Totally Killer- A Comedic Nostalgia or Real Horror?

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Redefining horror comedy Totally Killer was released on Prime Video on October 6th, 2023. It offers a fascinating blend of slasher horror, comedic nostalgia and time travel. Nahnatchka Khan directs the movie, and in 1 hour 43 minutes, it transports us, the viewers, between 2023 and 1987. The movie weaves a thrilling narrative, which is entertaining as well as unconventional.

The movie stars Julie Bowen, Kiernan Shipka and Olivia Holt as the main characters. It pays homage to the classics, including “Back to the Future”, while it delivers a cheeky and self-aware spin. Want more? Read ahead to find out.

Totally Killer Plot

The movie is set in a small town that remains haunted by Sweet Sixteen Killer’s legacy. The story of this movie follows the life of a 17-year-old, Jamie Hughes, the role played by Kiernan Shipka. In the story, her mother, Pam (Julie Bowen), is shown as quite overprotective. She has this nature because of her past experiences, wherein she lost her teenage friends decades before.

When Jamie encountered the resurrected killer, she accidentally travelled back to 1987. She then got stuck in the world of causal misogyny, big hair and neon outfits. She even teams up with a teenage version of her mom (Olivia Holt), for ensuring to solve the mystery and then stop the killings. What happens more and ahead, only you can find out by watching the movie and getting the essence of the story.

Totally Killer is a Unique Genre Blend

Movies like Totally Killer show a clever script. In the given case, it is a brilliant combination of the slasher genre that includes time-travel sci-fi that is wrapped within the comedic package.

The tone of Totally Killer is self-aware. It delivers sharp observations from the 1980s and is packed with quippy one-liners. Now, while the horror elements might not be the movie’s strongest suit, the nostalgia and humour do make up for it. Furthermore, the premise of the film also mixes the suspense of murder mystery with absurd time travel that is both engaging and inventive.

Totally Killer Characters, Performances and More

Kiernan Shipka, in the movie, shines right as Jamie Hughes. It navigates the evolution of character with ease. From the sardonic teenage attitude to the emotional vulnerability moments, Shipka carried the film with complete charism, as well as impeccable comedic timing.

Olivia Holt’s portrayal of young Pam is quite compelling. It captures both the complexities of the high school mean girl and humour. Moreover, Julie Bowen adds here the emotional resonance. It also adds depth of older and protective Pam. As for Randall Park, he delivers the laughs, being the inept Sheriff.

Getting to the 1980s aesthetic captured by the film via set design, vibrant costumes and cultural references, in the movie, music plays a pivotal role. It features some hits. It includes The Killing Moon by Bunnymen and Bananarama’s Venus and Echo. All these tracks, along with some others, ensure to create in the movie the authentic retro vibe. It helps to enhance the nostalgic experience in the film.

Totally Killer Strength and Weakness

There are a few strengths of the movie. It includes strong nostalgia and humour, strong performances and inventive storytelling. To say, while the film pokes fun at the 1980s stereotypes, it delivers sharp and modern commentary. It also brings out the roles of the characters where each of the stars excels. Especially the mother-daughter dynamic, it’s a complete highlight of the entire movie. Lastly, the time travel of the movie is an element that adds a fresh twist to the slasher formula.

Getting to the weaknesses of Totally Killer, herein there are weak horror elements. The slasher sequences lack finesse. The motive of the killer and also its motive remains predictable throughout. Moving on, there’s also another weakness of the movie which is the pacing concerns of the movie. There are some subplots, including murder podcasts, that seem underdeveloped. They detract the audience from the main story.

Totally Killer Reviews

Getting to my personal perception, the movie can get watched once. It will offer complete entertainment. But it’s a one-time watch.

As for the response of the audience, it ranges from the glowing praises to the mixed reviews. Many viewers appreciated the humour of the movie. They even liked its nostalgic nods and inventive premise. Some even wanted the movie to have a sequel or to have a complete franchise. But then there were the critics. These critics have criticized the predictability of the film. They have called the horror elements less compelling.

On an overall basis, Totally Killer resonates more with the younger audience or the people who are campy or have a self-aware style.

To Watch or Not to Watch Totally Killer?

If you are looking for one-time entertainment, you can go ahead and watch a movie like Totally Killer. The film is fun. It is a genre-blending romp that succeeds in delivering thrills and laughs. While horror aspects might not break new ground, there are some engaging performances in the movie. It also has a sharp humour and nostalgic charm; it makes the film a delightful watch.

If you are a fan of time-travel comedy or a campy slasher film and want the answer to Where can I watch Totally Killer? The answer is Amazon Prime Video. If you have a subscription to prime, you can watch it today. But if you don’t, get the subscription and get access to interesting movies like this one.