Another low-budget horror film, another camping trip gone awry. This is no rote day out for hoary old genre tropes, though, and director Robyn August (plus screenwriter Tom Kiesche) soon turns the scenario on its head.
Combining a wedding planning session with a weekend in the woods, Mattie (Jenna Z. Alvarez) and her friends fall prey to a demented monster when they set up camp next to, uh, Mr. Rogers (Kiesche himself, sans red cardigan). Picked off one by one (or worse… kidnapped), the friends face a terrible fight for survival amid the tents and the trees. So far, so Wrong Turn.
Where KillHer sets itself apart from the rest (and there’s a lot of the rest) is in its commitment to subversion and a cheeky refusal to take any of this seriously. Where it might put some off is in its remarkably out-there performances (M.C. Huff’s Eddie is energetic, to say the least) and relatively slow buildup. Its sense of humour won’t be to all tastes either, even if the jokes are less well-worn than other horror comedies.
This is a fresh and vibrant take on the comedy slasher film, buzzing with wit and energy and palpable enthusiasm for the genre. Its snarky approach won’t appeal to all, but the effort is appreciated.
KILLHER is out now in the US.
