Takeout – Review and Summary
Takeout is a reminder of why Tubi has a growing, loyal following, as it not only showcases indie movies but also those that can be considered hidden gems.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Takeout” Film Details
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 36 Minutes
- Released On: Tubi
- Public Release Date: September 19, 2025
- Director(s): Jem Garrard
- Writer(s): Jem Garrard
- Primary Language: English
- Genre(s): Comedy, Crime, Thriller, Young Adult
- Rating: Rated TV-MA
- Distributor: Tubi
- Official Site Link
Movie Summary
In the town of Brookhaven, there is a serial killer known as the “Dollkiller.” The reason for the nickname stems from the dolls they make of their victims, and unfortunately for the small staff at The Big Dripper, the killer walks in during a late shift. However, with a $250,000 prize being offered for any information that leads to an arrest, while Nova, Harper, and Benny could use that money, as they split on how to handle the possible Dollkiller, they end up putting themselves in danger.
Cast and Characters
Nova (N’kone Mametja)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Nova is a teenager who is going through a lot at home, and things aren’t really that much better at work, with Harper and Susan always on her case for minimum wage.
Harper (Deoudoné Pretorius)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: At one point, it seemed like Harper would be a golden child – one of the kids who come back to Brookhaven a celebrity, rich, or just well-off. Yet, despite all her potential, she hasn’t seen it realized, and her attitude has made it so that former classmates relish in pointing that out.
Benny (Darron Meyer)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Benny is the cook at The Big Dripper, who has a record and is someone Susan is keenly interested in, as are the local cops.
Milly (Gia Capouya)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Milly is Nova’s little sister who is non-verbal but is able to speak through ASL.
Susan (Robyn Scott)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Susan owns The Big Dripper and is the type of boss/owner who doesn’t really care about her employees, just that the business makes enough for her to enjoy her lifestyle.
What To Expect In “Takeout” (Rated TV-MA) – Content Overview
- Dialog:
- Cursing: Occasional
- Violence:
- Gun Violence: Occasional Use
- Violence Against Children: Yes (Context: Nova’s Little Sister, Milly, Is Physically Threatened, including with a knife to her throat)
- Gore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Bleeding, Depiction of Open Wounds
- Miscellaneous:
- Vomiting: Yes
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
You Get Invested In The Leads [85/100]
While Harper is a bit stuck up, at the same time, you feel for her and the rest since you know their situation is, if they could do better, they would. So when it comes to catching the Dollkiller, splitting that $250,000, you want that for them.
You want Nova to be able to leave the abusive environment she is in and take her five-year-old sister, Milly, with her; you want Benny to finally get to move on from whatever he did and maybe start over; and Harper? Honestly, as insufferable as she can be, there is a part of you that wants to see her be that person who seemingly did everything she was supposed to in school, and it become something.
And throughout Takeout, you hold onto wanting to see these people happy, Harper evolve into someone less uptight, and this dysfunctional work family grow closer. This especially becomes true when people start dying, and it becomes clear that even lead characters can potentially have a knife stabbed right through one ear and peaking out the other.
Some Of The Kills, Despite How Simple They Are, Will Leave Your Jaw Dropped [83/100]
There isn’t a supernatural villain in Takeout. It is a person who generally uses a knife, gets a hold of a gun, and, for the most part, isn’t trying to have strength contests. They immediately go for the kill, and while some, like when they stab people in the chest or stomach, aren’t brutal, their slitting necks or stabbing people in the head, it will leave your mouth ajar because it doesn’t look cheap or corny.
This isn’t to say it looks hyperreal either, but Takeout is done well enough that you are allowed to sustain the shock and not be thrown off by bad special effects or anything like that. Leaving you in the moment and the villain becoming someone to take more seriously as, through luck and brutality, they nearly double their kill count over one night.
On The Fence
The Killer Skips An Opportunity To Kill Someone Like They Did The Rest [74/100]
While the killer generally doesn’t miss, is quick with the kill, and doesn’t play with its victims, there is at least one moment when they don’t just end someone’s life. Because of how that scene is handled, while it doesn’t take anything away from the villain, it makes it clear who is going to ultimately live when this is all over and it makes everything that happens after feel dragged out for it’s like you got to see, in bold letters, “This person is going to be the one who lives and handles the police report.”
The Comedic Angle Won’t Be For Everyone [77/100]
Takeout isn’t a straight-up horror/thriller comedy, but some characters and situations clearly were made purely for a laugh. The police in the film – they are all the type who seem like they barely got out of high school, are on power trips, and are meant to be laughed at, even when their lives are threatened by the killer. Susan, the owner of The Big Dripper, is meant to be that boss who barely does any work, is inappropriate to staff, and is such a stereotype that you can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous she is.
Throw in Harper’s personality, and how it clashes with Benny, but mostly Nova, and you may chuckle, but it could also lead to you
Overall
Our Rating (79/100): Mixed (Divisive)
Takeout came out more than a week ago, and while we were thinking of just having it join the many things we skipped because we just didn’t have the time, I’m glad we watched it. Alongside being a reminder of the gems Tubi has as a platform, it is also a film that removes the stigma of “You get what you pay for” since Takeout is free, but feels worth your loyalty to Tubi’s continued existence.
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