EIGHT friends fight for their lives whilst playing a deadly game in Tim Story’s new film The Blackening.
The movie is satirical horror-comedy with elements of the Texas chainsaw massacre and Scary Movie franchises in equal parts.
Eight friends’ reunion goes terribly wrong after a masked killer hunts them downCredit: PA
The Blackening core cast pictured: Melvin Gregg as King, Grace Byers as Allison, Antoinette Robertson as Lisa, Sinqua Walls as Nnamdi, Jermaine Fowler as Clifton, Dewayne Perkins as Dewayne and X Mayo as ShanikaCredit: PA
What is The Blackening movie about?
The Blackening is a comedy-horror that follows a group of eight reunited former high school friends celebrating Juneteenth- a yearly American celebration commemorating the end of slavery- in a cabin in the woods.
Things take a hilariously unexpected, scary and twisted turn which sees the group having to use their charm and quick-thinking to try and stay alive.Â
Everything is going well as the group they arrive at the cabin until they discover the board game ‘The Blackening’, which asks questions about history. But there’s a catch – if you get the answer wrong, you die.Â
The blend of gore, jump-scares, and jokes mean that one minute you feel uneasy, but the next, you’re laughing till your stomach aches.Â
Who stars in the film?
The Blackening features a notable and refreshing central cast, including Yvonne Orji, well-known for the HBO series Insecure, starring as Morgan, whilst stand-up comedian Jay Pharoah plays her partner Shawn.
The film’s screenwriter, Dewayne Perkins, known for appearing in Saved by the Bell (2020) and The Upshaws, plays Dewayne. Antoinette Robertson from shows Dear White People, The Haves and the Have Nots, and Hart of Dixie plays Lisa.
Sinqua Walls, known for starring in White Men Can’t Jump (2023) and Power, plays Nnamdi.
Melvin Gregg, known for his roles as Erick Scott in High Flying Bird, Drew ‘Manboy’ Miller in Snowfall and DeMarcus Tillman in American Vandal, plays King. Grace Byers, stars in Empire, the gifted and her most recent stint Quinn on Prime’s Video Harlem, plays Allison.
X Mayo, who stars in the NBC series American Auto, Prime Video’s Swarm, and The Farewell, plays Shanika.
Rounding up the team of eight is Jermaine Fowler, who has voice acted for Marvel’s Moon Girl, and Devil Dinosaur plays Clifton.
When and where can it be watched?
The film premiered in the UK on Monday, August 21st 2023 but will be in cinemas from August 23rd.Â
The Blackening:Â We all can’t die first can be watched at cinemas all over the UK.Â
Who are the filmmakers?
Creators of hit comedies such as Barbershop, Think Like a Man and Girls Trip assembled to create this spectacular dark comedy.
Tim Story, known for Barbershop, Think Like a Man, Shaft (2019), and Ride Along, directed The Blackening.
The film was produced by Oliver, Story, E. Brian Dobbins, Marcei A. Brown, Jason Clark, and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, with screen story and screenplay by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins.
Oliver wrote Girls’ Trip, Little, and the adaptation of The Sun, and has recently executive produced and penned the Prime Video series Harlem.
Perkins has written for the series Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Amber Ruffin Show.Â
Cinematographer Todd A. Dos Reis is known for Suburgatory and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, with multi-instrumentalist Dexter Story composing the score for the film.
The Blackening: We all can’t die first is out in cinemas nowCredit: PA
A celebration turns into a nightmare for the groupCredit: PA
The movie has great elements of horror and comedy that will keep you on the edge of your seatCredit: PA
