Juneteenth is right around the corner as cinemagoers are greeted with a new survival horror comedy film from Lionsgate titled The Blackening.
It seems Hollywood has taken the 4-minute Comedy Central sketch and turned it into a full-fledged movie with a star-studded cast that will make everyone have a fun time at the theaters. The tagline suggests the film will make fun of the survivor horror movie trope of killing the black character first. Movies nowadays seem to have mitigated that issue, though I’m certain obscure movies are still doing this offensive trope.
Here’s more about The Blackening according to the official description.
The Blackening centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game. Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and screenplay and screen story by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) & Dewayne Perkins (The Amber Ruffin Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
The movie stars Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Wells, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji. Directed by Tim Story. The screenplay and screen story was written by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins. The film is produced by Tim Story, Tracy Oliver, E. Brian Dobbins, Marcei A. Brown, Jason Clark, and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett.
The film recently had a Tastemaker Screening in Los Angeles, where director Tim Story, writer Tracy Oliver and Fowler mingled with guests, who viewed the film, talked with the cast and crew in attendance, and took pictures in a themed photo booth. Fans can create their own pictures with The Blackening virtual photo booth by clicking here.
Check out the trailer, first look images and tastemaker screening images below.
Additional reporting by Monique Jones