Happy Death Day 2U: The Horror Franchise as a Genre Experiment

Happy Death Day reemerges in 2019 as an intrepid exploration of genre. If the original film was a subversive mixture of Groundhog Day (1993) and Scream (1996), the sequel is a high wire act, balancing precariously between those influences, and the inclusion of Back to the Future: Part II (1986) twists. These are a lot of comparisons, not to say that Happy Death Day 2U is derivative, but that it is particularly inspired by a certain kind of genre exploration. Drawing from Back to the Future tells us several things about how it wants to operate as a trilogy. It’s a statement of intent of sorts, that each entry might be found wholly different from the last. The franchise’s rebellious trailers do not play the usual game, they did not spell that the original is chiefly interested in slasher horror or that its sequel is a horror rom-com about parallel realities. Instead, the marketing gives way to poppy wonder, seeking a target demographic that sets it up to be this generation’s great slasher. The prime example of the difference is that while both trailers feature 50 Cent, absurdly, his songs are nowhere to be found in the films. Not only do the trailers not give up all the good moments, they are selling a different film, and lovingly expanding the reach of horror in inventive ways.

happydeathday2u6
Happy Death Day 2U. Dir. Christopher Landon.

In Happy Death Day (2017), Carter (Israel Broussard) remarks that their situation reminds him of Groundhog Day. Tree (Jessica Rothe) has never heard of it. Jump to Happy Death Day 2U, and he remarks that the situation is exactly like Back to the Future: Part II, and she’s seen Back to the Future, hasn’t she? “Sorrrrry,” Tree groans in her sorority sister drawl. Jessica Rothe continues to be the highlight here – not the Final Girl we’ve been looking for – but the Infinite Girl that is the answer to tired horror tropes. Carter works with her as a functional love interest, the reflection of the audience mirrored onto the screen. Yes, he keeps posters for all kinds of Science Fiction films that are evidently great influences, he’s knows all the material that describes the situation and like us, is incredibly aware of the contract he’s signed. We know the basic beats of Happy Death Day 2U, we’ve seen those films. It is at once for us and for the girl in the back of the theater, who resembles Tree and feels equally represented. The sequel also makes due, leveraging Ryan Phan (Phi Vu), Carter’s friend who starts every morning entering the dorm and encountering the couple. He’s pulled right out of Revenge of the Nerds (1984), and it’s a big surprise the film places so much focus onto him. He’s perfectly fine but does not play very well into horror tropes, although is semi-believable as a science nerd creating some multi-dimensional device that does a little too much to describe how this all works in the first place.

Our first loops follow Ryan, to the collective groans of our audience. That’s the trick here, right? That’s not the film. Soon we’re reunited with Tree, and with much duress, she’s put on the same path as the original. She relives that same birthday, but perhaps through a parallel reality from the previous film. This allows for Director Christopher Landon to rediscover how to play in Happy Death Day. For one, it resets the central relationship. Carter is now enamored with Tree’s best friend, Danielle (Rachel Matthews). On the upside, Tree’s Mom is brought back to life, and she’s given the opportunity to relive their shared birthday over and over, making up for lost time, and allowing the series to settle into greater stakes as a character drama.

happydeathday2u5
Happy Death Day 2U. Dir. Christopher Landon.

Baby mask killers are still rampant. The first half of the film soaks in the horror routes, with equally chilly slasher setups that are basic slasher stuff, but existing as a refined point. It’s that refinement that keeps it moving. This is an unusual Blumhouse picture, in the diverse range its allowed to emphasize. It is many types of films. The same way Back to the Future found consistency by replicating the essential newness of the original, Happy Death Day has settled willfully into the same tract. Only half a horror film, Happy Death Day 2U is intent on reclaiming the high-concept romance of Groundhog Day while finding its own fun in broad Weird Science (1985) callbacks.

