Totally Killer Movie Review: 'Back to the Future' Meets 'The Final Girls' in Kiernan Shipka's Fun Slasher Flick (LatestLY Exclusive)

Totally Killer Movie Review: Kiernan Shipka stars in Totally Killer, a horror-comedy that takes the well-worn trope of time travel and infuses it into a slasher flick. However, this concept is not entirely novel. The 2015 film, The Final Girls attempted something similar by transporting its protagonist from the present day into an '80s slasher film, where she connected with a younger version of her deceased mother. Nevertheless, there's an undeniable charm and enjoyment factor to Totally Killer that resonated with me, not to mention the added mystery element. Kiernan Shipka Birthday: 7 Best Fashion Moments to Remember on Her Special Day!

In 1987, a sleepy American town was plagued by the gruesome deaths of three girls, each murdered by a masked killer known as the Sweet 16 Killer on their birthdays. The murderer was never apprehended, and as years passed, the town moved on from these tragic events, even turning the murder sites into tourist attractions. In the present day, we meet Jamie (Kiernan Shipka), a typical teenager often at odds with her mother, Pam (Julie Bowen), and embarrassed by her father, Blake (Lochlyn Munro). On Halloween night, as Jamie is chauffeured to a concert by her father, accompanied by her best friend and resident geek, Amelia (Kelcey Mawema), the Sweet 16 Killer returns and murders Pam.

Subsequently, the killer attempts to attack Jamie at an abandoned carnival ground where, believe it or not, Amelia is constructing her own time machine. A freak accident occurs, sending Jamie back to 1987. Initially bewildered by the situation, Jamie soon realises she can use this opportunity to unmask the killer and save the girls, ultimately preventing her mother's tragic fate in the future. However, this also means getting close to her teenage mother, portrayed by Olivia Holt, and navigating the treacherous waters of high school hierarchy, with Pam as the leader of the school's Mean Girls clique.

Watch the Trailer of Totally Killer:

Totally Killer is directed by Nahnatchka Khan who had made Always Be My Maybe - one of my favourite romcoms in recent times that also boasts of having one of the funniest Keanu Reeves cameos. Totally Killer is aware it's not introducing anything groundbreaking to the genre, but it revels in playing with these familiar tropes while paying homage to its inspirations. Films like Back to the Future, Avengers: Endgame, and The Terminator are name-dropped throughout the movie. Unlike Back to the Future, where things got nearly incestuous, Totally Killer still allows its protagonist to control her teenage parents' impulses to secure her own existence.

The film references the 'Mandela Effect' and criticises how Back to the Future mishandles time travel, although these details may not matter to most viewers, as they are likely unfamiliar with the concept. What matters is that the film remains consistent in its beliefs about time travel and has fun with it along the way. Totally Killer even borrows from Scream while playfully warning viewers it's about to do so. Fair Play Movie Review: Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich's Psychological Drama Shines With Its Acting and Writing.

The lack of innovation with its trope is undoubtedly an issue, which is why Happy Death Day, a film that married slasher flick with time loop, felt so refreshing upon release. However, Totally Killer compensates for this with its fun approach towards the genre, while taking playful digs at the era. One of the film's comedic highlights lies in how it contrasts Jamie's contemporary values with the '80s era's indifference to issues like racism, misogyny, bullying, and general creepy behavior. It also benefits majorly from Kiernan Shipka's endearing performance and strong contributions from the supporting cast, particularly Holt, Charlie Gillespie (portraying teen Blake), and Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson (playing the teenage version of Amelia's mom). Randall Park, who played the lead in Always Be My Maybe, feels wasted as the town's sheriff in the '80s, however.

The violence is grisly but not gory, which might leave some of the genre's fans unhappy. While the suspense element may not be exceptional, the climax does deliver thrills, and the ending leaves room for surprises. After all, meddling with time inevitably yields consequences.

Final Thoughts

Despite some shortcomings, Totally Killer manages to entertain with its blend of humor, suspense, and a dash of '80s flair. As we journey through time with its politically correct protagonist, we're reminded that sometimes, it's not about breaking new ground, but about having a killer time along the way. Totally Killer is streaming on Prime Video.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2023 09:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).