Gimly

Jan 5, 2018

6.0

If _Mean Girls_ and _Groundhog Day_ had a baby... and then that baby stabbed you... H_appy Death Day_ is an imperfect movie that I had **such** a good time with. I was on board ever since I first saw the trailer, and though it won't be making my top 5 or anything, I definitely was not disappointed. _Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._

Happy Death Day is surprisingly great fun. It doesn't have a reason to exist other than to tell a slasher film in the Groundhog Day formula, but it's funny when it wants to be, creepy when it wants to be, and Jessica Rothe has got great screen presence. The film could have benefitted from more creative kills (and an R rating), but for a one or two time watch, Happy Death Day is sure to entertain.

Full review: https://www.tinakakadelis.com/beyond-the-cinerama-dome/2021/12/28/kill-me-baby-one-morenbsptime-happy-death-day-review _Happy Death Day_ works because Rothe is a charismatic lead, invoking the scream queen performances of yesteryear. Most of the other characters are far more secondary, so the burden falls on Rothe to bring life to a grounding role. As the lead, Tree needs to be intriguing enough for the audience to put up with the repetitive nature of the genre, but also pliable enough to allow her character to grow. Her relationship with Carter is particularly interesting because it has to both progress over the course of one day for Carter (who forgets everything as the day resets) and vary for Tree over the many different versions of the one day she lives through. Their relationship must be both a blank slate and feel as though the needle has moved forward at the end of each repeated day. Broussard and Rothe are able to sell it completely from the first time Tree wakes up confused in Carter’s bed.

The Movie Mob

Aug 20, 2022

8.0

**Blumhouse killed it with this one! 😜** If Groundhog's Day and Scream had a baby, it would be this entertaining gem of a movie! I went in with low expectations and was so pleasantly surprised and highly entertained. Jessica Rothe's acting is delightful, taking the typical mean girl trope and filling it with soul and charm. In a world of remakes and reboots, Happy Death Day shines with a fun plot and great acting. Definitely worth a watch.

Happy Death Day takes the classic slasher formula and flips it into a fun, self-aware time-loop mystery. The plot isn't overly deep, but it works because of its energy and pacing. The directing keeps things engaging, balancing horror, comedy, and lighthearted moments without feeling forced. While the cinematography isn't groundbreaking, it effectively builds tension when needed and plays well with the repeating-day concept. The script leans into humor and character-driven moments more than hardcore horror, which might not work for everyone but gives the movie its own identity. Jessica Rothe is the heart of the film, bringing charisma, comedic timing, and emotional range to her role, making it far more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. The supporting cast does their job, but it's really her show. The score is serviceable, nothing too memorable, but it complements the film’s shifting tones well. Overall, it's a fun, easy-to-watch horror-comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you go in expecting a light, entertaining ride rather than a deep horror experience, it delivers exactly that.

Dr Nostromo

Jan 2, 2026

7.0

74/100 A sorority sister must relive the day of her death over and over again until she can figure out who's killing her and stop it from happening. I don't believe that this film would have been very successful if it wasn't for the super performance of Jessica Rothe as the victim in this black comedic tragedy. They present her as someone you should hate but you can't because she's just so damn likable. No excessive scares, violence, or gore, this film was just plain fun from start to finish. Great entertainment! -- DrNostromo.com

Wuchak

Sep 6, 2026

5.0

***A student at a Louisiana university has a hell of a birthday*** This mixes the slasher genre with a popular 1993 movie that I’m not going to name. You’ll know what it is by the second act. The flick even cites it in the last act, if there’s any doubt. Attractive Jessica Rothe was 29yo during shooting and barely passable as a college student. Nevertheless, she’s one of the film’s highlights, except that the script amusingly paints her in a negative light. Will she be the same person at the end as in the beginning? I’ll leave that for you to discover. Aside from a couple of perverse bits I could do without, the issue I have is that the flick won’t work on repeat viewings. After all, the nature of the story gets kind of tedious on the first viewing, let alone the second. Plus, what would there be to look forward to? Jessica and several witty moments, that’s about it, unless you’re an uber-fan of costar Israel Broussard. As for the key mystery that’s basically unanswered, the 2019 sequel addresses it, “Happy Death Day 2U.” It runs 1h 36m and was shot Nov-Dec 2016 at Loyola University in New Orleans with additional scenes filmed in Los Angeles (due to the filming permit at the college ending before shooting wrapped). GRADE: C