The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
05-18-23 | 06:46 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Moderator
The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
THE BLACKENING – In theaters Juneteenth weekend. Starring Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, with Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji.
The Blackening centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game. Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and screenplay and screen story by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) & Dewayne Perkins (The Amber Ruffin Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
The Blackening centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game. Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and screenplay and screen story by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) & Dewayne Perkins (The Amber Ruffin Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
06-14-23 | 05:53 PM
#2
Thread Starter
Moderator
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
06-14-23 | 08:14 PM
#3
DVD Talk God
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
T-Mobile gave out a $5 ticket to see this through Atom Tickets. So I bought a ticket at Harkins to see it Friday. It does look kinda funny.
My AMC A-List reservations are full right now with Flash, Indy and Joy Ride.
My AMC A-List reservations are full right now with Flash, Indy and Joy Ride.
06-16-23 | 07:44 PM
#4
DVD Talk God
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
I just got back from a matinee. I got some laughs out of it, but it's by no means a great movie. It was only about 90 minutes before credits. There were a few people in my audience laughing their asses off at some scenes that I thought were Eh.
I'll be honest, I don't think this movie really fits the demographic of this forum, so I'm sure the vast majority of you have no interest in it. If you are curious, I would wait to watch it at home.
A moderate recommendation for those of you who enjoy urban comedies. I'd give it a B- A few of the actors did do a good job selling the comedy.
The trailer spoiled a few of the funnier scenes, but this is a hard movie to sell without showing some of them.
I'll be honest, I don't think this movie really fits the demographic of this forum, so I'm sure the vast majority of you have no interest in it. If you are curious, I would wait to watch it at home.
A moderate recommendation for those of you who enjoy urban comedies. I'd give it a B- A few of the actors did do a good job selling the comedy.
The trailer spoiled a few of the funnier scenes, but this is a hard movie to sell without showing some of them.
Last edited by DJariya; 06-16-23 at 07:50 PM.
06-16-23 | 08:36 PM
#5
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
This doesn’t look particularly great but the title alone gave me a chuckle. I’ll end up watching at home at some point.
06-17-23 | 01:05 AM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Hoping to catch a screening of this over the weekend!
06-19-23 | 12:54 AM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Saw this earlier today.
Even though it misses the landing, I thought the film was mostly enjoyable.
Loved everything involving the actual board game and wished more scenes featured it.
Cast is wonderful here, especially (Co-Writer) Dewayne Perkins.
Even though it misses the landing, I thought the film was mostly enjoyable.
Loved everything involving the actual board game and wished more scenes featured it.
Cast is wonderful here, especially (Co-Writer) Dewayne Perkins.
06-19-23 | 10:33 PM
#8
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Wow. Saw this at TIFF last September (and shot the Q&A, below, poorly as always) and for some reason thought it had already come and gone, or been buried on streaming. I thought there were a number of solid laughs in it, but overall kinda felt like a padded comedy sketch, which it basically is. The writers address that somewhat in the clip
06-19-23 | 11:35 PM
#9
DVD Talk God
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
I kind of felt that way as well that this was a 90 minute comedy sketch.
The stuff with the Sambo board game was kind of funny. I wish that would have had enough meat on it to go a little longer.
The stuff with the Sambo board game was kind of funny. I wish that would have had enough meat on it to go a little longer.
06-20-23 | 10:37 AM
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
As Brian T mentioned, it's based off of Dewayne Perkins' group (3Peat) 2018 sketch.
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Brian T (07-09-23)
07-07-23 | 01:12 PM
#11
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
On PVOD now.
07-08-23 | 08:28 AM
#12
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Enjoyed the hell out of this. Script and performances were good and funny.
Story kind of lags once the funny stops in the final half hour. Also could have cut maybe 10 minutes.
They will probably focus more on playing the game in the sequel. As everyone mentioned, that’s got the most hilarious scenes in it.
I was almost hysterical and had to pause during a couple of them.
If you’re not familiar with or don’t generally enjoy black culture, this would not do much for you, honestly.
Story kind of lags once the funny stops in the final half hour. Also could have cut maybe 10 minutes.
They will probably focus more on playing the game in the sequel. As everyone mentioned, that’s got the most hilarious scenes in it.
I was almost hysterical and had to pause during a couple of them.
If you’re not familiar with or don’t generally enjoy black culture, this would not do much for you, honestly.
01-01-24 | 02:28 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Saw this last night and got more than a few laughs out of it. Importantly, the laughs don't come from making fun of horror movies and fans (Scream, I'm looking at you), thus making it a good blend of horror and humor where one doesn't overshadow the other. Too many horror films that try to be funny end up being neither. I'll spoilerize some of the jokes and comments here, but my biggest laugh might have been
.
Also, at the beginning, in the initial challenge of the game, they ask for a black character that survives a horror film, and my immediate response was
Spoiler:
Also, at the beginning, in the initial challenge of the game, they ask for a black character that survives a horror film, and my immediate response was
Spoiler:
01-01-24 | 05:23 PM
#14
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
09-10-25 | 07:25 PM
#15
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Always been meaning to watch this flick and saw that Netflix added it. The beginning showed promise but after that the film has been so sloooooow. I just paused it and am shocked I am only 27:25 into the movie. It feels like it's been going on forever. Does this pick up any time soon? Or does it remain in first gear?
09-10-25 | 10:03 PM
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
I was intrigued to watch this too on Netflix. I dropped it when the friends arrived at the cabin and just kept talking and talking and talking. Horror movie? Nope, just dialogue.
09-10-25 | 10:20 PM
#17
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Exactly why I couldn't continue. I would've been willing to keep going if any of them were at least interesting or funny. But they were all just so boring. I fear that by the time the horror aspect picks up, if it ever does, I won't care what happens to any of them. And not in a wishing them dead sort of way, because that can be fun in a horror movie when you have certain characters you love to hate. I mean I would be totally disinterested in their fates one way or another, neither rooting for or against any of them.
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MLBFan24 (09-11-25)
01-29-26 | 08:33 AM
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Blackening (2023, D: Tim Story)
Found this one REALLY disappointing. I only remember laughing once and the movie was a real slog honestly.
