phancy.com - horror reviews - MOH 2023

Totally Killer



IMDb Info

Release Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 46m
Country: USA
Language: English
Genre Tags: Comedy,Horror
Plot Summary: When the infamous "Sweet Sixteen Killer" returns 35 years after his first murder spree to claim another victim, 17-year-old Jamie accidentally travels back in time to 1987, determined to stop the killer before he can start.

Poster - Title Card


phancy.com rating:

phancy.com notes: Back To The Future as a slasher movie. Really, it's mostly a comedy that just happens to include some bloody deaths. Pretty light fare, but a fun popcorn evening. Your tolerance for the humor may depend on how much you like a million jokes about the 80s. I was the same age in 1987 as the characters are in the movie's version of 1987, so I may have been a little forgiving.


Outside Reviews:

Christy Lemire
3 out of 4 stars - rogerebert.com

This tricky genre mix from director Nahnatchka Khan (“Always Be My Maybe,” “Fresh Off the Boat”) is a fish-out-of-water comedy filled with amusing one-liners combined with time-travel sci-fi that actually kinda makes sense. If anything, the horror element of this horror movie is the weakest part, but “Totally Killer” is spry enough to remain enjoyable throughout. That’s mostly because of the enormously engaging presence of Kiernan Shipka, who has a natural way with zippy dialogue and the dramatic chops to navigate some tough tonal shifts. The script from David Matalon & Sasha Perl-Raver, and Jen D’Angelo requires the “Mad Men” star to evolve from surly teen to grief-stricken daughter to intrepid investigator, and she pulls it all off with aplomb.


Matthew Jackson
Grade: B - Horror-comedy offers a fun '80s ride

Totally Killer is a film full of great talent, great moments, and an infectious sense of fun, which means that even when it doesn’t quite work, it’s an entertaining balance of slasher tropes and time travel adventure. It’s not necessarily a new slasher classic, but it is the kind of film horror devotees can happily kick back and enjoy on a cozy Friday night in October, and that’s a particular achievement all its own.