I used to tell people that I hate horror movies in general but I had exceptions. After realising that the two horror movies I enjoy are Happy Death Day and Totally Killer, I’ve come to the realisation that I love horror when it’s a secondary genre. Horror archetypes and themes are usually boring on their own. But when horror is the secondary genre, and especially when the main genre is fantasy or science fiction, you get an actually compelling story.
I am tired of the futility of horror movies and, frankly, unrealistic abilities of most horror movie villains. There’s no fun in watching a bunch of people die while knowing they absolutely will die.
I want a compelling plot where whether or not the characters will die is actually up for debate. Take this movie, for example. The original storyline was purely horror. But when you add the element of Jaime travelling to the past to save her mother, it disrupts the status quo. This is no longer simply a horror movie where everyone is destined to die but now also a time travel movie.
And by their very nature, time travel movies bring hope. At their essence, they are about second chances.
Julie Bowen Is A Boss And She Should Not Have Died
The most unrealistic part of the setup of this movie is the fact that Julie Bowen died. She had been planning for this event for decades. She had a top notch security system, she took self-defence lessons AND she had a gun. She should not have been beaten by whats his face. That's honestly so ridiculous. But I guess I have to forgive this one since it's the main point of the movie. Without her death, Jaime would never time travel, she would never form a connection with her mother and she would never make amends for her behaviour.
This is one of the few movies where I am fully siding with the parents. Jaime is, at times, cruel. Honestly, I don't think the boundaries her mother has in place are unreasonable. Jaime is a teenager living in a town filled with weirdos. Case in point: the very fact that someone murdered her mother over such a stupid reason (a reason I won't disclose as I think you deserve to find out on your own). But with her second chance, Jaime is given a chance to appreciate just how traumatic it is to watch your friends die. She has a newfound appreciation for her mother and is able to actually show gratitude and love when she comes back to the present.
Diversity Is Always A Win
No, I don't think it's pandering to your audience to actually show the reality of human life. Not every single person in the world is white. And especially when you look at a colonised country like America which is build on immigration: yeah not everyone is going to be white. Get over it! It doesn't matter that it's set in the 80s. People of colour existed in the 80s. Plus, this is quite literally a time travel horror movie. I'm not expecting it to be fully realistic. I'm expecting it to cater to a 21st century audience. And 21st century audiences want to see themselves in the media they consume.
Rewatch Value
You know the best thing about meeting someone new? Especially someone who doesn't have the same taste in movies as you? Forcing them to sit through your favourite movies.
And I finally met my honorary mother's new boyfriend and because it's my job to test his capacity to be a good future husband to her and a good stepfather to me, I just had to see his reaction to my favourite movies. And despite those being my intentions, I don't even remember what he thought of the movie. I'm pretty sure he started doing paperwork midway through it.
Do you know what I do remember?
How frickin good this movie is!
Despite the fact that I already knew all the plot twists. I still found the movie enjoyable and engaging. And that's exactly why this is one of the few horror movies I enjoy. It doesn't rely on cheap jump scares and unnecessary death. It tells you a story you will want to hear, even while knowing the end. You grow to love the characters, even the ones who die first. And despite knowing the tragic ending, you still somehow root for the main character to change it.
Final Thoughts
This movie does feature some super annoying horror movie tropes: the biggest being the unreasonably invincible murderer. But it more than makes up for them with its twists and turns. I like that at its heart, this is a movie about second chances and a daughter's relationship with her mother. It's surprisingly sweet for a horror movie. But then again, Happy Death Day also explored a mother-daughter relationship. Maybe that's my thing. I only enjoy horror movies when they draw upon my mummy issues.