Short Attention Span Review: Happy Death Day (2017)

Short Attention Span Review: Happy Death Day (2017)

Shoot me.  I'm very late to the party here.  However, with the sequel opening to rock-solid reviews, I decided I should finally give Happy Death Day a look.  What can I say?  Shame on me for putting this off for so long.  Happy Death Day is a big winner on every front.  You know the premise: it's basically Groundhog Day by way of Scream.  Sounds cool, right?  Well, as so many of you already know, it is entirely possible that this film represents the perfect realization of that marriage.  The picture is packed with thrills, chills, and chuckles.  It also has some surprising depth, and may even pluck at your heartstrings a bit.  The direction from Christopher Landon is remarkable, the cast is game (particularly Jessica Rothe, who is nothing short of sensational as the lead), and the script is clever as hell--the big fear with this premise is that it will grow tiresome, but it only becomes more innovative as it progresses.  Bear McCreary's score is top shelf stuff, and the killer design and the effects work all hit the mark.  Happy Death Day has everything going for it, and it offers slasher fans a damn good time at the movies.  I am suddenly VERY eager to scope out the sequel.  Well done, Blumhouse!  Between this and the new Halloween, this production company is giving those of us who grew up watching Michael, Freddy, and Jason do their thing a lot to howl about.  And the new kids?  Well, they might finally be getting their own worthy addition to this vein of filmmaking.  It's about time.

Final Grade: A+

Honestly, I don't know how far they can stretch this premise, but the sequel is getting rave reviews and this may just be the start of a stellar franchise.