Cert – 15, Run-time – 1 hour 37 minutes, Director – Tim Story
A group of college friends reunite after ten years in a cabin in the woods, hunted by a crossbow-wielding killer they must either fight back or win a board game testing their knowledge of Black culture
There are plenty of horror flicks over the years which have revolved around the idea of the central characters having to endure a ‘game’ to survive to the end of the film. Whether it be an escape room, a Ouija board, or one of Jigsaw’s twisted challenges. More often than not the character’s are largely up for taking part before realising the twists and consequences later on. In The Blackening the central group of reunited college friends are repulsed by the sight of the titular board game as they’re greeted by a large, round blackface head in the centre of the board. It’s not long until the voice coming from it leads them into playing the game – get ten questions right, all linking to Black American culture, and survive, plus save their trapped friend (Yvonne Orji).
There are plenty of horror references early on as Scream is emanated in the opening scene, while not long after another character namedrops The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Yet, the film itself doesn’t feel rooted in parody as some may have suggested. While the drawn out opening sequence might lead to initial worry of a long and laboured 97 minutes to come once we actually get into the game itself things pick up. It might take a bit of time for this to be the case (20 minutes or so with only one or two small laughs along the way) as each of the characters have to meet up and re-establish their various relationships – who’s (Sinqua Walls’ Nnamdi) cheated on who (Antoinette Robinson’s Lisa) twice before, and who has that friend’s back for if it happens again (Grace Byers’ Allison and Dewayne Perkins’ Dwayne).
Yet, out of all the characters the one who stands out the most is Jermaine Fowler’s Clifton. An awkward, nerdy figure (reminiscent of Eddie Murphy’s Jiff Ramsey in Bowfinger – Fowler played Murphy’s son in Coming 2 America) who nobody seems to remember the name of. It’s Fowler who initially gets the laughs going as the character’s are finally all together, and as a game of Spades develops one by one they gradually begin to come through more. Once The Blackening begins and the seven (now calmed down, or at least less loud) characters are trapped in the basement/ ‘games room’ they must answer either ten questions, or fight back against a crossbow-wielding killer.
There are a good deal of laughs to be found within the questions and answers of the games as the characters try to frantically remember Black actors who were in Friends, and argue about who’s the blackest and who’s the whitest – a highlight scene. It’s within such moments that the true personality of the film comes through, as it gets on with its narrative and shows its humour. The laughs themselves might not be frequent (there are a good few which simply don’t hit, and some which leave uncertainty as to whether they were meant to be a joke or not) but when they arrive there are certainly some good gags to be found.
Even the horror has its moments as the masked killer gets ever closer and starts to break down the group as they grow increasingly frustrated with the racist game at play. Largely held in some jump scares and moments of attack, particularly when outside and face-to-face with the killer – providing some enjoyable fights – when horror becomes the greater force it works rather well. Perhaps more of an atmospheric thing at times it still manages to bring something with good effect, and again makes the film its own rather than something in the vein of Scary Movie.
Things might be slow and lacking to start with, however as The Blackening becomes its own product there’s an enjoyable film to be had here. While the laughs might be spread out there’s some good sporadic tones of horror to help keep things moving.
Just A Little Bit Random 