Totally Killer

⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (out of 5)

Back to the Future continues to fascinate audiences worldwide. With the resurgence in the fascination of the 80s, the time travel comedy has gained a whole new fanbase. Blumhouse Productions attempts to tap into this combination by delivering a spin on the interdimensional comedy by adding a serial killer into the mix.

Jamie Hughes (Kiernan Shipka) was raised in Vernon, where the legend of the Sweet Sixteen Killer had haunted the small town since three murders occurred in 1987. Her mother had been friends with the victims, which led Pam Hughes (Julie Bowen) to train her daughter to be cautious and to learn self-defence in case the murderer was to return. On Halloween night, Jamie’s mother is murdered like her friends had been in the late 80s. As the town grieves Pam’s death, the killer eventually hunts Jamie down. She manages to escape his pursuit by coming upon a time travel machine created by her best friend. This lands her in Vernon on the night before the first murder, and she determines to stop the killings before she attempts to return to 2023.

Just as the original Back to the Future engaged with the comedic differences in the eras, director Nahnatchka Khan unapologetically pays homage to the film classic. The television director can differentiate the story by adding the slasher murders. Khan manages to lean in on her experience with comedy to lift this from the standard slasher film. At the same time, the movie's overall feel is designed for the small screen more than for a typical cinematic release. Along with the bloody elements, the screenplay incorporates enough sexual content and foul language to provide an additional nod towards the slasher films of the decade where the story occurs. Unlike Back to the Future, this film is not designed for younger viewers.

Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) manages to carry this film through until the predictable and cringe-worthy conclusion. She is surrounded by sitcom royalty with a cast like Julie Bowen (Modern Family) and Randall Park (Blockbuster) who relish indulging in their comedic roots. The younger community representatives in the 1980s do their best to represent the characters they were meant to represent. Still, most get their inspiration from John Hughes films. Unlike most television productions, Totally Killer doesn’t hold back on any of the gore found within the killings.

Totally Killer is both original and unoriginal at the same time, but will provide a comedic option for the Halloween season for adults. It is designed for that fascinating combination of Back to the Future and slasher film fans who have been waiting for this combination since the 80s.

Reel Dialogue: Taking a life is wrong

This statement seems obvious, but one could dig in and ask why murder is so wrong? Firstly, this has to be based on facts that transcend mere humans, saying it is terrible.

This is where the Bible can help. This instructional and historical book's pages show that humanity was created in God’s image. From the beginning of time, society was made to live in harmony with God and one another. Unfortunately, this relationship was damaged by the introduction of sin’s influence on the heart’s of mankind. Amongst the things like pride, jealousy, and hate, we also saw murder come into mankind’s story. However, the Bible shows that God considers every life to be meaningful. Yet, aware of the sinful nature of the human heart, God provided guidelines that would seek to instruct man’s behaviour.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27

“You shall not murder. - Exodus 20:13

If you would like to discuss the value of life found in the Bible. Reach out to us at Third Space. We would love to chat about this and more.