Within the realm of horror comedy, two stand-out movies have not too long ago made their mark: Completely happy Loss of life Day and Freaky, each directed by Christopher Landon. Landon’s imaginative strategy to the slasher style has cultivated a devoted fanbase for each motion pictures. Curiously, the co-screenwriter of the latter film pitched a crossover between the 2 properties. Whereas this mashup did not materialize, he has one other pitch for an epic Avenger-level horror film crossover, and it is an concept that I really like much more.
Author Michael Kennedy, whose new slasher is a takeoff of Frank Capra’s It’s a Great Knife, says he as soon as pitched a fusion of the 2 slasher worlds, calling it Freaky Loss of life Day. Nonetheless, in a latest interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the It’s a Great Knife scribe revealed that whereas the idea gained preliminary traction, the continued pandemic and its monetary challenges finally hindered the venture. He instructed the outlet:
It’s a kind of issues that I want occurred. The pandemic tousled so many lives after which silly issues like motion pictures. However the summer season earlier than [Freaky] got here out, the thought clicked in my head, and I despatched a textual content to a few the oldsters at Blumhouse and Chris. And the response was fairly humorous. Everybody was like, ‘Oh my God, fascinating.’ So I actually despatched an e-mail with the topic of simply Freaky Loss of life Day, after which it had a two-sentence pitch. And there was a second the place it felt like, ‘Okay, perhaps this could possibly be one thing sooner or later.’ However then the pandemic continued, and Freaky didn’t actually pop in theaters, since you couldn’t go to a theater and that type of stuff. So, financially, it simply doesn’t make sense for lots of people proper now, however each from time to time, I give it some thought. I can’t assist it. I need to see it so badly.
It could’ve been a terrific thought — and one which followers of the style probably would’ve flocked to the theater for. Regardless of the setbacks, Michael Kennedy stays enthusiastic a couple of potential crossover down the road, however not of two properties however 4. He shared an thrilling concept that hit him after he noticed an Web meme and, frankly, I would like this in my life now. He continued:
I noticed a meme the opposite day with Jessica Rothe, Kathryn Newton, Kiernan Shipka, and Jane Widdop all stacked on prime of one another, and it was like, ‘There’s no means you’ll be able to inform me that these characters don’t exist in the identical world.’ And funnily sufficient, three of them are owned by one firm. So I don’t know. Possibly there’s a Completely Killer Freaky Loss of life Day or one thing down the road. (Laughs.) There’s one thing there that I all the time needed to do. I hate to say the Marvel of slashers, however there’s one thing fascinating a couple of bunch of various “closing ladies” hooking up and having to combat the identical factor.
Freaky, starring Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton, took inspiration from the basic physique swap film Freaky Friday, whereas Completely happy Loss of life Day put a scary spin on Groundhog Day. Completely Killer, starring Kiernan Shipka and Julie Bowen, provided a enjoyable time-travel slasher expertise described as Again to the Future meets Scream, which was enjoyable for folk who aren’t even horror followers. Jane Widdop is gearing as much as star within the upcoming Christmas killer flick It’s a Great Knife. The thought of those worlds colliding sparks the creativeness – a cinematic crossover that may be exhausting to withstand. Significantly, take my cash now!
Michael Kennedy’s imaginative and prescient of a shared universe, the place a few of the greatest modern-day closing ladies unite in opposition to a typical foe, injects freshness and pleasure into the horror style. Whereas upcoming superhero motion pictures are plagued with crossovers, the identical cannot be stated for horror. But historical past exhibits that it might work – assume Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein or Freddy vs. Jason. Although the Freaky Loss of life Day crossover is on maintain, Kennedy’s ardour makes one hopeful that, within the dynamic world of horror cinema, these iconic characters may finally cross paths in a collaboration that is sure to be killer.
There’s been no motion on a 3rd Completely happy Loss of life Day movie in over 4 years, with director Christopher Landon having conceived an thought for a unique type of take fairly a while in the past. Nonetheless, it isn’t exhausting to think about him and franchise star Jessica Rothe being on board for a cinematic universe. Solely time will reveal the destiny of this potential enlargement.
Whereas we await and want for a crossover to materialize, think about testing Completely Killer, even if you happen to’re not a fan of scary fare. It is accessible for streaming with a Prime Video subscription. And for these already enamored with spooky content material, discover the upcoming horror motion pictures nonetheless slated for launch this yr.
As for Kennedy’s subsequent film, It’s a Great Knife, it hit theaters on November 10 as a part of the schedule of 2023 new film launch, and there are plans for a Shudder launch later this month.
