The stereotype of Black characters dying first in horror movies is put to the test in a funny and incisive Juneteenth-set slasher
There is an august tradition in the African American community of talking back to the film screen loud enough to jolt the characters on screen. The Blackening doesn’t just hear those cries; it needles its crowd for more reactions, bigger this time.
From Tim Story, the director of Fantastic Four and Ride Along, the film starts with a group of college friends reuniting at a creaky woodland cabin – replete with drinks, drugs and marathon games of Spades. Premiering at last year’s Toronto film festival, Story’s feature releases this weekend pegged to Juneteenth – the emancipation holiday marking its second year in federal observance.
There is an august tradition in the African American community of talking back to the film screen loud enough to jolt the characters on screen. The Blackening doesn’t just hear those cries; it needles its crowd for more reactions, bigger this time.
From Tim Story, the director of Fantastic Four and Ride Along, the film starts with a group of college friends reuniting at a creaky woodland cabin – replete with drinks, drugs and marathon games of Spades. Premiering at last year’s Toronto film festival, Story’s feature releases this weekend pegged to Juneteenth – the emancipation holiday marking its second year in federal observance.
- 6/14/2023
- by Andrew Lawrence
- The Guardian - Film News
“The Blackening” is a slasher movie that’s also a slapdash enjoyable social satire. That the satire turns out to be sharper than the scares isn’t a problem — it’s all part of the film’s slovenly demonic party atmosphere. The set-up, which feels like a “Friday the 13th” sequel by way of “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” reunites nine old college chums to celebrate Juneteenth weekend in a big roomy house they’ve rented near the woods.
As Tina Turner’s cover of “I Can’t Stand the Rain” spins on the turntable, the first two to arrive, Morgan (Yvonne Orji) and Shawn (Jay Pharaoh), find their way to the basement game room, which has shelves of old board games, an ancient TV set, a Ouija board, and a prominently displayed game called The Blackening. Taking the box cover off, they discover, to their horror, that there’s a plastic...
As Tina Turner’s cover of “I Can’t Stand the Rain” spins on the turntable, the first two to arrive, Morgan (Yvonne Orji) and Shawn (Jay Pharaoh), find their way to the basement game room, which has shelves of old board games, an ancient TV set, a Ouija board, and a prominently displayed game called The Blackening. Taking the box cover off, they discover, to their horror, that there’s a plastic...
- 6/14/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Three NYPD cops were charged with stealing almost $3000-worth of Jay-Z’s Ace of Spades champagne from last year’s Electric Zoo festival, Billboard reports.
Jonathan Gonzalez, 33, and Wojciech Czech, 44, will each face the felony charges of grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced. Gonzalez and another detective, 31-year-old Warren Golden, will also be charged with official misconduct.
All three officers were working narcotics at Electric Zoo, the New York electronic music festival, when they noticed that VIP concertgoers ordered several bottles of Jay-Z’s Armand de Brignac, known as Ace of Spades. According to prosecutors, when the attendees stepped way, Gonzalez took two bottles — valued at $2900 — and, along with Czech, placed them into a backpack while Golden stood by. The officers then left the VIP tent and forced their way into a staff-only area...
Jonathan Gonzalez, 33, and Wojciech Czech, 44, will each face the felony charges of grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced. Gonzalez and another detective, 31-year-old Warren Golden, will also be charged with official misconduct.
All three officers were working narcotics at Electric Zoo, the New York electronic music festival, when they noticed that VIP concertgoers ordered several bottles of Jay-Z’s Armand de Brignac, known as Ace of Spades. According to prosecutors, when the attendees stepped way, Gonzalez took two bottles — valued at $2900 — and, along with Czech, placed them into a backpack while Golden stood by. The officers then left the VIP tent and forced their way into a staff-only area...
- 5/20/2023
- by Carys Anderson
- Consequence - Music
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