Mind-Blowing Twists: Director Nahnatchka Khan's Ingenious Plot to Conceal the Murderer's Identity

Courtesy of Prime

Totally Killer is stacked with actors who have horror histories — which actually helped the movie misdirect from the real murderer.

Working with the cast of Totally Killer was truly amazing. They were incredibly professional and brought a wealth of experience to the table. What stood out the most was their ability to stay present in the moment and approach each scene with excitement and a desire to create something new. They were open to collaboration and had a great sense of humor, allowing them to effortlessly navigate the comedy, horror, and emotional aspects of the show.

Totally Killer revolves around the Sweet Sixteen Killer, a murderer who targeted teenagers in the 80s. Years later, the masked man returns to claim more victims. This sparks a journey for Jamie (played by Kiernan Shipka) who accidentally travels back in time and teams up with her mother, Pam (played by Olivia Holt), as a teenager to stop the killer.

Shipka, 23, gained popularity for her portrayal of Sabrina Spellman in the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Recently, Liana Liberato, who plays one of the murdered teenagers, made her way into the Ghostface hall of fame in the latest Scream film. Many viewers may also recognize Lochlyn Munro, who has appeared in other horror films like Freddy vs. Jason and Scary Movie. In Totally Killer, the 57-year-old actor plays Jamie's father, but he is also known for his role as Betty's father, also known as the Black Hood, on Riverdale.

"This is a slasher film, so as you mentioned, Lochlyn Munro, who plays her father, could potentially be a suspect. We want to include red herrings or at least suspicious characters," Khan, 50, explained. "You're left wondering, 'Who could it be?' When you see him on screen, there's something about him that makes him seem suspicious. We drop small hints along the way."

Kieran Shipka Courtesy of Prime

Khan commended Shipka for her authentic portrayal of Jamie.

Shipka's character goes through a significant traumatic event at the start of the film, and then embarks on an exhilarating journey. However, it is important to always remember the underlying reason for her actions. While the audience enjoys the excitement, it is a matter of life and death for her in some sense," Khan elaborated. "The way in which Kiernan skillfully expresses all these emotions in her scenes truly showcases her talent."

Totally Killer faced the unexpected task of introducing several eerie locations for the horrifying murders. Khan described the process as thrilling, as the suspense was steadily intensified with each murder site the characters encountered.

"While it was amazing to know where the story was heading, it was definitely a challenge to execute," Khan admitted. "The sequence in the cabin, for example, exemplifies this challenge perfectly. You have multiple characters involved, so from the moment they arrive until they reach the police station, it's all about building up the tension. It's like a game of 'Where is everyone?' We had to carefully consider the dynamics of who was in the room, who was available, and who was vulnerable. It was like trying to solve a puzzle by fitting all the pieces together."

In her interview with Us, Khan shared her vision for the final battle between Jamie and the Sweet Sixteen Killer.

She described her idea of capturing the scene in a confined and moving space, creating the feeling of being trapped in a tomb. The setting on the Quantum Drop ride at the amusement park perfectly evoked the '80s vibe, with no harness or straps to hold you in place. The only force keeping you safe from danger is gravity itself. Khan and her team meticulously planned each kill and sequence to ensure maximum impact, continually building upon the intensity.

Another major aspect of Totally Killer is the way it jumps between the ’80s and present day.

The cast of the movie includes Olivia Holt as Teen Pam, Charlie Gillespie as Teen Blake, Kiernan Shipka as Jamie Hughes, Stephi Chin-Salvo as Marisa Margolis, and Jeremy Monn-Djasngar as Teen Randy Finkle. According to Khan, the director, the aim was to create a sense of connection among the characters, highlighting the relationships depicted in the film. To achieve this, the '80s scenes were given a more saturated look, while the differences were emphasized through the clothing, hair, makeup, and technology. Ultimately, there were more similarities than differences between the different time periods portrayed in the movie.

Khan explained that setting the story primarily in the 80s was beneficial for her creative process. It added depth to the storyline and allowed for comedic elements. By placing the protagonist in a time period where she couldn't easily prove her claims, it added an extra layer of frustration for the character. Additionally, the lack of advanced technology, such as DNA testing, provided both comedic moments and helped to drive the storyline, as the protagonist had to work harder to convince others she wasn't delusional. This choice of setting worked effectively on multiple levels for the team.

Totally Killer is now streaming on Prime Video.

In this article

Julie Bowen

Kiernan Shipka

Olivia Holt