Freaky is a horror spin on the classic movie Freaky Friday, in which a girl switches bodies with a serial killer and must find a way to switch back within 24 hours. The movie was released in theaters on Friday, Nov. 13, and later released for streaming on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and YouTube on Dec. 4. Produced by Blumhouse Productions, Freaky is directed and written by Christopher Landon, who also directed the popular horror film Happy Death Day. The movie stars Kathryn Newton, known for her role as Allie in The Society, and Vince Vaugh, who starred in many movies, including The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Psycho (1998). 

The film follows seventeen-year-old Millie Kesler (played by Kathryn Newton) as she deals with bullying at school and struggles to cope with the recent death of her father. At her school, the story of the town’s infamous serial killer, the Blissfield Butcher (played by Vince Vaughn), begins to spread as Homecoming draws nearer; it is rumored that he comes out to murder teenagers on Homecoming night. When Millie finds herself one of the Butcher’s targets, her whole life changes. Swapping into a completely different body comes with its own perks: strength, power, and intimidation. But ultimately, Millie learns that she always had those traits within her, and this shapes her growth into a more confident and independent person.

The movie incorporates subjects such as grief, identity, and coping with loss, while also providing jump scares, gore, and suspense. The horror element is amplified by Freaky’s spectacular CGI, which provides a realistic portrayal of the gruesome killings committed by the Butcher. The heartwarming friendships that Millie maintains despite being in a different body provide the blood-filled movie with some much-needed comic relief. While the movie’s themes are positive, Freaky takes on a much darker tone than its inspirational film, Freaky Friday, due to its macabre plot. However, in both movies, the characters, save for the serial killer, are able to learn new things about themselves and each other and ultimately become more confident people by the end. 

Vaughn and Newton perform spectacularly in their roles, effectively nailing the performance of their respective characters. Many of the film’s entertaining moments come from Vaughn’s characterization of a teenage girl. In one scene, Millie must prove to her friends that she is not the Butcher. Vaughn’s hilarious acting shines through as he performs Millie’s school mascot song, complete with cheerleader-style dance moves. Throughout the film, Newton must remain stoic and cold, a contrast to her character’s usually bubbly and upbeat attitude. Many characters throughout the movie take note of this, revealing the way others treat her nicer when she is no longer herself.

 While this film is enjoyable and fun, it is important to note the multiple cliche movie tropes that it exhibits. Freaky has the snarky gay best friend, the classic pretty-but-she-doesn’t- know-it heroine, the football-playing love interest, and the dead parent. These elements do not necessarily make the movie bad in its entirety, but they do display a slight lack of creativity in storytelling from director and writer Christopher Landon, who has experience directing movies similar in tone and setting to Freaky. 

Moviegoers seem to agree that this movie was fun, creative, and entertaining, while also being more mature than Landon’s previous film Happy Death Day. Conversely, some critics argue that Freaky was slow, cringy, and over-the-top. Whatever the opinion, this movie was intended to be more entertaining than award-winning, and it delivers fully in that aspect. Laced with suspense, gore, and comic relief, this film is best suited for those in the 14-18 age range, or those who are just looking for a fun teenage horror movie, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good time.