The Blackening; A Movie Review
A group of black friends head to a mansion in the woods for a Juneteenth celebration weekendwhen things take a horrific turn. They go exploring this house and come across the gamesroom, making them play the game-The Blackening.
The tagline for the movie is “We can’t all die first,” the movie concept is based on the fact that in every horror movie with a black person, they are always the first to die-take Jada Pinkett Smith in Scream 2 dying before the opening credits roll of which the blackening makes a joke of.
The opening of the blackening states “This movie is based on true events…that never happened” this starts the comedy of the movie with the horror clique “This movie is based on true events” and the funny bit “That never happened.”
The use of black culture as a recurring link is creative. The thing that brings the college friends together is Juneteenth-a celebration of black history. In order to save their friends they have to answer questions on black culture. There is a crucial point in the movie where the group have to decide who is the blackest of the group and who will be sent out of the games room to fend for themself.
This comedy horror has all the elements of a satisfying horror including a sad backstory which inthis case of The Blackening is revealed towards the end of the movie which makes the viewerquestion certain character’s motives.
The majority of the action takes place in the dark due to a blackout. The Blackening uses this to its cinematographic advantage to show shadows crossing the screen and characters relying on their phone flashlight to see.
I really enjoyed this movie, it was greatly presented from the writing to the story, to the cinematography. The use of horror to keep you on the edge of your seat is remarkable it never allows you to enjoy the comedic moments which come hard and fast. The atmosphere created is one where you don’t know whether to laugh or hide behind your seat.
Overall, I would recommend watching this movie, it really brings to light the relationship between black characters in horror movies, so if there is a horror movie–they can’t all die first.