Being stuck in a endless time loop is the stuff of nightmares, but 2017’s Happy Death Day managed to convince us that the college mean girl was deserving of her fate via a montage of farcical, gruesome death sequences. Every day Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe-La La Land) woke up on her birthday and had to repeatedly piece together the details of her murder, with the aid of Carter (Israel Broussard) her potential love interest and fellow stuck up sorority sister Danielle . Directed by Christopher Landon (The Paranormal Activity franchise) in association with Blumhouse Productions, it set up a fun premise for a Groundhog Day homage without taking itself too seriously or becoming overtly sentimental.
Happy Death Day 2U begins promisingly enough with the curse being switched to fellow classmate Ryan. Excited as we are to see a new arc through the eyes of a nerd, it’s soon switched right back to Tree via a science thesis project gone wrong. The quantum reactor responsible inevitably creates multiverses and alternate realities, as haphazardly explained as a recap of the last Avengers movie. With new twists to the plot, including a new killer and the addition of a treasured family member at the expense of another relationship, Tree has to once again commence new and exciting ways to kill herself, all the while retaining the mathematical algorithm that will send her back to the life she chooses.
The most exciting sequences come from the sense of resignation that Tree has to her fate, whether it’s blowdrying her hair in the bathtub or skydiving wearing nothing but her briefs, right through to her literally faceplanting in front of her rival. Jessica Rothe’s amazing physical comedy and her versatile facial contortions are seriously underrated in this role. Less gruesome and more ludicrous than her attempts is the sheer amount of times she must die, but not at the expense of the laughs. What really made the first film more enjoyable was the immense satisfaction from watching the elite college mean girl getting her just desserts, and realising like every slasher that she had it coming to her. This time around, the tone of the film shifts to a Sliding Doors-albeit with a sci fi element-tale about how pivotal decisions can turn on the insignificant decisions we make daily. It almost becomes a tale of choosing the unknown over certainty, giving it an interesting depth that is more generous than its genre allows.
Seeing repetitive footage of a college campus at play may insinuate frustration (and certainly allows for a smaller shooting budget), but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a lukewarm rehash of the first romp. There’s enough flesh and gore to feast your eyes on another enjoyable serving of a whodunnit.
Keep an eye out for the end credits, least get sucked in the loop yourself.
It’s worth another trip around the bend.
Verdict: 7/10
Universal Pictures Australia
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