Director: Christopher Landon
Writer: Scott Lobdell (Screenplay)
Starring: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, Charles Aitken, Laura Clifton, Jason Bayle, Rob Mello
Plot: A college student relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.
Tagline – Get Up. Live Your Day. Get Killed. Again.
Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Watchable Slasher Repeat
Story: Happy Death Day starts as Tree (Rothe) wakes in Carter’s (Broussard) dorm room after a heavy night of drinking, completing the walk of shame she goes about her college day, turn up for a moment in class and getting ready to party, only she ends up getting murdered by a masked man.
This should be over right, no, Tree reawakens in Carter’s room being forced to repeat the day, including her death. After being killed a couple of times she gets the idea of trying to solve her murder which brings a series of different murders where she starts to learn what she must do to make it out of the loop.
Thoughts on Happy Death Day
Characters – Tree is the stuck up college student that believes she is above everyone, she treats people badly while having an affair with her professor. When she gets murdered she must re-live the day over and over, where she must learn to be a better person. This character is designed well because you are meant to hate her at the start because she needs to learn the lessons in life to make it out of her loop. Carter is the one guy that Tree turns to for help, he gives the help needed to make it through the day. The rest of the cast seem to be potential suspects who Tree has rubbed the wrong way.
Performances – Jessica Rothe is solid in the leading role, she is in every scene because it her character’s story is learning as we do too. Israel Broussard is solid in the supporting role as are the rest of the cast, no one really shines through.
Story – The story follows one person who must repeat the murder day until they learn who is the one murdering them. The idea is basically Groundhog Day with a slasher twist which is fine to watch, but this is the beginning of the problems in the film, as the murder takes place in different locations which is a problem as it makes the film feel like the killer hadn’t been playing as well as first time, which once it is all set and done, the idea was that the killer had planned this day for a reason not making it random.
Horror/Mystery – The horror in this film is very tame slasher material without any blood or gore. The mystery is about trying to solve who is the one murdering them which is fun to watch unfold.
Settings – The film is set in and around college campus which shows how Tree must use her location to solve who killed her believing the suspect is on campus.
Special Effects – The effects are soft when it comes to the kills which disappoints.
Scene of the Movie – The good day.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The killer seems to be designed as planned but acts spontaneous.
Final Thoughts – This is a simple fun horror slasher, it is easy to watch but when you start thinking about everything more is becomes somewhat of a confusing story that doesn’t connect correctly.
Overall: Soft horror that missed a trick.
Rating
