HAPPY DEATH DAY

A college student relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.

Movies about people reliving the same day over and over again are pretty common. But HAPPY DEATH DAY is an intriguing take and I enjoyed the journey as Tree Gelbman (played by an excellent Jessica Rothe) relives the same day, in which she ends up being murdered, over and over again, until she is able to solve the mystery of what is going on. There is some great humour, some moments of pretty good tension, and some genuine surprises. There’s also a pretty clichéd moral behind the whole thing, but it isn’t preachy. The title might imply yet another slasher movie — but it isn’t. An engaging, darkly humorous, diversion that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Suitable for 13+ years.