Reunion

Movie Trailer

Release Date
June 28, 2024 (United States)

Genre
Comedy, Mystery

Cast & Crew

• Lil Rel Howery as Ray Hammond
• Billy Magnussen as Evan West
• Jillian Bell as Vivian Chase
• Jamie Chung as Jasmine Park
• Michael Hitchcock as Mr. Theodore Buckley
• Dianne Doan as Lisa Danbury
• Cassandra Blair as Meagan Cooper
• Nina Dobrev as Amanda Tanner
• Chace Crawford as Mathew Danbury

Director
Chris Nelson

Producer

• Todd Garner
• Ben Silverman
• Peter Principato
• Mark Korshak
• Mickey Schiff
• Lil Rel Howery

Writer
Jake Emanuel, Willie Block

Production Company

• Spyglass Media Group
• Lionsgate
• Artists Road
• Unique Features

Distributed By
Republic Pictures

Running Time
90 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
R (Restricted)

Content Advisory

• Mild violence
• Language
• Sexual content

Movie Story
“Reunion” takes place on a stormy night, during the chaotic aftermath of Ridgeview High School’s twenty-year reunion. The once-popular and arrogant Mathew Danbury hosts the event at his lavish mansion. Among the attendees are various former classmates, including local police officer Evan West (Billy Magnussen), journalist Jasmine Park (Jamie Chung), quirky outcast Vivian Chase (Jillian Bell), and aspiring Congresswoman Amanda Tanner (Nina Dobrev). The reunion is meant to be a celebration of old memories, but things take a dark turn when Mathew, the life of the party, is found dead the next morning, shot in the chest.

Trapped by a snowstorm, the remaining guests—Evan, Jasmine, Ray Hammond (Lil Rel Howery), Vivian, Amanda, and their former teacher, Mr. Theodore Buckley (Michael Hitchcock)—realize that the killer must still be in the house. The tension mounts as the group discovers that each one of them had a motive to kill Mathew, whose arrogance and cruelty from their high school days have left lingering scars. As they search for clues and investigate each other, secrets from the past are revealed, further complicating the mystery.

Evan takes the lead in the investigation, but the clues point in all directions. Ray discovers an earring near the crime scene, but chooses to hide it, deepening suspicion around his character. The group becomes increasingly paranoid as they search one another’s belongings, hoping to find the truth. Meanwhile, Amanda tries to conceal a damning VHS tape from their high school days, which shows her and Mathew committing a serious crime. She claims she was being blackmailed to shut off the power at a specific time during the party, adding another layer of mystery to the events.

As the group continues to piece together what happened, they are haunted by the realization that Mathew’s death might not be the only murder in the house. Soon after, the body of Meagan Cooper (Cassandra Blair), Mathew’s former love interest, is discovered in the trunk of a car. The clues lead back to Ray, whose boots match the footprints found in the snow near the body, making him the prime suspect. However, Ray is determined to clear his name and begins investigating further, piecing together an elaborate conspiracy involving Mathew’s wife, Lisa (Dianne Doan), and her lover.

In a thrilling conclusion, Ray unveils the true culprits—Lisa and Evan. The two had been orchestrating the murders all along to cover up their affair and take control of Mathew’s assets. Using a high school mascot costume to throw off the others, they manipulated the evidence to frame Ray. With the help of a mobile gaming app where they exchanged secret messages, Ray exposes their plot, leading to their arrest. The remaining survivors, although shaken, take a group photo to commemorate the surreal experience, with Jasmine offering Ray a job at her newspaper as an investigator.

Special Effects
The special effects in “Reunion” are minimal but effectively create a tense, closed-room mystery atmosphere. The heavy snowstorm, ominous lighting, and use of practical effects for the crime scenes enhance the film’s suspenseful tone.

Filming Locations

• Los Angeles, California

Notable Quotes

• “High school ends, but the grudges never do.” – Ray Hammond
• “Some memories aren’t meant to be dug up.” – Vivian Chase
• “We all have skeletons in our closet; it’s just a matter of who lets them out.” – Evan West

Behind-the-Scenes
Filming took place in Los Angeles in the fall of 2021, with a tight shooting schedule that wrapped in November. The ensemble cast, led by Lil Rel Howery and Billy Magnussen, worked closely with director Chris Nelson to capture the mix of comedy and tension that drives the film’s plot. The cast noted the fun, yet intense atmosphere on set, particularly during the high-stakes scenes in the final act.

Final Verdict
“Reunion” offers a unique blend of comedy and mystery, with a cast of eccentric characters and an engaging, fast-paced plot. The film keeps audiences guessing with its well-crafted twists and turns, as each character’s hidden motivations come to light. Fans of murder mysteries and ensemble comedies will enjoy the sharp dialogue and dark humor that drive this modern-day whodunit.