‘Totally Killer’ Review: Kiernan Shipka Is a Gen-Z Scream Queen in Time-Traveling Slasher

In the ever-evolving world of horror cinema, the genre often faces a formidable adversary: time itself. As iconic final girls like Laurie Strode and Sidney Prescott age, their relentless masked assailants seem impervious to the passage of time. “Totally Killer,” the brainchild of Nahnatchka Khan, the director behind “Always Be My Maybe,” delves into this delicate dance with nostalgia, setting its sights on the 1980s with a unique blend of reverence and nuance.

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The narrative revolves around the lore of the Sweet Sixteen Killer, a gruesome figure who, in 1987, brutally ended the lives of three 16-year-old girls before vanishing without a trace. He concealed his identity behind a Max Headroom-esque mask, featuring slicked-back blond hair, an eerie smile, and a vacant gaze. Jamie (Kiernan Shipka) grows weary of hearing about the long-gone slasher from her overprotective mother (Julie Bowen), who lived through the terrifying era and wishes to shield her daughter from similar experiences. An exasperated Jamie responds during one heated exchange, “It’s not 1987 anymore.”

However, fate has different plans in store. While trying to evade the Sweet Sixteen Killer, who unexpectedly resurfaces, Jamie inadvertently activates a time machine her best friend created for a science fair project. The consequences transport her back to 1987, a situation that unfolds predictably yet offers a mix of fruitful and more stereotypical moments. The comedic facet of this horror-comedy largely stems from Jamie’s Gen Z perspective as she navigates her new surroundings: confronting a man about his problematic Federal Body Inspector t-shirt and cringing at her high school’s racially insensitive mascot. Shipka’s eye rolls and reactions are on point, providing much of the humor.

“Totally Killer” wisely avoids the trap of undermining emotional depth with excessive humor, a pitfall that plagues many horror-comedies. Yet, more disturbing than any cultural insensitivity Jamie encounters is the revelation that her mother was a mean girl in high school, and she’s on the brink of becoming the fourth victim.

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In the present, viewers witness the micro-effects of Jamie’s actions in real-time—a clever twist on the time-paradox trope. If you’re wondering how this all connects to a masked psychopath’s murderous spree, the film weaves together these elements into a compelling narrative.

“Totally Killer” shares more DNA with “Back to the Future” than traditional slasher films like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or “Friday the 13th.” The movie explicitly references Marty McFly’s time-traveling adventures, aligning itself with the time-travel genre.

At its core, the film stands out primarily due to its lead performance. Kiernan Shipka, known for her role as Sally Draper in “Mad Men,” doesn’t deliver lines as impactful as her memorable TV character, but she excels as a scream queen. Her portrayal benefits from the filmmakers treating her character with the respect and depth that has often eluded previous horror heroines. “Totally Killer” cleverly employs time travel to provide both a lighthearted homage to the genre and a chance to correct some of its historical issues.

In hindsight, “Totally Killer” benefits from a clear-eyed approach, offering a unique perspective on the slasher genre, balancing homage and distinction. Time may be a relentless adversary, but in this genre-blending tale, it becomes a tool to revisit and reshape the past.

Review posted online on October 4, 2023. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 103 minutes.

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Production: Prime Video, an Amazon Studios presentation of a Blumhouse, Divide/Conquer production.

Producers: Jason Blum, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath.

Executive producers: Chloe Yellin, Chris Dickie, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold.

Crew:

• Director: Nahnatchka Khan.
• Screenplay: David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver, Jen D’Angelo.
• Cinematography: Judd Overton.
• Editing: Jeremy Cohen.
• Music: Michael Andrews.

Cast:

• Kiernan Shipka.
• Julie Bowen.
• Olivia Holt.
• Charlie Gillespie.
• Randall Park.
• Lochlyn Munro.
• Troy L. Johnson.
• Liana Liberato.
• Kelcey Mawema.
• Stephi Chin-Salvo.
• Anna Diaz.
• Ella Choi.

Source: https://dominioncinemas.net
Category: Film