PLOT: Faculty scholar Deena visits house and is roped into babysitting. The native sheriff is mailed a chunk of proof and is led on a scavenger hunt to disclose the killer of one other babysitter.
REVIEW: If there’s one factor that I adore it’s a slasher film set within the Nineteen Eighties. The last decade that gave us essentially the most slashers can also be one which’s completely prime for them. No cellphones, no social media, and no meta ingredient the place characters are self conscious. However sadly, Evening of the Reaper appears to neglect that it’s an 80s slasher after the opening scene and thinks it’s extra intelligent than it’s.
Summer time H Howell (who we’ll see subsequent yr in Mike Flanagan’s Carrie because the title character) seems within the intro, establishing the movie. It’s a fairly customary slasher opening and feels a bit tonally off from what we get later. Ultimately, Evening of the Reaper settles right into a story a couple of lady coming house from school and babysitting. Sadly for her, the city has had a little bit of an issue with a killer. Solely…nobody actually is aware of about it. It’s a wierd setup. Jessica Clement is nice as Deena and simply essentially the most attention-grabbing character. As a lot because the story follows Deena and her night time babysitting, it splits time with the sheriff investigating the murders within the city. There’s an entire thriller ingredient, with the sheriff being given numerous bits of proof to steer him in a sure route.
I can’t actually say that the thriller ingredient works too properly. Possibly I used to be simply hoping for a extra easy slasher movie, however this felt nearer to one thing that Blumhouse would do, with a extra PG-13 strategy. Fortunately, we do get a bit extra violence because the movie goes on, nevertheless it’s very scant for the primary 80 or so minutes. There’s additionally a really unusual “overly planned” ingredient that seems like it could work on paper, however is poorly executed right here. The twist is unsatisfying and feels a bit wasted.
Regardless of being set within the 80s, the camerawork is all very trendy. This appears like each different horror film on the market when it comes to its framing and digicam motion. I used to be a bit upset as a result of, particularly with the VHS components at play, I assumed it’d be extra of a throwback like Home of the Satan did with the 70s. One factor that I appreciated about Evening of the Reaper was the way it utilized darkness within the body. Too usually with these movies, every thing is totally seen always, and there’s no thriller at play. However by permitting true blacks, it has a fantastic look that enables it to truly appear to be a film versus a industrial.
Director Brandon Christensen (Superhost, The Puppetman) presents the story in a little bit of an odd approach. I’ll keep away from spoilers however there are actions that don’t make as a lot sense in its second watch. It feels a bit misguided and missing in cohesion. The pacing additionally leaves loads to be desired, and the movie doesn’t actually decide up till the ultimate act. There’s additionally not a lot intrigue with the kills themselves, as they’re very primary, and not one of the characters really feel layered outdoors of Deena.
Evening of the Reaper is a superbly serviceable…slasher? I battle to even name it that, because it doesn’t actually observe typical slasher beats. There aren’t many kills, and most of which come by way of videotape, and having already occurred properly earlier than the occasions of the movie. It tries to do a “gotcha” twist nevertheless it largely comes throughout poorly fashioned and floor degree. It doesn’t actually maintain as much as scrutiny and feels a bit foolish total. Even nonetheless, at the very least it’s making an attempt one thing totally different, so I’ll give it that.
NIGHT OF THE REAPER IS STREAMING ON SHUDDER ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2025.
