Sick
Sick
Starring Gideon Adlon, Beth Million, Dylan Sprayberry, Marc Menchaca
Directed by John Hyams
Starring Gideon Adlon, Beth Million, Dylan Sprayberry, Marc Menchaca
Directed by John Hyams
It seems so long ago when Covid first hit, sending the world into isolation and lockdowns, maintaining social distancing, and masking up wherever you went. Fortunately most of that is gone now, and we've returned to a sort of normal life now even though the virus is still active, but back then pandemic craziness was at fever pitch. Mask versus anti-mask, neighbor against neighbor, the pandemic truly brought out the worst in our society. So it was only a matter of time before a horror film centering around the pandemic would come out, and it was a huge risk: people want to go to movies to avoid reality, so having the main thrust of the film center on the Covid craziness and anger was a risky bet to say the least: but thankfully the film was written by the master of culture themed slashers, Kevin Williamson, and "Sick" turned out to be an enjoyable little slasher flick with some great twists and turns.
In April 2020, the pandemic was at full force, and most of the States implemented stay-at-home orders. Toilet paper was scarce. People's humanity was even scarcer. For college student Parker Mason (Gideon Adlon), lockdown meant going to her family's remote luxurious cabin with her best friend Miri Woodlow (Beth Million), while defying the pandemic rules after attending a college party a few days prior. The two girls are having a great time alone until DJ Cole (Dylan Sprayberry), a boy that is attracted to Parker, arrives unannounced, but he's nothing more than a nuisance for Parker and Miri - until another uninvited guest arrives - a man sporting a balaclava, who's only goal is to murder everyone inside the cabin.
"Sick" really hones in on the fears, concerns, and apathy that the Covid pandemic provided, showcasing both ends of the spectrum and really shedding light on how crazy it really was at the beginning of it all. The film opens up on a guy looking for toilet paper, but the shelves were empty, and following green arrows on the ground, donning a generic mask, and keeping his distance from others. It really set the tone for the rest of the film, as at first it seemed like the Covid storyline was just the behind-the-scenes affair, but once the twists arrive it becomes strongly apparent that the virus was indeed front-and-center, as the mystery unfolds and you realize just how truly "sick" some people are.
Thankfully, though, the film isn't a preachy mess but rather an enjoyable little slasher flick that, at a little over 80 minutes, doesn't outstay it's welcome. It doesn't take long for the terror to commence, and when it does it turns into a thrilling, nail-biting cat-and-mouse game between the killer and strong, capable survivors who aren't damsels in distress. While the short runtime doesn't give room for deep character development, a film like "Sick" doesn't warrant it: it delivers what it promises, and with a surprisingly large amount of gore, which was rather unexpected for a seemingly run-of-the-mill slasher flick.
Of course that shouldn't come as a surprise since it was co-penned by "Scream" co-writer Kevin Williamson, who - along with the great Wes Craven - reintroduced a new generation to slasher films with the 1996 iconic "Scream," blending meta-humor with horror in equal measure. Likewise, "Sick" blends real fears of the pandemic with a thrilling tale that, along with "Scream," involves a unique mystery that, when revealed, makes the seemingly odd editing choices before make sense. It's more thought-provoking than traditional slashers, and while it doesn't elevate itself to "elevated horror," it's still much more than the sum of its parts.
Apart from the plot, the actors all give commanding performances that prove you don't always need a helpless victim. Both Gideon Adlon and Beth Million play Paker and Miri with intelligence, wit, and tenacity that doesn't make them easy victims: in fact they fight back quite successfully, even though sometimes they make the traditional mistakes horror films provide (such as not finishing off the killer when they're on the ground). They know how to adapt to the situations going on, and refuse to give up - even though their views of Covid are vastly different (Parker is indifferent, while Miri is extremely cautious), it doesn't blow up into typical arguments but in the end actually makes more sense the more you think about it.
While it's not going to be remembered decades from now like "Scream," "Sick" is a great slasher film in its own right, a film that highlights the current pandemic in a way that's thought-provoking and insightful, offering more than just a background setting as it also provides an exciting, edge-of-your-seat thriller with two capable leads set against the mystery of what's happening around them.
The Score: A-
In April 2020, the pandemic was at full force, and most of the States implemented stay-at-home orders. Toilet paper was scarce. People's humanity was even scarcer. For college student Parker Mason (Gideon Adlon), lockdown meant going to her family's remote luxurious cabin with her best friend Miri Woodlow (Beth Million), while defying the pandemic rules after attending a college party a few days prior. The two girls are having a great time alone until DJ Cole (Dylan Sprayberry), a boy that is attracted to Parker, arrives unannounced, but he's nothing more than a nuisance for Parker and Miri - until another uninvited guest arrives - a man sporting a balaclava, who's only goal is to murder everyone inside the cabin.
"Sick" really hones in on the fears, concerns, and apathy that the Covid pandemic provided, showcasing both ends of the spectrum and really shedding light on how crazy it really was at the beginning of it all. The film opens up on a guy looking for toilet paper, but the shelves were empty, and following green arrows on the ground, donning a generic mask, and keeping his distance from others. It really set the tone for the rest of the film, as at first it seemed like the Covid storyline was just the behind-the-scenes affair, but once the twists arrive it becomes strongly apparent that the virus was indeed front-and-center, as the mystery unfolds and you realize just how truly "sick" some people are.
Thankfully, though, the film isn't a preachy mess but rather an enjoyable little slasher flick that, at a little over 80 minutes, doesn't outstay it's welcome. It doesn't take long for the terror to commence, and when it does it turns into a thrilling, nail-biting cat-and-mouse game between the killer and strong, capable survivors who aren't damsels in distress. While the short runtime doesn't give room for deep character development, a film like "Sick" doesn't warrant it: it delivers what it promises, and with a surprisingly large amount of gore, which was rather unexpected for a seemingly run-of-the-mill slasher flick.
Of course that shouldn't come as a surprise since it was co-penned by "Scream" co-writer Kevin Williamson, who - along with the great Wes Craven - reintroduced a new generation to slasher films with the 1996 iconic "Scream," blending meta-humor with horror in equal measure. Likewise, "Sick" blends real fears of the pandemic with a thrilling tale that, along with "Scream," involves a unique mystery that, when revealed, makes the seemingly odd editing choices before make sense. It's more thought-provoking than traditional slashers, and while it doesn't elevate itself to "elevated horror," it's still much more than the sum of its parts.
Apart from the plot, the actors all give commanding performances that prove you don't always need a helpless victim. Both Gideon Adlon and Beth Million play Paker and Miri with intelligence, wit, and tenacity that doesn't make them easy victims: in fact they fight back quite successfully, even though sometimes they make the traditional mistakes horror films provide (such as not finishing off the killer when they're on the ground). They know how to adapt to the situations going on, and refuse to give up - even though their views of Covid are vastly different (Parker is indifferent, while Miri is extremely cautious), it doesn't blow up into typical arguments but in the end actually makes more sense the more you think about it.
While it's not going to be remembered decades from now like "Scream," "Sick" is a great slasher film in its own right, a film that highlights the current pandemic in a way that's thought-provoking and insightful, offering more than just a background setting as it also provides an exciting, edge-of-your-seat thriller with two capable leads set against the mystery of what's happening around them.
The Score: A-
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