UK Release – 25 June 2021 (preliminary)
Cert – 15
Run time – 102 minutes
Director – Christopher Landon
Starring – Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton, Katie Finneran, Celeste O’Connor, Misha Osherovich Dana Drori, Uriah Shelton, Alan Ruck

Writer/director Christopher Landon successfully reworked Groundhog Day‘s time looping scenario into a horror with Happy Death Day. He now returns with Freaky Friday‘s body-swapping premise, as Freaky adds gore, a body count and a sprinkling of wit.

Serial killers know they’ve made it when teens are telling scary stories about them. Over the years, Blissfield has carved its own folklore about the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn). He’s been killing for decades, so he’s some sort of legend. After his latest killing in the home of an art collector, he nabs an ancient Aztec dagger known as La Dola.

The following day, shy, introverted student Millie (Kathryn Newton) is just trying to make it through high-school. That means avoiding bullies while harbouring a secret crush on Booker (Uriah Shelton). The loss of her father has also had an effect. Her mother, Coral (Katie Finneran), has turned to drinking and her sister, police officer Charlene (Dana Drori), is more focused on work. One night after a football game, Millie unfortunately becomes The Butcher’s latest victim, stabbed with La Dola. But instead of dying, Millie and The Butcher magically swap bodies. Millie now has to convince her friends, Josh (Misha Osherovich) and Nyla (Celeste O’Connor), what has happened and get her body back, before the switch becomes permanent.

If Freaky Friday, Friday the 13th and The Hot Chick were thrown into a blender, then Freaky would be the resulting comedic horror shake. It has the necessary nutrients to keep you invested, such as bloody kills and a humorous script. It is light on jumpy moments, but makes up for this with its lead actors. The body-swap premise is silly, but a willing Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton help elevate the film from becoming generic slasher 101.

The Blissfield Butcher is a one-dimensional threat to keep the film moving. There is no motive for the serial killer. Even after the body-swap, we learn little about him (except that his bladder is huge). We don’t even know his name. He’s just The Butcher. And he kills people. Vaughn portrays him as vacant. After Millie is transported into his body, Vaughn becomes a hysterical teenage girl. Less Millie and more his own concoction, with minor mannerisms that help sell the concept; such as an awkward run, the clapping of hands together, as well as a cheesy smile and laugh.

Similarly, Kathryn Newton has fewer lines after Millie’s body is inhabited by The Butcher. Her death-stare does most of the talking as she plays deceptively sweet and innocent just to fool those around her. When it comes to The Butcher’s next kill, she turns full-on homicidal.

Some of the killings here are really graphic, pushing the boundaries of what’s now possible in a 15 rated film (it was R-rated in the US). The camera rarely shies away, as we see one victim’s insides make it outside. The dark sense of humour is also carried across in attempts at inventive death scenes (early on, victims meet their end by toilet seat and tennis racket). Though some are a little far-fetched (there just so happens to be a cryotherapy tank and a chainsaw). Also, after the swap, The Butcher’s victims all happen to be people that have tormented Millie. One could argue that having The Butcher get rid of them is no bad thing. From bullies to jock rapists, audiences might actually be cheering for their death.

The script by Landon and co-writer Michael Kennedy is one of self-reflexive witty wokeness. There is the signposting of Millie’s friends as black and gay, or, in one borderline cringey moment, after Millie manages to convince her crush Booker of the swap, he gets closer to her new masculine body. However, Freaky excels in being funnier than a number of so-called comedies (“She’s got a dick in her hand, and you’re wearing Chanel No.5”). Misha Osherovich as best friend Josh is gifted with the best lines and makes the most of them to essentially steal the show. A wonderfully awkward moment where he has to explain to his mother why Millie (as Butcher) is tied to a chair is a masterclass in how to wring cringe, comedy and tension in equal measure.

There are also a number of neat ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ touches. Note the stuff that’s written in the high-school toilets (one is specifically related to Millie). Also, almost everything in Josh’s house shows just how close his relationship is with his mother.

Freaky doesn’t know when to quit, with a conclusion that feels like an alternate ending from a former draft that’s been hastily glued on. However, with the mystical La Dola dagger intact, Landon is free to come back to this premise with another Freaky follow-up, potentially involving another two characters. In fact, Landon has mentioned the possibility of Millie crossing paths with Tree; the main character from his other horror franchise, Happy Death Day (body-swapped characters stuck in a time loop?). It would make for an unusually welcome return.

Landon’s take on the body-swapping premise gets the blend of horror and comedy just right. Bolstered with committed central performances from Vaughn and Newton, Freaky makes for a refreshingly fun spin on tired slasher conventions.

Freaky is set to open in the UK on 25 June 2021.