The Blackening
A group of black friends reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer.
- Released: 2023-06-16
- Runtime: 97 minutes
- Genre: Comedy, Horror
- Stars: Dewayne Perkins, Diedrich Bader, X Mayo, Yvonne Orji, Antoinette Robertson, Grace Byers, Melvin Gregg, Jermaine Fowler, Sinqua Walls
- Director: Tim Story
Comments
- jmbovan-47-160173 - 17 May 2024
A Semi-Decent Film
The Blackening is a parody film. It parodies horror films similarly to the Scary Movie franchise and the A Haunted House films, but it doesn't go to the level of absurdity or stupidity of those films. It also parodies "Black" films as it hits upon the tropes that can be present in the cultural stereotypes of the Black community.
As a parody of horror, The Blackening has enough grit to make is okay as a horror film. It hits the needed elements for a "Black" film. It offers about half of what it needs for a parody film. There are some laughs largely from what absurd elements and stereotypical elements on display, but it doesn't rise to the level of humor for enough laughs. The blending of the two elements is adequate, but they don't meld together enough to elevate each other for a better product. And that's too bad.
Acting is good. Story is decent. Production is of good quality. The film plays well. It just doesn't do enough with the materials it has. And that's disappointing. - cjonesas - 11 February 2024
'TB' - average
If I could say the bottom of my feelings and thoughts about the movie I would. Let's just say it's an insult in a comedy, parody, satire disguise of mumbo jumbo plots and sub-plots.
Full comedy no... full parody no... full satire no... full horror no... a blend and mix of those with layers of creamy insults, low kills, low IQ, basically low everything.
Writers and director have lost their mind on this.- Screenplay/storyline/plots: 5.5
- Development: 7
- Realism: 4
- Entertainment: 5
- Acting: 5.5
- Filming/photography/cinematography: 7
- VFX: 7
- Music/score/sound: 6
- Depth: 4
- Logic: 1
- Flow: 6
- Comedy/horror/thriller: 4.5
- Ending: 2.5.
- danchilton-71955 - 27 October 2023
The Game is Rigged
The Blackening begins like a cross between Scream and Saw, with a couple getting offed after being made to "play a game". Said game being an offensively racist board game that gives the movie it's title.
After this set up we are introduced to the various characters of the film who are getting together to mark the anniversary of finishing college. The relationships between the group are more complicated than you usually encounter in a slasher film and their dynamics helps flesh out the story.
Said story consists of the group playing the game and fighting off slashers. This, it turns out, is a lot easier when you make logical decisions rather than indulge in the clueless floundering you usually see in movies with this set up. The protagonists actually being pro active is one of the many meta black culture jokes running through the film. Other examples include the group being asked to name a horror film where the black character survives and told to decide which of them is the blackest (so the killer gets them next).
The Blackening isn't lowest common denominator humour like the Scary Movie franchise nor is an exploration of race like a Jordan Peele film. It's more a standard genre flick viewed through a black culture lens and it's pretty solidly entertaining. It doesn't attempt any real scares (although there is some genuine tension) but while it isn't laugh out loud funny from start to finish there are more than enough laughs to keep things ticking along.
Another good entry in a year that is turning out to have some good comedy chops.
7 creepy clerks put of 10 backwater shops.
