Totally Killer (2023) – Review and Summary
“Totally Killer,” as its title implies, is a fun horror movie to watch but ultimately is more content to consume than a new movie to put into your annual Halloween rotation.
General Information
| Director(s) | Nahnatchka Khan |
| Screenplay By | David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver, Jen D’Angelo |
| Based On Story By | David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver |
| Date Released (Prime Video) | October 5, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Comedy |
| Film Length | 1 Hour 44 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated R |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Tiffany | Liana Liberato |
| Marisa | Stephi Chin-Salvo |
| Heather | Anna Diaz |
| 2023 Pam | Julie Bowen |
| 1987 Pam | Olivia Holt |
| Jamie | Kiernan Shipka |
| Amelia | Kelcey Mawema |
| 2023 Lauren | Kimberly Huie |
| 1987 Lauren | Troy L. Johnson |
Content Rating Explanation
“Totally Killer” contains:
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Blood, Knife Violence, Use Of A Gun
- Sexual Content: Dialog About Sex, But No Sex Acts Or Nudity
- Miscellaneous: Underage Drinking, Drug Use
Film Summary
This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.
In North Vernon, the Sweet 16 Killer haunts the town 35 years after the events of their first trio of kills. Tiffany, Marisa, and Heather were all stabbed 16 times within days of October 27, 1987. For many, it is an event that was behind them. However, when Jamie’s mom, Pam, ends up stabbed and it appears the killer is back, Jamie and her best friend Amelia, using Amelia’s mom Lauren’s time machine design, send Jamie back to 1987, where she tries to find and stop the killer.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Tiffany
Tiffany was the first one killed by the Sweet 16 Killer, and she was with Pam’s eventual husband before she was.
- The actor is also known for their role in “To The Bone,” their role in “Banana Split,” and their role in “Scream 6.”
Marisa
Marisa was the second victim of the Sweet 16 killer.
Heather
Heather was the last killed by the Sweet 16 killer during the original killings.
2023 Pam
Pam is Jamie’s mother who is a regular suburban mom who, thanks to her three friends being killed, is quite skilled in self-defense.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Life of the Party” and their role in “Hubie Halloween.”
1987 Pam
One of the most popular girls at school and a notable bully, like the rest of her friends known as “The Mollys,” after Molly Ringwald, the Pam of 1987 is the complete opposite of her 2023 counterpart.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Turkey Drop.”
Jamie
Jamie is your everyday teenager who wants to hang with her friends, is annoyed by her parents, and just wants to have fun.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Swimming With Sharks,” their role in “Let It Snow,” and their role in “Wildflower.”
Amelia
Amelia, the daughter of an inventor, picks up where her mom left off, as Lauren decided to be practical rather than focus on her inventions.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Honor Society” and their role in “Deadly Class.”
2023 Lauren
2023 Lauren has a kid to raise, so she works in manufacturing to make ends meet.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Kings of Napa” and their role in “Self Made: Inspired By The Life of Madam C.J. Walker.”
1987 Lauren
1987 Lauren has a journal filled with ideas and concepts, and she still has faith and hope she can bring them to life.
- The actor is also known for their role in “On My Block.”
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Highlight
Pam and Jamie’s Self-Defense
Unlike many horror movies featuring serial killers, the film’s leads fight back, and they rarely just run and leave the killer where they got the upper hand. Pam, who knows how to fight, leads you to think she is going to whip the killer’s ass and maybe even win the fight. Then, with Jamie, while she isn’t on Pam’s level, she gets her licks in, and just these two putting up a fight is where “Totally Killer” finds itself standing out.
On The Fence
If You Like Kiernan Shipka’s Shtick, This Movie Is For You
One could submit that Shipka, since “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” has found a shtick and has stuck to it. The sarcastic teenager, who is a slight pain but means well, is her comfort place, and it works for her. However, like comedians with a shtick, actors with a shtick can feel dull and predictable.
Then, considering “Totally Killer” isn’t necessarily trying to break the mold when it comes to horror, mysteries, or comedies, especially dealing with the 80s, the lead character being played by an actor who doesn’t pursue diversity in their filmography can be more of a negative than positive, especially if you’ve grown tired of them bringing the same personality to different characters.
The Whole “The 80s Are So Inappropriate” Thing
Most of what we assume are supposed to be jokes deal with how the 80s were compared to 2023. Be it the lack of stranger danger, school security, political correctness, and so much more. Rarely, if ever, is it funny since you’ve probably seen and heard these comparisons and jokes so many times. Add in the delivery doesn’t even make this feel unique, and you get a lot of jokes that are a bit of a bummer.
You Don’t Get Much To Figure Out Who The Killer Is
You’d think the one thing “Totally Killer” would pursue is at least making the mystery of who killed everyone interesting, right? Sadly, it doesn’t. It does point you toward a handful of characters, but the reveal is a twist that does seem to partly come out of nowhere.
Don’t get me wrong, it makes sense once it is explained, but it does feel like they took away one of the ways it could have gotten an audience invested and rewarded by leaning heavily on Shipka and making the story a bit lackluster.
Also Worth Mentioning
- How cool it is that two Black women were the smartest in the movie and created time travel
Who Is This For?
Those who enjoy slasher horror that isn’t overtly brutal and has a bit of a mystery element as to who the killer is.
Recommendations
If you like this movie, we recommend:
- Happy Death Day: Similar tone to “Totally Killer” but with a better mystery
- Bodies, Bodies, Bodies: This also has a mystery element as to who the killer is, but the comedy is the strong suit here over who the killer is
- School Spirits: If you would prefer a TV series over a movie, “School Spirits” is also about who killed the lead character
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