Known for Paranormal Activity spin off The Marked Ones and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Christopher B. Landon writes (not literally), another page in Blumhouse's history.
Jessica Rothe - Tree
Israel Broussard - Carter
Ruby Modine - Lori
Charles Aitken - Dr. Gregory Butler
Rob Mello - Joseph Tombs
After a booze-fuelled evening, Tree wakes up on her birthday in Carter's room, a boy she barely remembers.
Our girl then spits unpleasant venom at everybody she encounters.
Lowlights include ignoring her father's invite for a bite to eat, ridiculing previous lovers and throwing away a homemade cupcake from roommate Lori.
Also, she's having an affair with Dr. Butler.
En route to party, a carousel toy lures Tree into a tunnel where she's ambushed and murdered by a hooded assailant wearing the mask of campus mascot.
Baby-faced disguise was created by Tony 'Ghostface' Gardner, and smacks very much of creepy walking dummy briefly seen in Dario Argento's Deep Red.
She wakes up the 'next' day with a real sense of déjà vu and disturbed to find events set to repeat.
This time, she ignores the tunnel.
Diversity tactic does nothing to prevent the same outcome.
Carter (who at some point confirms they didn't have sex), suggests drawing up a list of suspects to help solve her own murder.
After passing out during another loop, she learns every murder is making her weaker.
It seems this cat is running out of lives.
Tree catches a news report about serial killer Joseph Tombs, who's been held at university's hospital.
Tombs escapes and breaks Carter's neck. Knowing the only way to save him is to restart the loop, she hangs herself.
Latest loop is used to right previous wrongs and after snuffing out Tombs' light, she celebrates by scoffing Lori's yummy looking treat.
However, she's still trapped in purgatory, meaning killer is still at large.
Tree visits Lori where cake is offered once more.
Cottoning on that she died in her sleep because cake was poisoned, she realises Lori is...
In flashback, we see how roommate framed Tombs for Tree's murder.
Now why would psycho bitch want to do a thing like that?
Well it's simple. She couldn't get over the fact that doctor gave Tree a repeat prescription of dick.
Cat fight ensues, ending with Lori getting booted out of nearest window.
She wakes to what seems like another loop, but is just now boyfriend Carter playing silly buggers.
Groundhog Day meets Scream?
Yes and no.
Fun teen thriller isn't really a slasher, as gore is practically anonymous.
15 cert is down to theme, rather than content.
A much better, and darker example is Triangle, even if the Aeolus is basically a floating Overlook Hotel.
Universal logo glitching and repeating is clever, Rothe's performance keeps you interested until the end, but killer's motive is very lazy.
Why Tree entered loop in the first place is never explained, so probable prequel will mop up mystery.
References
Lori's surname is Spengler, the same as Harold Ramis's character in Ghostbusters. Ramis went on to direct Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.
Carter's wall displays a poster of John Carpenter's They Live.
Parallels
Carter candidly states situation felt like Groundhog Day.
Mobile ringtone replaces clock radio playing Sonny & Cher's I Got You Babe.
Both begin as assholes, commit suicide at least once and eventually strive to become better people.
Etc etc.
Jessica Rothe - Tree
Israel Broussard - Carter
Ruby Modine - Lori
Charles Aitken - Dr. Gregory Butler
Rob Mello - Joseph Tombs
After a booze-fuelled evening, Tree wakes up on her birthday in Carter's room, a boy she barely remembers.
Our girl then spits unpleasant venom at everybody she encounters.
Lowlights include ignoring her father's invite for a bite to eat, ridiculing previous lovers and throwing away a homemade cupcake from roommate Lori.
Also, she's having an affair with Dr. Butler.
En route to party, a carousel toy lures Tree into a tunnel where she's ambushed and murdered by a hooded assailant wearing the mask of campus mascot.
Baby-faced disguise was created by Tony 'Ghostface' Gardner, and smacks very much of creepy walking dummy briefly seen in Dario Argento's Deep Red.
She wakes up the 'next' day with a real sense of déjà vu and disturbed to find events set to repeat.
This time, she ignores the tunnel.
Diversity tactic does nothing to prevent the same outcome.
Carter (who at some point confirms they didn't have sex), suggests drawing up a list of suspects to help solve her own murder.
After passing out during another loop, she learns every murder is making her weaker.
It seems this cat is running out of lives.
Tree catches a news report about serial killer Joseph Tombs, who's been held at university's hospital.
Tombs escapes and breaks Carter's neck. Knowing the only way to save him is to restart the loop, she hangs herself.
Latest loop is used to right previous wrongs and after snuffing out Tombs' light, she celebrates by scoffing Lori's yummy looking treat.
However, she's still trapped in purgatory, meaning killer is still at large.
Tree visits Lori where cake is offered once more.
Cottoning on that she died in her sleep because cake was poisoned, she realises Lori is...
In flashback, we see how roommate framed Tombs for Tree's murder.
Now why would psycho bitch want to do a thing like that?
Well it's simple. She couldn't get over the fact that doctor gave Tree a repeat prescription of dick.
Cat fight ensues, ending with Lori getting booted out of nearest window.
She wakes to what seems like another loop, but is just now boyfriend Carter playing silly buggers.
Groundhog Day meets Scream?
Yes and no.
Fun teen thriller isn't really a slasher, as gore is practically anonymous.
15 cert is down to theme, rather than content.
A much better, and darker example is Triangle, even if the Aeolus is basically a floating Overlook Hotel.
Universal logo glitching and repeating is clever, Rothe's performance keeps you interested until the end, but killer's motive is very lazy.
Why Tree entered loop in the first place is never explained, so probable prequel will mop up mystery.
References
Lori's surname is Spengler, the same as Harold Ramis's character in Ghostbusters. Ramis went on to direct Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.
Carter's wall displays a poster of John Carpenter's They Live.
Parallels
Carter candidly states situation felt like Groundhog Day.
Mobile ringtone replaces clock radio playing Sonny & Cher's I Got You Babe.
Both begin as assholes, commit suicide at least once and eventually strive to become better people.
