The Blackening – 2022 – Comedy, Horror, Mystery
Directed by: Tim Story
Written by: Tracy Oliver; Dewayne Perkins
Main Players: Grace Byers; Jermaine Fowler; Melvin Gregg; Antoinette Robertson; X Mayo; Dewayne Perkins; Sinqua Walls; Jay Pharoah; Yvonne Orji; Diedrich Bader
It is weekend getaway time at the large cabin in the woods. The first couple that hit the scene are Morgan (Orji) and Shawn (Pharoah). As they bicker, they find a creepy old room and a board game called “The Blackening” which asks them odd Black culturally themed horror trivia questions while threatening their lives.
After things get a bit dicey, we meet a multitude of others heading to this same cabin for a college reunion. One Jeep holds Dewayne (Perkins), Allison (Byers) and Lisa (Robertson). At the mini-mart is Shanika (Mayo) and Clifton (Fowler). Pulling up to the cabin is King (Gregg) and Nnamdi (Walls). When the group is all there, will the games begin again?
The Blackening is an entertaining horror comedy. The mystery element is pretty light, but mostly there is a lot of fun and tension. The cast is fairly charming and is happy to dig into some satire along with leaning into its jokes. Despite all the fun, it has some creep too and is a slasher film at its core with a basic plot setup.
This is a sharp little film with a lot to offer the right viewer, and something for most anyone regardless. It may have some typical story elements, but it does contain some above average dialogue, comedy and parody type elements as well.
See This If You Liked:
Get Out; Bodies Bodies Bodies; Werewolves Within; Severance; Club Dread; Tucker & Dale vs. Evil; Game Night; Happy Death Day; Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon; Totally Killer; Freaky; The Cabin in the Woods
Score:
7.5