Movie Review: ‘The Blackening’

Review by James Lindorf

In 2018 Comedy Central produced comedy troupe 3Peat’s very popular short film “The Blackening.” Now Lionsgate has turned it into a feature-length film of the same name from “Barbershop” director Tim Story. Dewayne Perkins, who wrote the original skit, returned to co-write with Tracy Oliver, best known for her work on “Girl’s Trip” and “The Sun Is Also a Star.” As a kickoff to Juneteenth weekend, 2023’s most uproarious comedy will hit theaters on June 16th.

This exciting entry in the horror comedy genre centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. The group includes party hosts Morgan (Yvonne Orji) and Shawn (Jay Pharoah), lawyer Lisa (Antoinette Robertson), her gay best friend and emotional crutch Dewayne (Dewayne Perkins), and her on-and-off ex Nnamdi (Sinqua Walls). Rounding out the group is reformed hot head King (Melvin Gregg), bi-racial Allison (Grace Byers), life of the party Shanika (X Mayo), and socially awkward Clifton (Jermaine Fowler). All the killer wants them to do is to play the titular “The Blacking,” a board game that will determine who is the blackest. It will challenge them to reveal embarrassing secrets and shocking stories from the past and answer questions like the number of POC who appeared on “Friends.” They must be willing to forgive and unite as a team to survive the night.

The framework within “The Blackening” is standard horror movie fare that will do nothing to excite experienced genre fans. However, while it may not provide the chills, Tim Story delivers comedic thrills by celebrating the black experience in America and horror films. Perkins and Oliver beautifully crafted a complex group of friends, and Cliffton, to explore themes from who will die first in an all-black cast and colorism to the relationship between black people and law enforcement. Impressively most of the jokes feel timeless. Even when they dive into pop culture, it references one of the biggest shows in television history, not something likely to be forgotten before the film hits DVD.

The cast is a talented group of mostly fresh faces that radiates charm and chemistry. While inexperience means they may not always nail the line delivery, it is easy to overlook because they always bring energy and stay committed to their characters and the story. While it is hard to imagine casting any of them aside, the cast may be too large for the 96-minute runtime. All the characters don’t go beyond the one-dimensional, with a single defining character trait or flaw. They may not be the rich, full-bodied characters you could hope for. However, they still manage to surpass the average horror movie cast, especially those with just a five-million-dollar budget.

The most significant shortcoming of “The Blackening” is that it leaves you wanting more. More complexity in its plot and more time with its characters than the runtime and dual genre will allow. Most filmmakers would take those complaints, especially with the profit margin this film should see. “The Blackening” earns a 4 out of 5 from me and is the first film this year I can’t wait to go and see in the theater again with the biggest audience possible.

Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: English
Director: Tim Story
Producer: Tim Story, Tracy Oliver, E. Brian Dobbins, Sharla Sumpter Bridge, Jason Clark, Marcei A. Brown
Writer: Dewayne Perkins, Tracy Oliver
Runtime: 1h 36m
Distributor: Lionsgate