Movie Review – The Blackening

Considering everything we know about horror movies, the one thing that Black people know for sure is that the Black character usually gets killed first. However, who dies first when all the characters in the movie are Black?

This comedic thriller is about a group of friends that rent a cabin in the woods to celebrate friendship and Juneteenth. However, they become trapped in the cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Let’s pause there, because that was problem number one, as it is not common for Black people to rent isolated cabins in the woods. Sorry, I digress… Their survival depends upon everything they know about horror movies, common sense, and street smarts.

The movie was much better than I expected. Full transparency – I am not a fan of horror movies, especially sitting alone in a public venue. Surprisingly, The Blackening kept me laughing the WHOLE time with subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle black cultural innuendoes. One of my favorite lines in the movie: “We have to split up!” LMBO – We all know that you NEVER split up when you’re in danger, but horror movies often depict the obvious consequence of splitting up. The sarcasm that played out when the friends split to seek safety was on point.

A few scenes reminded me of the movie Get Out, such as the old black and white TV to illustrate danger, and for the killer to communicate to the house guests. One of my favorite scenes was the depiction of how Black people can really talk with their faces to another person without saying a word. Those scenes made me burst out laughing with tears. The one thing I didn’t particularly care for was the casual overuse of the N-word. I’m not a fan of the word at all. The movie was well done and didn’t drag out the storyline. The vendetta plot twist was sooo unexpected and captured my attention in those ironic final scenes.

Finally, stay after the credits end to watch the Family Feud-type rounds of The Blackening Game, which involved questions that every Black person should know the answers to or surrender their “Black Card”. (Note: I saw the movie at a private screening and so the Family Feud extra may not be seen by everyone.) It’s extremely hilarious! For example, a group of black people are running toward you but you aren’t sure what they are running from. What do you immediately do? Answer: Start running too and find out why later. Another example, your parents told you to stop crying before they…. Answer: Before they give you something to cry for.

Lesson learned: be careful how you treat people, because you never know when they will come for you later in life.

Happy Juneteenth and “say it loud”…!

Grade: B

About The Peetimes: Despite this being a comedic thriller, it wasn’t too difficult selecting Peetimes. There were enough plot build-up scenes to create 3 Peetimes. I recommend the second Peetime.

There are extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of The Blackening.

Rated:	(N/A) Violence | Pervasive Language | Drug Use
Genres:	Comedy, Horror, Thriller
Starring:	Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Sinqua Walls
Director:	Tim Story
Writer(s):	Tracy Oliver, Dewayne Perkins
Language:	English
Country:	United States

Plot
Seven black friends who go away for the weekend only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies help them stay alive? Probably not.

[category ][status draft] [tags movie review,Comedy, Horror, Thriller]