Freaky

Movie Trailer

Release Date
November 13, 2020

Genre
Horror, Comedy, Thriller

Cast & Crew

• Vince Vaughn as The Butcher
• Kathryn Newton as Millie Kessler
• Celeste O’Connor as Nyla Chones
• Misha Osherovich as Josh Detmer
• Uriah Shelton as Booker Strode
• Alan Ruck as Mr. Fletcher
• Katie Finneran as Coral Kessler

Director
Christopher Landon

Other Movies Director is Known For

• Happy Death Day (2017)
• Happy Death Day 2U (2019)
• Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)

Producer
Jason Blum, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath

Writer
Michael Kennedy, Christopher Landon

Budget
Estimated at $6 million

Production Company
Blumhouse Productions, Divide/Conquer, Universal Pictures

Running Time
102 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
R

Content Advisory

• Strong violence and gore
• Sexual content
• Language

Movie Story
Freaky is a darkly comedic horror film that combines the body-swap genre with slasher elements, offering a fresh and entertaining twist on both. The story centers around Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton), a shy and awkward high school student who becomes the target of the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn), a notorious serial killer.

The film begins with the Butcher terrorizing the town of Blissfield, but his latest kill goes awry when he attempts to murder Millie with an ancient mystical dagger. Instead of killing her, the dagger causes Millie and the Butcher to swap bodies. Millie wakes up to find herself in the body of the hulking killer, while the Butcher, now inhabiting Millie’s body, discovers a new opportunity to wreak havoc in high school.

With only 24 hours to reverse the curse before the body swap becomes permanent, Millie must navigate the challenges of being in the body of a wanted killer while trying to convince her friends, Nyla (Celeste O’Connor) and Josh (Misha Osherovich), of her true identity. Meanwhile, the Butcher uses Millie’s body to blend in at school, using his newfound anonymity to continue his killing spree.

The film plays with the comedic potential of the body-swap premise, particularly through Vince Vaughn’s performance as Millie trapped in the Butcher’s body. Vaughn brings humor and heart to the role, delivering an unexpectedly tender portrayal of a teenage girl trying to reclaim her life. Kathryn Newton, on the other hand, embraces the menacing role of the Butcher, showing a sharp contrast to her usual demeanor as Millie.

As the clock ticks down, Millie, Nyla, and Josh race to stop the Butcher, culminating in a series of bloody and creative kills that pay homage to classic slasher films. The film’s blend of horror and humor, along with its fast-paced action, keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.

Special Effects
Freaky uses practical effects and creative makeup to deliver its gory kills and slasher thrills. The film’s special effects team does a commendable job of balancing horror with humor, ensuring that the violence is both shocking and, at times, comically over-the-top. The transformation scenes, where Millie and the Butcher experience the body swap, are handled with visual flair, emphasizing the surreal nature of the film’s premise.

Box Office Performance
Despite being released during the COVID-19 pandemic, Freaky performed well at the box office, grossing over $16 million worldwide against its modest budget of $6 million. The film was praised for its originality, performances, and the effective blend of horror and comedy, solidifying its place as a standout entry in the slasher-comedy genre. Its success also highlighted the continuing appeal of horror films, even during challenging times for the theatrical industry.

Filming Locations

• Alpharetta, Georgia, USA

Notable Quotes

• “I’m a freaking serial killer!” – Millie (in the Butcher’s body)
• “I can’t wait to kill you!” – The Butcher (in Millie’s body)
• “It’s me, it’s Millie! He’s inside me!” – Millie (in the Butcher’s body)

Behind-the-Scenes
Freaky was directed by Christopher Landon, known for his work on the Happy Death Day films, and carries over a similar tone of mixing horror with humor. Landon and writer Michael Kennedy wanted to create a film that played with the tropes of the slasher genre while delivering something fresh and fun. Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton’s performances were central to the film’s success, with both actors fully committing to their roles, bringing both humor and intensity to the body-swap scenario. The film was produced by Blumhouse Productions, known for their successful horror films, and it continues their trend of delivering quality genre fare.

Awards

• Nominated for a Critics’ Choice Super Award (Best Horror Movie)
• Nominated for a Saturn Award (Best Horror Film)

Final Verdict
Freaky is a clever and entertaining mash-up of slasher horror and body-swap comedy, featuring standout performances from Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton. The film’s mix of humor, horror, and high-energy action makes it a fun watch for fans of both genres. With its fresh take on familiar tropes and a healthy dose of gory thrills, Freaky stands out as one of the more inventive horror films of recent years.

IMDb Rating
6.3/10