Bizarre Conclusion Demystified

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Freaky (2020), directed by Christopher Landon, puts a new twist on the slasher genre with its blend of horror and comedy.

The film draws inspiration from Freaky Friday, blending it with Landon's trademark quirky style seen in Happy Death Day. It embraces horror-thriller elements and pays tribute to iconic films like Halloween and Scream, creating an exciting and chaotic journey.

Blumhouse Productions presents Freaky (2020), a horror comedy that puts a twist on the slasher genre. Directed by Christopher Landon, this film showcases a vibrant cast, clever dialogue, and elaborate kills. Drawing inspiration from Freaky Friday and, like Landon's Happy Death Day, reinventing traditional storytelling, Freaky adds its own wild spin to the body-swap concept. With influences from iconic horror films like Halloween and Scream, Freaky embraces various thriller tropes, resulting in a chaotic and entertaining experience.

What Is Freaky About?

The opening scene of Freaky introduces us to four teenagers engaged in a discussion about a notorious serial killer who mysteriously resurfaces in the town every year during the homecoming festivities. As expected, the group eventually disperses throughout the mansion where they have gathered, and each one of them falls victim to the sadistic Blissfield Butcher (portrayed by Vince Vaughn). Just before making his exit, the killer seizes an ancient Aztec dagger known as La Dola.

The scene shifts to seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler (played by Kathryn Newton), an apparent outcast at Blissfield Valley High School. Shy and socially awkward, she endures bullying from the popular clique and struggles to catch the attention of her crush, Booker Strode (played by Uriah Shelton). Millie's only solace comes from her two closest friends: Joshua Detmer (played by Misha Osherovich), a flamboyant and openly gay classmate, and Nyla Chones (played by Celeste O'Connor). Millie grapples with the recent loss of her father, causing her to put her own life on hold in order to provide emotional support to her mother Coral (played by Katie Finneran), who copes with her pain through alcohol. Meanwhile, Millie's sister Char (played by Dana Drori) buries herself in her work as a police officer to escape the frustrations at home.

To further emphasize Millie's pitiable circumstances, a scene depicts her dancing in the school mascot costume (a beaver) during the homecoming football game. Later, while waiting for her mother to pick her up, Millie discovers that Coral has fallen asleep due to her drinking. Alone in the school, Millie attempts to call Char, but her phone loses power. In a shocking turn of events, she encounters the Butcher and desperately tries to flee. However, he manages to overpower her and stabs her in the shoulder with a dagger. Strangely, the same wound appears on the Butcher's shoulder as well. Just as the situation intensifies, Char arrives and the Butcher retreats. The police collect evidence from the crime scene, including La Dola, and release a sketch of the elusive killer.

Millie and the Butcher wake up on the morning of what is now Friday the 13th, only to find themselves in each other's bodies. The Butcher quickly adapts to his new form, excited by the access to a school full of potential victims. With a red leather jacket as his attire, he confidently enters the school and eliminates a bully named Ryler and the abusive wood shop teacher, Mr. Bernardi. In contrast, Millie-as-the-Butcher struggles with being recognized as the killer and is unable to venture outside unnoticed. Sneaking into the school, she successfully convinces Joshua and Nyla that she's trapped in the murderer's body.

Through their research, they discover that if Millie doesn't stab the Butcher with the same dagger within 24 hours, the body swap will become permanent. After rescuing Booker from the Butcher's clutches, Millie informs him about her predicament while the unconscious Butcher remains tied up in Joshua's house. Booker, Millie, and Nyla proceed to the police station to retrieve La Dola, while Joshua stays behind to keep an eye on the Butcher. During a conversation with Booker, Millie expresses a newfound sense of empowerment in her new body, and he reminds her that true strength comes from within—a cheesy yet important lesson she must internalize. The two share a romantic and humorous moment, while Nyla attempts to discreetly steal the dagger without being noticed by Char.

However, the Butcher manages to flee from Joshua’s location and heads straight to the local police station in search of the dagger. Millie swiftly follows suit and cunningly traps an unsuspecting Char in a holding cell to prevent any unnecessary disruptions. Meanwhile, the Butcher hastily departs with La Dola, leaving chaos in their wake.

How Does Freaky End?

After the murders prompt the school to cancel homecoming, the students organize a covert dance at an abandoned mill—a suggestion that the Butcher himself had made to some of the football players, as it serves as his hiding spot. Upon escaping from the police station, he infiltrates the party, where he mercilessly slays three jocks who mistakenly try to assault him, assuming he is Millie. Meanwhile, Booker, Nyla, Millie, and Joshua also make their way to the location. A jock attempts to assault Joshua but is swiftly dispatched by the Butcher. Eventually, Nyla and Joshua manage to restrain him, while Millie plunges La Dola into his body. At the very last moment, they transition back into their own bodies, just as the police arrive and shoot the Butcher.

While Millie is enjoying her time at home with her family, the Butcher stages his own death in an ambulance. He later shows up at her house and mocks her for her perceived weakness. Coral, Char, and Millie team up to try and overpower him, eventually Millie manages to impale him with a broken table leg.

The mention of La Dola is absent in the film's conclusion, leaving room for speculation about a possible sequel. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jason Blum, the founder of Blumhouse, vaguely hinted at a potential crossover between Happy Death Day and Freaky, saying that "anything is possible". In another interview, Christopher Landon, the director, also spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and mentioned:

Jason Blum is the mastermind behind it all, orchestrating every move. If anyone has the inside scoop, it's him. (Laughs.) I can say with certainty that Jessica, Kathryn, and I are eager to reunite and create something outrageously amazing. While we haven't had a detailed discussion yet, the prospect is definitely on our minds. All I know is that I am willing to take on any project that involves collaborating with these two talented individuals once more.

Editor's P/S

Freaky is a thrilling and entertaining film that puts a unique spin on the slasher genre. The film's premise is simple yet highly effective: a teenage girl and a serial killer switch bodies, leading to a chaotic and bloody rampage. The film is full of dark humor, gore, and suspense, and it's clear that Landon had a lot of fun making it.

The cast is excellent, with Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn giving standout performances as Millie and the Butcher, respectively. Newton brings a lot of heart and vulnerability to the role of Millie, while Vaughn is suitably menacing as the Butcher. The supporting cast is also great, with Misha Osherovich and Celeste O'Connor providing some much-needed comic relief as Millie's friends, Joshua and Nyla.