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Happy Death Day Review: Groundhog Day Meets Scream
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh die over and over again to review the 2017 horror-comedy hit, Happy Death Day. Directed by Christopher Landon, the film follows college student Tree Gelbman as she relives the day of her murder repeatedly, trying to unmask her baby-faced killer.
The discussion centers on why this PG-13 slasher stands out in a genre the hosts usually dislike. They praise Jessica Rothe's performance as Tree, noting her evolution from a "bitch" to a sympathetic hero who uses her time loop to become a better person (and solve her own murder). The crew debates the film's "sci-fi" qualifications, teasing that the sequel, Happy Death Day 2U, explicitly explains the time loop with science fiction elements. They also share trivia about the original plan for a killer pig mask (scrapped to avoid Saw comparisons), the alternate ending involving a poisoned cupcake, and the fact that the director's impending fatherhood inspired the creepy baby mask. Ultimately, the verdict is a unanimous recommendation, with the hosts appreciating the film's clever script, humor, and heart.
Key Highlights
[02:59] Groundhog Day Meets Scream: The hosts describe the film as a perfect mashup of the two classics, praising its ability to balance horror and comedy without feeling like a generic slasher.
[16:47] The Roommate Reveal: A discussion on the twist that Tree's roommate Lori is the killer, driven by jealousy over an affair with a professor, and how the "poisoned cupcake" plot point adds layers to the time loop.
[30:28] The Baby Mask: Joseph shares trivia that director Christopher Landon chose the baby mask because he was expecting a son at the time, wanting something that was both "scary and funny."
[33:11] Nude Walk Scene: A look behind the scenes at the sequence where Tree walks naked across campus, noting that Jessica Rothe found it liberating despite the challenges of filming on a real college campus.
[35:34] "Who Takes Their First Date to Subway?": The crew laughs about an improvised line by Jessica Rothe that became one of the funniest moments in the movie.
[48:38] PG-13 Horror Done Right: The hosts admit their bias against modern PG-13 horror but agree that Happy Death Day succeeds because of its strong script and character development, proving gore isn't always necessary.
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By Joseph Gettinger
4.3
33 ratings
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh die over and over again to review the 2017 horror-comedy hit, Happy Death Day. Directed by Christopher Landon, the film follows college student Tree Gelbman as she relives the day of her murder repeatedly, trying to unmask her baby-faced killer.
The discussion centers on why this PG-13 slasher stands out in a genre the hosts usually dislike. They praise Jessica Rothe's performance as Tree, noting her evolution from a "bitch" to a sympathetic hero who uses her time loop to become a better person (and solve her own murder). The crew debates the film's "sci-fi" qualifications, teasing that the sequel, Happy Death Day 2U, explicitly explains the time loop with science fiction elements. They also share trivia about the original plan for a killer pig mask (scrapped to avoid Saw comparisons), the alternate ending involving a poisoned cupcake, and the fact that the director's impending fatherhood inspired the creepy baby mask. Ultimately, the verdict is a unanimous recommendation, with the hosts appreciating the film's clever script, humor, and heart.
Key Highlights
[02:59] Groundhog Day Meets Scream: The hosts describe the film as a perfect mashup of the two classics, praising its ability to balance horror and comedy without feeling like a generic slasher.
[16:47] The Roommate Reveal: A discussion on the twist that Tree's roommate Lori is the killer, driven by jealousy over an affair with a professor, and how the "poisoned cupcake" plot point adds layers to the time loop.
[30:28] The Baby Mask: Joseph shares trivia that director Christopher Landon chose the baby mask because he was expecting a son at the time, wanting something that was both "scary and funny."
[33:11] Nude Walk Scene: A look behind the scenes at the sequence where Tree walks naked across campus, noting that Jessica Rothe found it liberating despite the challenges of filming on a real college campus.
[35:34] "Who Takes Their First Date to Subway?": The crew laughs about an improvised line by Jessica Rothe that became one of the funniest moments in the movie.
[48:38] PG-13 Horror Done Right: The hosts admit their bias against modern PG-13 horror but agree that Happy Death Day succeeds because of its strong script and character development, proving gore isn't always necessary.