Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures have released a trailer for their upcoming horror release, Happy Death Day. A slasher film with a wild twist, Happy Death Day hails from writer/director Christopher B. Landon. The filmmaker’s previous efforts as a director include Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, as well as writing duties on Disturbia and a handful of Paranormal Activity sequels. What’s the twist? See for yourself…
This has all the hallmarks of a classic slasher, right down to the delightfully retro birthday cake title cards at the end. Happy Death Day looks like “Groundhog Day with a slasher” and as far as I am concerned, this is a good thing. Instead of our lead learning not to be an asshole (although there could be some of that here too) over the course of her never-ending run of lives, she’s becoming what horror fans affectionately refer to as a “final girl”.
On the talent front, Landon being behind this one gives me confidence. Blumhouse’s output isn’t always quality, but The Marked Ones in easily one of the better Paranormal Activity films and Scouts Guide was way more fun than it should have been. Throw in the fact that this is a high-concept stalk & kill tale and we have a recipe for a cool new take on the slasher subgenre. The film arriving on a Friday the 13th is the cherry on top. Jason Voorhees might not be stalking youths this fall, but we’re still getting our masked killer fix!
Happy Death Day is a slasher film by Blumhouse Productions. It is directed by Christopher B. Landon, from a screenplay by Christopher B. Landon and Scott Lobdell. The picture is produced by Jason Blum, Angela Mancuso, Ryan Turek, John Baldecchi, and Seth William Meier. The film stars Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, Rachel Matthews, Charles Aitken, Phi Vu, Rob Mello, Jason Bayle, Billy Slaughter, Blaine Kern III, Emily LaGroue, Caleb Spillyards, Ramsey Anderson, Cariella Smith, and Donna Duplantier.
Happy Death Day will arrive in theaters on October 13th, 2017.
