'Freaky': Vince Vaughn's Killer Performance Carries This Horror-Comedy With Few Surprises [Review]

There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about so-called “elevated horror,” but what isn’t being discussed as much is the new wave of inventive slasher films that pay homage to the ’80s classics while adding new twists to old formulas. Enter “Freaky,” a new slasher comedy film by Christopher Landon that shakes up the formula by infusing it with a body-swap comedy and lots of heart.

Plot-wise, “Freaky” is not that different from Landon’s previous horror-comedy, “Happy Death Day,” we also have a heroine with some soul-searching to do, troubles at home, and a masked killer chasing her. This time, we follow Millie (Kathryn Newton), a timid high school nobody with a crush on a boy she’s sure doesn’t know she exists, a mean girl who constantly bullies her, and one of the worst on-screen teachers ever. She’s also trying to hold her family together after the devastating loss of her father has made her cop sister Charlene (Dana Drori) completely focused on her job and her mom Coral (Katie Finneran) find solace at the bottom of a few bottles of chardonnay.

As if your typical teenage problems weren’t enough, Millie also finds herself in the body of the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn) after being stabbed with an ancient Aztec weapon. Now there’s a ticking clock that gives Millie 24 hours to get her body back or be stuck looking like Vince Vaughn.

Freaky Friday The 13th is a premise that all but writes itself, so it’s a bit unfortunate that Landon and co-writer Michael Kennedy don’t dig much deeper than what the concept initially teases at. Though the concept in itself feels fresh, the film pays constant homage to films like “Scream,” “Halloween,” and “Friday the 13th” without actually reaching those heights. That being said, the concept is so well executed that it’s easy to forgive the film for being predictable.

Overall, “Freaky” does about everything you’d expect. The bulk of the movie is dedicated to exploring the shenanigans of seeing a bulky, Jason Voorhees-type now being trapped in the petite body of a teenage girl, as well as seeing Millie unable to control her new strength while occupying Vaughn’s body. It would be easy for the film to be one-note, but thankfully its two main performances avoid going into campy territory. Both actors imbue their roles with vigor and physicality, balancing the levity of seeing a giant of a man acting with feminine mannerisms with the darkness that comes with the fear of being stuck in a body that isn’t yours. The film gets a lot of mileage out of watching Millie in the Butcher’s body accidentally knocking people over because she doesn’t know her strength, and Vaughn is clearly having the time of his life going all-in while playing a teenage girl, imitating Newton’s vocal intonations, or even discovering the surprising empowerment of peeing while standing up and having enormous physical strength, but also the horrors of getting kicked in the balls.

It would be easy to say that Newton doesn’t get as much to do as Vaughn, because her acting is not as over the top, and there is a point to be made that her character arc is a bit too male-centric due to the male writers and director. But that’d neglect all the nuance and the gory delight of seeing Newton change her entire look and emerging as a bloodthirsty, empty-stare Butcher, and enact revenge on the sexual harassers at her school. You’ll sit and think constantly about which performance you enjoy more, and the beauty with “Freaky” is that both performances have plenty of standout moments. Vaughn gets to cut loose and be hilarious, while Newton keeps the film firmly grounded in its slasher horror base.

Speaking of horror, “Freaky” earns every bit of its R-rating and makes every kill scene count. From shoving a wine bottle down a teen’s throat and making it explode, to table-sawing a man like it’s lumber, there is no shortage of gore in the film.

That’s not to say that “Freaky” is all play and not work. Just like “Happy Death Day 2U,” there is a surprisingly sweet and emotional story running underneath the bloodshed. There is a short scene where Millie (in Butcher’s body) gets a heart-to-heart moment with Millie’s mom (not knowing she’s talking to her daughter), and both share their fears and grief. Landon and Kennedy place as much gravitas to these small moments as they do to the comedy or the gore, and there’s even a sweet romantic moment that Millie (again, in Butcher’s body) shares with her crush, which is one of the finest scenes Vince Vaughn has made in years.

“Freaky” has a lot of love for classic slasher franchises, and eagle-eyed viewers may find plenty of references and Easter eggs, but what the film does best is pay homage to certain tropes while acknowledging the glaring issues with them. First in the classic “final girl” trope, but also in the teen sexuality that’s often a part of teen slasher films, which Landon handles with a surprising amount of heart and tact, while also using it for comedic purposes.

“Freaky” may not revolutionize the slasher franchise the way its inspirations did, and the tired trope of ancient, cursed Aztec weapon used in human sacrifices, unfortunately, gets an appearance here, but there’s no denying just how much fun this movie is. If you’re looking for a fun slasher film that offers new twists on old tropes, you’ll come to “Freaky” for the phenomenal performances by Vaughn and Newton, and star for the surprisingly sweet story of a girl being empowered and her family healing from grief. [B]

“Freaky” arrives in theaters on November 13…Friday the 13th.