It’s been Jason Voorhees week at Victims and Villains this week as we prepared for another Friday the 13th. In preparation for our planned focus on the goalie slasher icon, I went back through our previous episodes which covered the first four films in the franchise. As a horror film fan, I have to admit on several different occasions that I’m inherently not a fan of this franchise. I’ve stayed away from it for a great deal of my life. I admitted in our episodes that my introduction to Jason was actually 2003’s Freddy vs Jason, to which my co-host for these episodes noted that it was weird that it was my introduction.
In hindsight, I’m reminiscing about a good deal of weird film introductions. Aside from meeting Jason in his stand off against the dream demon, Tony Todd is another one to note. Todd to most people in my generation is the bee-wearing, hook-handed villain from Candyman. Even on our episode for the movie, I noted my introduction was his 2014 turn as Zoom in The Flash. It wasn’t until after the season wrapped that I watched Candyman. Vince Vaughn is another interesting actor to note as well. Most people when you think of Vaughn they immediately associate him with comedy. He’s become famous for movies like Wedding Crashers and Dodgeball. To me, my introduction to him was the creepy stepdad from Domestic Disturbance back in 2001.
From that moment on, I was sold that Vaughn could play creepy extremely well. I hoped to see him do more dramatic roles and roles within the horror genre. I guess someone heard that wish, because Vaughn is back with Freaky. The film depicts the story of Blissfield Butcher (Vaughn) who accidentally switches bodies with a bullied high school girl named Millie (Kathryn Newton). The race against the clock is created to avoid the permanence of the switch. The idea of body swatching in general has always felt tiresome to me. Whether in 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers or 1976’s Freaky Friday, the idea has always felt boring. The two parties have to switch in order to learn something new. That’s why we have after school specials.
Freaky breaks new ground on that tired old formula however. The idea of a serial killer and victim switching bodies creates a compelling narrative, essentially taking the slasher genre and turning it on its ear. It’s no longer about the hulking guy in a mask hunting down teenagers until the final girl. Freaky feels freaking refreshing in that vein. Allowing the audience to still have their share on the slasher formula and the body count, while experiencing it in a new way. When it comes to movies like Freaky, you have to consider the genre and the expectations of the audience. With this technically being a slasher movie, you are in for a ridiculous amount of awesome gags. If you don’t know what gags are, this is the horror term for kills within films. Freaky has some pretty creative ones.
This film doesn’t waste any time getting down to it. The prologue alone is worth the price of admission. It may be one of the best openings I’ve seen to a film this year, though the film really shines when we get down to Vaughn and Newton. Throughout the first act we get to see the intimidating side of Vaughn, while Newton is introduced as a shy, quiet and often bullied girl. Though it’s once the switch happens that we get to experience the range of both actors. This movie could be the best we’ve ever seen from Vaughn. He walks the razor thin line incredibly well between his career as a comedic actor and a serious actor. Before he even utters a word we get to see how intimidating he can be. I don’t know about you but I don’t normally consider him to be a fairly intimidating gentleman but this movie changed that opinion.
Then you have Newton who equally holds her own against Vaughn. When the switch of the characters happens, she slides into serial killer fairly easily. It’s actually alarming how easily she can slide in between killer and victim. That’s one of the strongest factors within this movie. My only real complaint about this movie is the film’s final act. Where the beginning two acts of the movie feel well paced and smart, the last act experiences a tonal shift that dives more into the schlockier side of the genre. For any other movie it could have been done well but here it just doesn’t work. The social commentaries that are able to be woven throughout are a beautiful touch. They are one of the reasons I love this genre so much. However, the final act just feels too forceful with that commentary. It feels like it’s time to copy off 2018’s Halloween.
Overall, Freaky breathes new life into multiple film genres that have grown stale in recent years. Whether it is the body switching plot or the slasher genre - Freaky brings refreshment to both. The duality of both Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton create equal laughs and commanding screen presence. Vaughn has never been better as he walks the line between comedy and horror with easy. Freaky is a fun time with tremendous laughs, excellent gags, and terrific performances.
RORSCHACH RATING:
Mental Health Moment: Once Vaughn’s character, as Newton’s character, realizes how to switch back, Millie’s friends enlist the help of Millie’s crush. There’s a scene between the two, while Millie is still in the body of Vaughn, where her crush (Uriah Shelton) asks what it’s like to be in Vaughn’s body. She admits that it feels empowering. She finds herself with all of this strength that she’s never had prior to the switch, later going on to admit that she has been a victim of bullying nearly all her life. Shelton answers and says strength isn’t about physicality; rather it’s about mind and heart. I want to speak directly into that for a moment and be vulnerable. I had a period in my own life where I felt the heaviness of depression. It felt so suffocating for a number of reasons. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve had the weight of the world on your shoulders; that’s how I felt. I did something I never thought I would do or ever could do. I told someone about my depression and the crippling anxiety of failure weighing into me. That’s not a season in my life that just existed and once I told someone it was over. Earlier this year, my wife and I moved to a new city. I didn’t know it or understand it then but for the first few months; I was depressed. I had to admit that to myself, our Patreon supporters, my staff, and eventually, here. Strength comes from within. As cliche as it may sound to hear, strength comes from texting someone, calling someone or turning to our resources and admitting that you need help carrying your burdens. We were never made to go through this life alone.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and you are struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message or tweet to us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey (and produced by) and more. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Freaky is proerty of Universal Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights. Freaky is now playing in theaters.
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