The Time-Travel Slasher Film Totally Killer Is Exactly That

Totally Killer, a fresh addition to Blumhouse’s cinematic offerings, debuts today on Prime Video, deftly amalgamating three of my cherished genres: time travel, horror, and the classic whodunit. It follows the story of a teenager on a mission to travel back in time to thwart a masked murderer, all while forming an unlikely alliance with her teenage mother. The result is every bit as enthralling as it sounds.

Kiernan Shipka takes on the role of Jamie, a contemporary teenager who dismisses her seemingly uncool mom, Pam (portrayed by Julie Bowen), while simultaneously raiding her vintage wardrobe. Pam’s traumatic past stems from an event nearly four decades ago when three of her closest friends fell victim to a killer dubbed the Sweet 16 Killer. Now, the sinister figure resurfaces, and through a somewhat contrived but forgivable set of circumstances, Jamie finds herself transported back to 1987 with a chance to thwart the killer’s initial emergence. To accomplish this, Jamie must locate the teenage version of her mother, portrayed by Olivia Holt. However, the Pam of 1987 is a far cry from her 2023 self, compelling Jamie to quickly adapt to the unfamiliar rules of time travel.

At this juncture, you may be thinking what we were thinking as we watched: “Ah, so it’s a fusion of Back to the Future and Scream.” And yes, that’s precisely what it is. However, Totally Killer is fully aware of this comparison and fully embraces it. Once Jamie arrives in the past, one of her initial actions is to utilize Back to the Future as a reference point to explain the time-travel concept to the other characters, instantly elevating the film’s appeal. This is a movie that defies the conventions of other time-travel narratives. It doesn’t concern itself with the notion that acknowledging time travel might imperil the universe, opting instead for unabashed openness. Consequently, it consistently surprises viewers with new, albeit familiar, twists and turns that maintain their interest. We won’t divulge specifics, but the film features some truly ingenious moments.

The film also directly pays homage to Scream, even though the characters in 1987 haven’t seen the film yet. Nevertheless, as Jamie, Pam, and the others gradually become aware of the mounting threat, time-travel elements blend seamlessly with the whodunit aspect. Viewers begin to scrutinize character reactions, notice who is conspicuously absent in certain scenes, and so forth. The mystery surrounding the masked killer, along with the accompanying horror elements, might be less prominent and predictable compared to the time-travel aspects, but it adds an enticing layer of intrigue to an already captivating narrative.

Shipka delivers a commanding and confident performance, a critical element since her character must straddle the line between being cool in 2023 and not-so-cool in 1987. Her timeless charisma allows Jamie to navigate through moments of embarrassment, endearing herself to both the audience and the characters. Regrettably, none of the supporting cast members truly stand out, but the actors portraying the 1987 counterparts seem to relish playing up the archetypal jock, cheerleader, and nerd stereotypes.

As the story unfolds and viewers accept that the killer narrative merely serves as a pretext to challenge their expectations of time travel, Totally Killer lives up to its name. By the time the third act arrives, it delves into emotions and drama far deeper than anticipated, delivering more surprises than one might imagine. In summary, it may resonate more strongly with fans of these specific genres, and while it may not quite attain the heights of its inspirational films, it stands as a noteworthy addition to the realm of streaming cinema. It offers intelligent and enjoyable entry-level horror, coupled with some of the most entertaining time travel elements in recent memory.

Directed by Nahnatchka Khan, with a screenplay by David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver, and Jen D’Angelo, Totally Killer is now available for streaming on Prime Video.