DOWN WITH THE 'SICK'ness

Back in the summer of 2022, I had been reading about a new film titled 'SICK', being screened at film festivals around the country. It was being presented by producer and co-writer Kevin Williamson and being described as a slick, tense, modern slasher. Seeing as Williamson was the creative writer behind some of my favorite slasher films of the 90s and 2000s, I was immediately interested. Some time went by and the buzz for the film seemed to fizzle out. With no release date on the horizon, I wondered what happened to this "promising" horror movie.

Jump Cut to January 2023, Peacock announces their newly acquired slasher, 'SICK', would be arriving on the streaming giant the following week. Upon it's premiere on Friday the 13th, 'SICK' was met with mostly positive reviews. Currently sitting at a Fresh 87% on Rotten Tomatoes (upon publish date), the tense horror ride proves it would have been a treat in theaters. At the end of the day, streaming seems to be more widely accessible and movie goers will take what they can get. As a long time fan of horror, particularly slashers, and Williamson's writing, I treated my viewing of 'SICK' as an event of sorts; Late night, lights out, and sound up. I was ready to hit play and experience some great thrills and chills.

'SICK' centers around two best friends, Parker ('Blockers' actress, Gideon Adlon) and Miri (actress and musician, Bethlehem Million) during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two plan a quiet getaway to Parker's family's isolated cabin. Nestled away in the woods and on a large lake, the girls plan a quarantine together where they can put 2020's fears and struggles behind. Upon arriving at the cabin, Parker receives an anonymous text indicating someone is watching them. Dismissing the text as a prank, the girls continue to do what they set out to do - be stress free. It's at night when Parker's casual, on-and-off boyfriend DJ ('Teen Wolf' actor, Dylan Sprayberry) arrives to surprise the two and confess his want for a more serious relationship. Unfortunately for the trio, DJ's arrival seems to be followed by a dark figure lurking in the shadows and sneaking right through the front door. It's from this moment that the film grabs ahold of the audience and does not let up. After a cold open, and some character introductions, the film is one endless chase sequence. Once the covered-up intruder sneakily arrives, 'SICK' sticks the audience with a rush of adrenaline and delivers a tense cat-and-mouse series of events. Much like many of Williamson's screenplays in the 90s, the movie is filled with witty, self-aware, and often descriptive dialogue about the events transpiring around the characters. Once the film arrives to it's final showdown, we are greeted with a motive and deeper look into what has been happening before us. Where some of the information surrounding the final act comes off a tad cringe-worthy, it's to be noted that it's also entirely plausible.

'SICK' is a slasher film who's taken the all-too-real setting of the Covid-19 pandemic and added an extra layer of horror to it. A fast-paced thrill-ride with two main leads that are well written. Both Adlon and Million portray their realistically flawed characters with strength. They are unafraid to tap into their fight or flight response and stop at nothing to survive. Together, the young actresses use their acting chops to bring their characters to life. They help the audience engage and truly connect to what transpires over the course of 'SICK'.  As an audience you will find yourself rooting for the two woman to take down the stalker and figure out exactly why this is happening to them. Director John Hymes ('Alone', and 'Black Summer') captures an unnerving, often dreadful atmosphere. He takes the locations and the imagery into scope using both wide and long shots to make the audience feel the tension in every scene. Co-writer Katelyn Crabb offers a refreshing take on what Williamson is known for. Together they lay out a blueprint of terror that the entire production team seamlessly brought to life. 'SICK' is relentless with it's tense moments, quick-pace, and violence. Though, much like the lead characters, there appears to be some flaws within the construction of the story; 'SICK' is able to mask it's bad symptoms with its ability to make us feel connected the two main women and the world that's being presented to us.

8/10.

'SICK' is worth a watch. It's a non-stop suspense-filled slasher with sharp writing and directing. The main characters are honestly flawed and strong and portrayed with strength from it's lead actors. Even with a thin-storyline and a borderline corny motive, 'SICK' lays out what it set out to do... make our hearts race and give us the feeling that maybe there's someone lurking right around the corner.