Kristy focuses on a college girl, Justine, who has decided to stay on campus during the Thanksgiving holiday due to financial reasons. She is offered a trip to Aspen but refuses and she doesn't get along with her boyfriend's mother, so she declines to attend his family dinner. While sitting alone on Thanksgiving night she decides to use her friend's BMW to hit the local convenience store, unbeknownst to her a group of killers are at the store just waiting for their next target. When they see Justine in the BMW they assume that she is a spoiled rich girl and she should be their next target.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to watch this movie, the title threw me off as what to expect and exactly what genre it belonged to. Only after stumbling across an article that said it was a take on the slasher genre did I decide to give it a chance and I'm glad I did.
The movie follows Justine, played by Haley Bennett, as she tries to navigate a "slasher film' on Thanksgiving night. Justine is the main character and the only person in the movie that we actually get to know. There is not much of a supporting cast, because she is at college alone. Yet Haley does an outstanding job of carrying the movie and delivering a performance that makes you care if she lives of dies. The other noteworthy character is the "alpha killer" Violet, played by Ashley Greene. It's a rare occurrence when a female is the main killer but when it happens, and is done right, it makes for an awesome story. Greene's performance reminds me of Jennifer Tilly in Bride of Chucky.
Visually the movie is almost perfect. The cinematography really stands out as worthy of any big budget theatrical release. Olvier Blackburn and Crille Forsberg made wise choices when shooting and it pays off. Never does the movie feel 'cheap' while watching it and the opening crane shot really sets the tone for what's to come.
However, the movie stumbles a bit in the setup and execution of the "why" this is happening. The main character is given too many outs in the beginning of the movie that it really is a stretch she would be on the campus to begin with. But when the killers show up, you quickly forget about the "why" and are focused on the now.
The only other problem with the film is its title. The title doesn't do the movie any good and yes it does make sense, once you watch the movie, it doesn't scream watch me if you like horror/thrillers. Add to the fact that this is one of the rare horror movies that take place on Thanksgiving and you're missing out on a huge selling point. The title and poster art give off a vibe of drama, when you should be playing up the Thanksgiving slasher aspect of the movie.
Overall I enjoyed the movie and it does a great job of building suspense. The movie feels like a mix of Urban Legend and The Strangers, which should be enough to entice any horror fan.
Rating: 7/10 Stars
****Check it out on Netflix streaming right now.
Rich Stile @TheDevilsEyes1