Happy Death Day 2U [Review by SpecialK]

My dear horror-loving gals and ghouls, join me on a stroll down memory lane, to a more innocent time in our lives—a time of valentines-stuffed shoeboxes and cupids, of crushes and chocolate roses, of “do you like me? Check yes or no” notes and candy hearts. Ah yes. Those little red words stamped onto those chalky pastel confections that we so eagerly anticipated come February 14.

Come on, even horror film fans can remember those little phrases. “Love Bug”—no, don’t think of the kind of contagious bacteria that replicates quickly and zombifies a neighborhood. Let’s try this: “Soul Mate”—no, don’t think of the kind where a premature death leaves a ghostly specter wandering the empty halls of an abandoned house looking for her lover. How about “Be Mine”? Can’t go wrong with that one, right? Ok fair point, stalkers and serial killers kinda muddied that one for us too. Well at least in good news, there’s a new flick out there that just might resurrect the warm and fuzzies in even the stoniest of scary movie lover hearts.

Happy Death Day 2U brings us back to the college dorm where it all began—where in the original film, sorority girl and heroine Tree finds herself waking up to the same morning, again and again, after being killed the night before, until she manages to hunt down and stop her murderer.  But this time around, she’s not the one looping. It’s her new boyfriend’s roommate Ryan who is experiencing the latest brand of hell only Bill Murray would understand. When they join forces with Ryan’s physics labmates to try to sort out all the madness, things only get worse. In an attempt to save the day—or, days—Tree not only has to stretch the limits of her mind and body, but she also has to make some major philosophical choices, weighing both who she is and the person she wants to be.

Admittedly, Happy Death Day 2U is not quite as horrifically enjoyable as the original: while the first film poked fun at 90s slasher flicks and kept us guessing, it’s surprising that the sequel is marketed as a horror film at all.  And yes, there are times when the plot is so scattered that it feels like the writers swiped right one too many times on new ideas for twists. And ok sure, perhaps I’d be significantly more annoyed with Happy Death Day 2U if I had even a rudimentary understanding of quantum physics. Fair.

All of that said, this film is grounded in more laugh-out-loud jokes than one can count, definitely living up to the level of humor delivered in the original. Plus, the slate of goofy new characters adds a bit of toffee crunch and cherry nougat to this box of milk chocolates, and leading lovely Jessica Rothe carries this film just as effectively as she did the first.

But it’s really the unexpectedly warm, genuine, and even touching moments Happy Death Day 2U offers that ultimately turn it into the kind-hearted movie you really shouldn’t miss. I’ll admit—my eyes even welled up a bit at one point. So bring a date, take a friend, hell, take your mom, and check your expectations (and maybe also your knowledge of science) at the door. Realistically, on this Valentine’s Day you could probably do much worse (ouch).

SpecialK Verdict: Consider setting aside your burning desire for high-quality horror for one more month, and make a little room for hope in love again this Valentine’s Day—see Happy Death Day 2U.

Happy Death Day 2U opens Thursday, February 14.

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