives the story and includes some well-meaning jokes about African American culture.
When your identity in your community is a pass/fail test, the idea of being "black enough" is as vague as avoiding horribly clichéd characters. Mixing cinematic elements with cultural themes is a formula that works well and gives the film an impetus that would be killer for other horror films.
The actors share a natural bond that has made them lifelong friends. Grace Byers is great as Alison, who becomes a leader and out of the comedy team, Diedrich Bader is hilarious as the too-subtle name Ranger White.
The twist isn't surprising and the film certainly evokes more laughs than scares, but finding something new in such a dated subgenre (there are five horror movies) deserves applause.
While many horror satires are too silly to be worth much, Blackening is a thoughtful look at genre conventions while being entertaining and funny.
