31 Days of Horror: Freaky

 

"Freaky" takes a classic horror trope—the body swap—and turns it on its head in this darkly humorous slasher-comedy. Directed by Christopher Landon, the film follows 17-year-old Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton), a shy high schooler navigating typical teen woes, and the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn), the local serial killer whose reputation is as terrifying as his latest killing spree. After a mystical dagger from the Butcher stabs Millie, they magically swap bodies. Millie has 24 hours to reverse the curse before she’s stuck in the Butcher’s body forever, setting up a series of hilarious and tense scenarios as she tries to convince her friends of her predicament while the Butcher gleefully wreaks havoc in her body.


Vince Vaughn shines, carrying much of the film’s charm and comedic timing, especially as he embodies a terrified teenage girl trapped in a killer’s body. Vaughn brings a surprisingly nuanced performance, balancing comedy with enough menace to make the Butcher convincingly scary. Kathryn Newton, meanwhile, impressively flips from sweet to sadistic, showing just how menacing the petite high school girl can be when inhabited by a deranged killer.


The film is self-aware, mixing horror and humor with genre-savvy satire, and it’s unapologetically gory, leaning into the slasher elements that horror fans will appreciate. Freaky doesn’t take itself too seriously, which works in its favor. Still, it’s Vaughn’s performance that truly elevates the movie. Without him, the plot might have felt thin, and the humor less sharp, but his portrayal keeps audiences invested.


Overall, Freaky is just pure, campy fun. If you’re in the mood for a laugh and a bit of gore, it’s a delightful watch, especially thanks to Vaughn’s outstanding performance.

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