"Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
09-28-21, 10:33 PM
#1
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"Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
Freaky (2020)  Selected by jacob_b |
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These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
______________________________
These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
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10-15-21, 03:56 PM
#3
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
Not too bad as far as horror comedies go. At times, I thought the characters might have been played too broad, but I imagine at least some of that was to help really reinforce the body swap aspect of it and give the two main actors something more to play on. There were some good kills and gore. Actually, it was far bloodier than I expected. Also unexpected but welcome to see was how they didn't shy away from exploiting the difference in bodies. The killer didn't magically retain his strength in a teen girl's body. That being said, they might have portrayed him as being a little too strong. Hard to balance, I'm sure.
10-23-21, 12:59 PM
#5
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
The title is an obvious hat tip to Freaky Friday, and there are some sly allusions to other serial killer flicks during the film. This was okay, but not great, although Vince Vaughan plays a teen girl really well.
Last edited by Gobear; 10-23-21 at 10:36 PM.
10-23-21, 09:16 PM
#8
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Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
I enjoyed Freaky. The playfulness with gender norms was at times clever and at times annoying. The heroine was feeble except when she was in the man's body and even then the comedy was from Vince acting ditsy and powerless; which was cute but not for a feature film. The dark twist on Freaky Friday is smart but I agree the characters were too generic. The dagger presented too much of a chase quest and combined with thinner characters not enough time for Freaky to really play more deeply with it's themes and premise. I enjoyed the upbeat nature of Freaky and assortment of side characters that really carried the film.
10-23-21, 10:01 PM
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Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
My favorite type of horror movie--slick production, great actors, lots of style, and a sense of humor along with the thrills. The best part of this is watching Vince Vaughn act like a teenaged girl. Newton did a great job too. 4/5 stars.
10-25-21, 12:30 AM
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Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
Going into this, I was about 95% sure that I was going to like this...and I was right. I really loved Happy Death Day and The Babysitter, and this seemed like it would have a similar vibe to those films, and it did. I was surprised that it got as gory as it did in places, but I was even more surprised that the film took the time to make us care about the characters. The moment between Milly (in the killer's body) and her mom on the other side of the changing room door didn't have to be in the film, but its addition really added a layer of depth to the characters that one just doesn't see very often in slasher films. It's one of my two favorite first-time watches of the Challenge this year.
My subset film rankings for the Challenge thus far:
1. Battle Royale
2. Carrie (1976)
3. Curse of the Demon
4. Freaky
5. Slither
6. The Ninth Gate
7. Tower of Evil
8. Witchfinder General
9. A Bay of Blood / The Spiral Staircase (averaged together)
10. Planet Terror
11. Silent Madness
12. Slumber Party Massacre II (based purely on its out-of-left-field aesthetic)
13. In Search of Darkness
14. Road Games
15. Daughters of Darkness
16. The Collector
17. Cure
18. Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
19. Grave Robbers (Ladrones de Tumbas)
20. The Severed Arm
21. Fade to Black
22. The Empty Man
23. The Mortuary Collection
24. Cutting Class
My subset film rankings for the Challenge thus far:
1. Battle Royale
2. Carrie (1976)
3. Curse of the Demon
4. Freaky
5. Slither
6. The Ninth Gate
7. Tower of Evil
8. Witchfinder General
9. A Bay of Blood / The Spiral Staircase (averaged together)
10. Planet Terror
11. Silent Madness
12. Slumber Party Massacre II (based purely on its out-of-left-field aesthetic)
13. In Search of Darkness
14. Road Games
15. Daughters of Darkness
16. The Collector
17. Cure
18. Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
19. Grave Robbers (Ladrones de Tumbas)
20. The Severed Arm
21. Fade to Black
22. The Empty Man
23. The Mortuary Collection
24. Cutting Class
10-25-21, 09:18 AM
#12
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Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
Going into this, I was about 95% sure that I was going to like this...and I was right. I really loved Happy Death Day and The Babysitter, and this seemed like it would have a similar vibe to those films, and it did. I was surprised that it got as gory as it did in places, but I was even more surprised that the film took the time to make us care about the characters.
Vince Vaugn is a tall dude!
Last edited by WillieMLF; 10-25-21 at 09:27 AM.
10-25-21, 05:44 PM
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Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
Entertaining twist on the popular body-switching theme. I preferred Happy Death Day and probably won’t rewatch this, though.
10-25-21, 08:23 PM
#14
10-30-21, 04:00 PM
#15
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: "Freaky" Reviews/Discussion - 2021 Horror Challenge
I enjoyed this one too. Vaughan is always fun to watch, and the physical comedy aspects of the swap were done well. Bloodier than I expected, and could have done without much of the dagger quest stuff.
Stealing rbrown’s subset ranking idea:
Curse of the Demon, 8/10
The Phantom Carriage, 8/10
Carrie, 8/10
Fade to Black, 8/10
Cure, 8/10
Battle Royale, 8/10
The Spiral Staircase, 8/10
The Empty Man, 8/10
Slumber Party Massacre 2, 7/10
The Ninth Gate, 7/10
A Bay of Blood, 7/10
The Frighteners, 7/10
Road Games, 7/10
Slither, 7/10
Witchfinder General, 7/10
Wildling, 7/10
Planet Terror, 7/10
Freaky, 6/10
The Mortuary Collection, 6/10
Cutting Class, 6/10
Prom Night 2: Hello Mary Lou, 6/10
In Search of Darkness, 6/10
Tower of Evil, 5/10
Grave Robbers, 5/10
Daughters of Darkness, 5/10
Silent Madness, 5/10
The Severed Arm, 4/10
The Collector, 2/10
Stealing rbrown’s subset ranking idea:
Curse of the Demon, 8/10
The Phantom Carriage, 8/10
Carrie, 8/10
Fade to Black, 8/10
Cure, 8/10
Battle Royale, 8/10
The Spiral Staircase, 8/10
The Empty Man, 8/10
Slumber Party Massacre 2, 7/10
The Ninth Gate, 7/10
A Bay of Blood, 7/10
The Frighteners, 7/10
Road Games, 7/10
Slither, 7/10
Witchfinder General, 7/10
Wildling, 7/10
Planet Terror, 7/10
Freaky, 6/10
The Mortuary Collection, 6/10
Cutting Class, 6/10
Prom Night 2: Hello Mary Lou, 6/10
In Search of Darkness, 6/10
Tower of Evil, 5/10
Grave Robbers, 5/10
Daughters of Darkness, 5/10
Silent Madness, 5/10
The Severed Arm, 4/10
The Collector, 2/10
