There’s nothing more engaging than a movie that wears its heart on its sleeve, and for Director Nahnatchka Khan it’s clear from her work on writing and producing American Dad and Fresh Off The Boat that she has a fingers permanently on the comedic pulse. There’s a fresh energy to be found and along with the nostalgic vibes that she is going for in her latest outing behind the camera, Totally Killer. 

Starring Kiernan Shipka (The Blackcoat’s Daughter) Totally Killer is a warped cross between 80s teen slasher and Back The Future of which there are continuous references throughout. There’s even a salute to the works of John Hughes and especially Molly Ringwald. The movie already speaks to my heart being a kid who grew up with all of these elements and more, infusing my love for the celluloid art.

Thirty years ago, “The Sweet Sixteen Killer” known for the amount of times he stabbed his victims, went on a killing spree in a smalltown, and was never caught. Now in the present day, Jamie Hughes (Shipka) is an ungrateful, cooler than cool teen, who’s Mum, Pam (Julie Bowen) is killed by someone carrying the same M.O. as the infamous killer, and is pulled off in a Screamesque way, ala Drew Barrymore, by offing a notable actress in the first reel. Thankfully though, Jamie’s best friend, Kelcey (Amelia Creston) has invented a time machine in the form of a photo booth. When Jamie tries to unearth her mother’s killer, she has to fight for her life, leading her into said time machine and then transported back to… you guessed it 1987 and just before the original killings began. She now has the opportunity to rewrite history, find and stop the killer, and save her Mum. 

The Prognosis:

There have been some notable comparisons stated online between Totally Killer and The Final Girls, which on paper is understandable, but this Blumhouse produced flick has a very different energy about it, namely due to Shipka’s performance and the script which zings along at a highly infectious and engaging pace. Shipka is also supported well by her fellow cast members, namely through her teen Mum, Pamela Miller, played by Olivia Holt (who is herself moulded through the House of Mouse, starting with the kids’ series Kickin’ It). While some of the beats do misfire on occasion, it is the heart of the movie that lifts you up and guides you through an enjoyable whodunit.

Totally Killer is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.