Freaky – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Freaky

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2020

64%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Freaky Friday meets Friday the 13th in this clever, blood-soaked slasher that’s way more fun than it has any right to be.

84%

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Freaky

movie

2020

64%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Freaky Friday meets Friday the 13th in this clever, blood-soaked slasher that’s way more fun than it has any right to be.

84%

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Screenwise Verdict

Freaky is a total blast, provided you have the stomach for it. It’s a rare horror-comedy that actually succeeds at being both funny and horrific. Vince Vaughn is doing the lord's work here, playing a 17-year-old girl with more sincerity than you’d expect, and Kathryn Newton is equally great as the cold-blooded killer in a cheerleader's body.

For a parent, the 'intentional' move here is recognizing that this isn't a gateway horror movie—it's the deep end. If you’re doing a scary movie night with an older teen who likes the genre, this is a top-tier pick. If your kid still covers their eyes during Stranger Things, keep this one on the shelf for a few more years.

Age Fit

This is strictly for the 16+ crowd. It’s an R-rated slasher that leans into its rating with gusto. If your teen has already seen and enjoyed movies like Scream or Happy Death Day, they’ll handle this fine, but the gore is a significant step up from PG-13 horror.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Underneath the mountain of gore, there's a surprisingly sweet story about a girl finding her confidence and a group of friends who are ride-or-die for each other. But, you know, people also get frozen and shattered with a hammer.

Imaginative

It takes the tired 'body swap' trope and gives it a sharp, slasher-movie edge. The kills are creative, and the subversion of classic horror archetypes is clever and fresh.

Safe

This is a hard R. We are talking buzzsaws, wine bottles to the throat, and some very creative uses of power tools. It is definitely not for the squeamish or younger kids.

Enriching

As an exercise in genre-blending and physical comedy (specifically Vince Vaughn’s performance), it's top-tier. It also handles themes of grief and high school social dynamics with more grace than your average slasher.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Vince Vaughn turns in a hilarious and genuinely impressive performance as a teenage girl trapped in a serial killer's body.
It subverts horror tropes by giving the 'final girl' the physical power of a giant murderer to fight back against her bullies.
The pacing is tight, blending genuine laughs with legitimate tension without ever feeling like it's dragging.
It features a diverse and loyal group of friends who actually act like real teenagers rather than horror movie victims.

⚠

What to Watch For

The gore is intense and frequent; the opening sequence alone features several graphic and inventive kills.
There is a brief sexual encounter involving the body-swapped characters that is played for laughs but might be awkward for some viewers.
The language is heavy, with frequent F-bombs throughout the dialogue.
A scene involving a buzzsaw in a woodshop is particularly gruesome and might stay with more sensitive viewers.

Conversation Starters

"How does Millie's behavior change when she has the 'mask' of the Butcher to hide behind?"
"Why do you think the movie chose to make the friends so supportive instead of the usual horror movie 'jerk' archetypes?"
"If you woke up in someone else's body, what's the first thing you'd realize about how the world treats them differently than you?"
"What makes a 'slasher' movie fun versus just being scary or gross?"

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