Happy Death Day is our finest modern horror franchise. It has a great breadth of desirable influences, while never veering into the trap of copying without adding value. That’s the thing. Happy Death Day adds value to old ideas, by combining them with other good old ideas, and making something that is essentially new. Jessica Rothe may be one of our best modern genre actresses. If there is a Groundhog God, her luck will take, and she will be in all things genre soon enough. Happy Death Day is the most charming horror around. Even when it’s doing too much, it’s doing all of it in service of having a great time. A great time is guaranteed and while a late setup for the next film may seem gratuitous, it offers enough flexibility, that we understand we’ll keep reliving this franchise as often as we need to. Because we need genre films that deliver as much unadulterated joy as Happy Death Day.

8/10

5 thoughts on “Happy Death Day 2U: The Horror Franchise as a Genre Experiment

  1. I got an email from DJ E-V last week inviting me out using a video shoot for this new single.
    Unfortunately I was in Dallas and unable to attend. This was one time When i wished I WAS at home,
    because I knew this is good a classic Cleveland gathering.
    DJ E-V has come far in a relatively short amount of energy.
    But it hasn’t been easy – there’s been a lot do
    the job put into building his brand, which is a credit to his relentless work ethic and savvy business acumen. And today, he releases the official
    1st single to his highly anticipated “BIFC” part 3 (B*tch I’m From Cleveland) mixtape series.
    The single is entitled “Ratchet” featuring Cleveland rappers MGK, Ray Jr., Dub-O, Tezo,
    & Pooh Gutta, with production by Cleveland producer JP Did This 1.

    I also FB with Rick Dees, a multi-talented radio personality, song writer (remember “Disco Duck”),
    who held Seminole florida captive using his long-running prime time morning show on 918kiss download link and
    then as the lead off DJ/host on Movin 939.9, that he left when, much to
    your chagrin of millions of fans, the station switched to a thorough Spanish all the time format.
    I happen understand he can speak which but guess management
    preferred the the real guy. He still streams on line and does the Weekly Top 40,
    hey it airs in Asia. That’s Dees pictured above at his lavish Dees Entertainment Studios (photo courtesy of
    Dees Entertainment).

    In March, when Arbitron issued the final numbers measured with the old diary system, news/talk KIRO
    was #1 12-plus, leading among all listeners age 12 and older.
    Next came conservative talker KTTH AM, “The Truth,” together with country KMPS,
    KRWM (Warm 106.9), and rhythmic KUBE.

    Oakley: Celebration at Freedom High School from 6 p.m to 10 q.m.
    with music, bounce houses, giant slide, laser tag, rock climbing wall,
    games, a petting zoo, pony rides, food, crafts, performances by local martial arts, cheer and dance academic institutions.
    The evening will end with fireworks. Admission is provided for free.
    $5 wristbands for unlimited games and voyages.
    Age 4 and under is fully free.

    But they’re only starting – this guitar rock band
    is looking for a huge month elements into place .
    a performance on FUEL TV’s The Daily Habit on November 2, plus their MTV PUSH campaign that
    kicks off on November 7, broadcast across all MTV systems.
    The band will also be featured this month on “10 On Top” for MTV,
    MTV Radio, MTV News, and interviews for iHeartRadio and Z100, the biggest Top 40 radio station in the country, will air this month.

    Reeve: Yeah we record live but we exercise . things to your
    process. The videos . of flick is always the four of us playing with each.
    When you don’t possess any visuals sometimes you want to add a few extra things just faster people keep listening they hear various things.
    That is the things i love of the Beatles and certain other
    bands that are my favorites over recent years. You hear new things every time which precisely what we wanted do our own album.

    As doable ! see, that can no shortage of radio stations in Phoenix.
    Along with those mentioned above, you can apply also
    stations for classical music, Christian music, and talk the airwaves.

    The only way to identify a out what you like is to go through all of them. http://scoalanicolaeiorga.uv.ro/book/index.php?iframe=true&width=100%252/contact.php&cache=yes

Leave a Reply