‘The Blackening’: A Fresh Blend of Horror and Comedy Arrives on VOD
Following its triumphant run at the box office during the Juneteenth weekend and its acclaimed screening at the Tribeca Film Festival, ‘The Blackening’ is set to make its way into homes through Premium Video on Demand this week. Directed by Tim Story and based on the uproariously funny Comedy Central sketch of the same name penned by Dewayne Perkins, this horror comedy presents a captivating tale of a group of friends gathering at a secluded cabin in the woods to celebrate Juneteenth. Little do they know, their festivities are interrupted by a masked killer who thrusts them into a high-stakes game of survival. Packed with clever twists on horror conventions and endearing characters worth cheering for, Lionsgate will make the film available for on-demand streaming starting Friday, July 7.
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Much like its source material, ‘The Blackening’ poses a chilling yet thought-provoking question for its group of Black friends: In a horror film featuring an all-Black cast, who meets their demise first? The killer responds with a twisted and racially charged game, forcing the friends to determine who among them embodies the essence of Blackness the most. But this is no ordinary game—it’s a matter of life and death that compels the group to unite their knowledge of horror tropes in a bid to survive. As the story unfolds, audiences are treated to a hilarious deconstruction of genre staples like the ominous cabin in the woods, the beloved gay best friend, and the unfortunate tendency for Black characters to meet untimely ends.
Alongside Tracy Oliver, renowned for her work on ‘Girls Trip’ and ‘Harlem,’ Perkins co-wrote the screenplay and takes on a starring role alongside a talented ensemble cast including Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Antoinette Robinson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji. In a review of ‘The Blackening,’ FilmSweep’s Chase Hutchinson praised the cast, awarding the film a solid B- and remarking, “While not every joke lands, the rare opportunity to experience a spoof comedy like this makes it entirely worthwhile.”
Image via Lionsgate
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‘The Blackening’ Delights by Subverting Horror Tropes
During the premiere of ‘The Blackening’ at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, Perkins, Oliver, Robinson, and X Mayo spoke with FilmSweep Editor-in-Chief Steve Weintraub, shedding light on the film’s mission to dismantle the tired and sometimes harmful tropes prevalent in horror cinema. The creators placed particular emphasis on crafting multidimensional Black characters that would challenge these conventions. Clearly, their fresh perspective resonated with audiences, as the film achieved an impressive box office revenue of $15.7 million, surpassing its modest $5 million budget. Perkins, in particular, expressed his desire for viewers to witness the human side of these tropes, stating:
“Our aim was to take these tropes and expand upon them, urging the audience to recognize that tropes are representations of human beings. My character, the ‘gay best friend,’ is a well-known trope in movies. Typically, they are relegated to the sidelines for comic relief or become the butt of a joke. By exploring the complexities and depth within these tropes, we aimed to challenge preconceived notions and constantly defy assumptions about these characters throughout the movie.”
‘The Blackening’ will be available through Premium Video on Demand starting July 7. Be sure to check out the trailer below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about horror comedy
Q: When will “The Blackening” be available for streaming?
A: “The Blackening” will be available for on-demand streaming starting Friday, July 7.
Q: Who directed “The Blackening”?
A: “The Blackening” was directed by Tim Story.
Q: What is the premise of “The Blackening”?
A: “The Blackening” is a horror comedy that tells the story of a group of friends celebrating Juneteenth at a cabin in the woods, only to be forced into a game of life or death by a masked killer.
Q: Who wrote the original sketch that “The Blackening” is based on?
A: Dewayne Perkins wrote the original Comedy Central sketch of the same name, which served as the inspiration for the film.
Q: Can you tell me more about the cast of “The Blackening”?
A: The talented cast of “The Blackening” includes Dewayne Perkins, Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Antoinette Robinson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji.
Q: How did “The Blackening” subvert horror tropes?
A: “The Blackening” aimed to deconstruct and subvert typical horror tropes, such as the black person dying first or the gay best friend serving as comic relief. The film adds depth to these characters and challenges audience assumptions about them.
Q: What was the box office performance of “The Blackening”?
A: Despite its modest budget of $5 million, “The Blackening” made a respectable $15.7 million at the box office.
Q: Where can I watch “The Blackening”?
A: “The Blackening” will be available for streaming on demand via Lionsgate.
Q: What is the genre of “The Blackening”?
A: “The Blackening” is a horror comedy that combines elements of both horror and humor.
More about horror comedy
- The Blackening – Official Trailer
- Tim Story – IMDb
- Dewayne Perkins – Comedy Central Sketch
- Lionsgate – Official Website
- Tribeca Film Festival – Official Website
- Toronto International Film Festival – Official Website
3 comments
The blackening looks like a hilarious horror movie with a twist! Can’t wait to see how they subvert those tropes. The cast sounds amazin, gonna be a must-watch!
“The Blackening” sounds soooo good!! I like how they take horror tropes and make them funny. The cast is awesome too. Gonna be a killer movie!
omg the blackening sounds like a rlly cool horror comedy!!! i luv when they flip tropes on their head lol. gonna watch it on friday!!