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The horror movieSickhas strong performances and tells a relatable story about the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.Sickis also a greatexample of a modern slasher movieand has a smart twist at the end. Starring Gideon Adlon, who also appeared in the 2018 comedyBlockersand the 2020 remakeThe Craft: Legacy,Sickasks what would have happened if two friends were stalked by a killer while quarantining in a lakeside home.
Just like other Kevin Williamson horror movies,Sickhas as many emotional and humorous moments as scary ones.Sickreminds audiences of those tough days in the spring of 2020 and also offers a fresh take on the slasher.
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How Does Sick End?
The ending ofSickincludes an intelligent scene that is up there with some of thebest movie plot twists.Sickis about best friends Miri Woodlow (Beth Millon) and Parker Mason (Gideon Adlon) who decide to spend April 2020 at Parker’s lake house. The movie immediately makes it clear that while Miri takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and is worried about what will happen, Parker has a wilder, more reckless personality and doesn’t seem as concerned. Shortly after they arrive at the house, a masked killer begins stalking and trying to kill them.
Parker manages to escape from the house and after running into the road, she sees a car pull up. While she assumes that she can trust the driver, they turn out to be working with the killer who she has just run away from. Parker puts on a mask that has chloroform on it, passes out, and wakes up in the house.
While there are someforgettable killers in slasher movies, the killers inSickdon’t fall into that category. Parker realizes that Benji’s (Logan Murphy) parents Pamela (Jane Adams) and Jason (Marc Menchaca) are the killers who have been going after her and her friend. They blame her for Benji’s death since he passed away after contracting COVID-19. Since there are photos on social media of Benji and Parker kissing, it’s clear that she passed the virus onto him. This scene is not only well-written and well-acted but also includes a second major reveal: Parker got COVID from Tyler, who Jason and Pamela murdered in the movie’s opening scene.
Miri and Parker prove themselves to be intelligenthorror movie final girlsand kill Benji’s parents. In the final scene, they are outside of the lake house as the police approach. It’s clear that they will have to share their story and explain what has just happened, but for now, they are stunned into silence by the fact that they have survived a terrifying ordeal.
Before this memorable moment, Miri grabs a bottle and hurts Pamela. Pamela survives Parker throwing her out one of the home’s windows and tries to hurt Parker, who is holding gasoline and hoping to escape in a car that is on the property. Parker throws gasoline on Pamela and Miri lights her on fire, which kills her. Miri and Parker also kill Jason by tossing him over the stairs so he ends up on deer antlers.
What Is The Plot Of Sick?
Sickincludes plenty of fast-paced action while delving into the close friendship between the two main characters, who are both strong-willed and confident characters. Parker and Miri are also visited by DJ Cole (Dylan Sprayberry), whom Parker has been in an on-again, off-again relationship with. As the killers get even closer to them, the three fight for their survival and prove themselves to besmart horror movie characters.
Writers And Director
Writers: Kevin Williamson and Katelyn Crabb Director: John Hyams
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Where To Watch
Peacock
Sickalso has a memorable opening scene that feels familiar to fans of the belovedScreammovies, which makes sense since Kevin Williamson wroteScream, Scream 2, andScream 4and has been involved with the franchise behind the scenes.Screamis one of the most important horror franchisesandSickfeels just as intelligent. In the first scene, which feels familiar as it weaves in many elements of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyler (Joel Courtney) stocks up on supplies at a store while wearing a mask and trying to keep his distance from others. He gets a few creepy text messages from the killer, goes home, and is murdered in his apartment.
Sickwas released on Peacock, not in the theater, but the action still feels memorable and exciting. In an interview with Moviemaker Magazine, Kevin Williamson shared his thoughts on Blumhouse’s decision not to put the movie in theaters:
“But it’s a small movie, and it feels like a very intimate, small film, there’s not a big cast. It’s not a big spectacle. It’s a very insular chase sequence. The movie’s one big chase scene between a killer and these two young women.”
What Did Critics Say About Sick?
Several critics wrote mostly positive reviews of the horror movieSick. Simon Abrams of Rogerebert.com gave the movie three stars and called it “thrilling” and also praised the direction by John Hyams. Adrian Horton ofThe Guardianalso gave the film three stars, calling it “brisk” and “well-structured.” Not every review was positive, however. David Fear wrote forRolling Stonethat the movie is an “otherwise stock take on the ol’ teens-and-terror-at-a-lake-house chestnut.”
It’s possible to argue that the fact that this Kevin Williamson horror movie is calledSickis another reason why the movie was well-received. It’s a smart title that just works. Similarly,Kevin Williamson’s underrated TV seriesStalkerhas a one-word title that feels perfect.
In aninterview with Syfy.com, Williamson explained that TV producer Bryan Fuller came up with the name of the movie:
“I asked, ‘What should I name the movie?’ And he went, ‘SICK.’ I went, ‘What?!’ He goes, ‘SICK.’ He didn’t even think twice … I took that back to the studio and they went, ‘No, we can’t name the movieSICK.‘And then I told [director] John Hyams and John goes, ‘I like that title.’ And so, we finally got our way because none of the other titles worked as well. Bryan Fuller named the movie, I have to give credit to him.”
