This time Vince Vaughn is the serial killer the Blissfield Butcher who trades bodies with teenage girl Millie (Kathryn Newton). Millie has yet to come into her own and is still dealing with the long dark shadows cast from a family tragedy. Her mother drinks too much while her sister hides in her job as a police officer.

Most of the film’s humour arrives via Vaughn’s acting chops as he plays a giddy teenage girl trapped in a scheming psychopath’s body and to amusing effect. The victims he/she polishes off are quite a cliche bunch but that does little to dampen the fun when they go down for the count.

Featuring a not always comfortable mix of gratuitous bloodshed and teenage troubles, Freaky is still an entertaining way to bring the week to a close. It breaks little new ground but does well with the parts it has in play. This Friday, give your loved one a dozen black roses and a good time at the cinema.

Rob Hudson
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Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton, Blockers, HBO’s Big Little Lies) is just trying to survive the bloodthirsty halls of Blissfield High and the cruelty of the popular crowd. But when she becomes the newest target of The Butcher (Vince Vaughn), her town’s infamous serial killer, her senior year becomes the least of her worries.

When The Butcher’s mystical ancient dagger causes him and Millie to wake up in each other’s bodies, Millie learns that she has just 24 hours to get her body back before the switch becomes permanent and she’s trapped in the form of a middle-aged maniac forever. The only problem is she now looks like a towering psychopath who’s the target of a city-wide manhunt while The Butcher looks like her and has brought his appetite for carnage to Homecoming.

With some help from her friends—ultra-woke Nyla (Celeste O’Connor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), ultra-fabulous Joshua (Misha Osherovich, The Goldfinch) and her crush Booker (Uriah Shelton, Enter the Warriors Gate)—Millie races against the clock to reverse the curse while The Butcher discovers that having a female teen body is the perfect cover for a little Homecoming killing spree.

The film also stars Alan Ruck (HBO’s Succession), Katie Finneran (TV’s Why Women Kill) and Dana Drori (Hulu’s High Fidelity).

From the deliciously debased mind of writer-director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, the Paranormal Activity franchise) comes a pitch-black horror-comedy about a slasher, a senior, and the brutal truth about high school.

Freaky is written by Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy (Fox’s Bordertown) and is produced by Jason Blum (Halloween, The Invisible Man). The film is produced by Blumhouse Productions in association with Divide/Conquer. The executive producers are Couper Samuelson and Jeanette Volturno.
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It’s more than a little satisfying seeing Gibson’s character on the downward spiral as he and Lurasetti make plans to rob a criminal of his ill gotten gains to supplement their dwindling finances. During the scam they come across said criminals robbing a bank. Conflicted on which side of the law they will ultimately land, they give chase.

What follows is basically a road movie as a protracted chase gives us the opportunity to get to know the two disgraced cops and the bad guys as well. Ridgeman and Lurasetti have a history together and even though they riff off each other there is respect there as well.

Untimely becoming a morality play with more that its share of twists and turns, both the criminal and cop pay a heavy price by film’s end. If Gibson is destined to play to audience expectations and be the bad guy the rest of his career, Dragged Across Concrete provides a satisfying start.

Rob Hudson
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When the son and daughter get the opportunity for a try out with the American company, the youngest member of the family, Saraya (Florence Pugh) makes the grade but has to leave behind her brother Zak (Jack Lowden). This causes a strain in the family as Zak has also dedicated his life to the squared circle.

Wrestling forms the backdrop but what the film is really about is the power of love and the feeling of inclusion that can only be provided by family. By blood or shared experience. In this regard it is surprisingly touching. The feel good moments are equally matched by the humorous moments, moments that have a decidedly British/Australian feel.

Even if you have little interest in professional wrestling, Fighting With My Family will win you over with its successful mix of humour and a touching take on the family unit. Come for the wrestling, stay for the story.

Rob Hudson
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