Happy Death Day (2017)

Nobody likes Mondays

By: JWBM

This is a tale about a normal day that turns deadly for a young, carefree college gal. For anyone else, they would be resting peacefully in the afterlife with an extra hole or two in their previous body. Though there comes the catch. She gets a reset: body back to normal; mind not the same. From there on out, that day—that initially started out like any other mundane Monday—turns into a battle to escape this recurring daymare.

"Happy Death Day" is not set up to be grab-my-heart scary, but instead plays out as fun and energetic. It's like a gateway film for someone who doesn't outright like the kind of horror that keeps you up at night, but doesn't mind a safe mix of mystery and suspense to take the reins. The film has a tendency to flirt with different tones throughout, whether that be light jokes, horseplay, or even venturing to light drama about reconciling. It's not a comedy like "Shaun of the Dead," but it's also not in league with balls-to-the-wall horror such as "Martyrs." It finds its home somewhere in a comfortable, don't-worry-about-the doors-being-unlocked middle ground. It's a well-packed feature that dabbles in the heres and theres without overly concentrating or being outright outstanding in either.

When this isn't being a homage to late '90s slashers with an emotionless, unwavering killer on the
loose with a memorable mask, the other side of this horror tale is a mystery. It uses the backdrop of "Groundhog Day" to replay clues to pick up on. This will make some repeating moments instantly annoying, while others—that are initially overlooked—turn out to be significant pieces to the story. It gives an element of attention to the film that would have otherwise just been a pretty girl being chased by a homely killer. The lead character, Tree—played by Jessica Rothe—does a decent job at carrying the many emotional shifts and turns this film takes the viewer through. She starts out as self-centered and unlikable—from signature eye rolls and sarcasm—to growing and adapting to the experience. It's very much a reactionary movie. One of those root-for-the-character films: the kind you could talk over and yell at the screen with a few rowdy friends.

"Happy Death Day" is an amusing, shameless movie that may get watched once and lost to the yesteryear. But that's the point. This is a slick Hollywood horror film that has all of the bells and whistles without bringing anything necessarily new to the table. The locations and shots are mostly on point. There's no grit or outright savage moments like you'd see in a typical pulse-pounding slasher. One scene easily and gracefully flows to the next. The movie is mostly safe, and you can count on it to be consistent throughout. There's a glaring formula, yes, but a formula that feels tight and worked through. If you're looking for something new that's more playful than it is challenging, this might be up your alley.

Rating: 6.5/10

Director: Christopher Landon ("Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse")
Actors: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, Rachel Matthews
Info: IMDB
Trailer: Youtube