193 reviews
This movie is low key brilliant. Saw this to "celebrate" Friday the 13th.
First of all, the title itself. Once you watch, you'll know what I mean. Secondly, it's the perfect time for this to release.
Given what happened with the pandemic and all, it was a genius movie on their end to make this up. They took advantage of what was going on in society and mixed it in with a Scream like atmosphere. Simple yet brilliant.
Some of the scenes in this were downright hilarious. It's very, very subtle, but if you're paying attention, you will laugh for sure (or at least roll your eyes).
I didn't expect the film to have the twist that it had. You wouldn't expect that at all, kudos yet again for taking advantage of the pandemic.
I would have liked more death scenes, but given how the story played out, wouldn't make much sense to have more. The few death scenes that they had were pretty interesting.
This is a solid watch, I would recommend it.
This gets a LennyReviewz Score of: 7/10.
First of all, the title itself. Once you watch, you'll know what I mean. Secondly, it's the perfect time for this to release.
Given what happened with the pandemic and all, it was a genius movie on their end to make this up. They took advantage of what was going on in society and mixed it in with a Scream like atmosphere. Simple yet brilliant.
Some of the scenes in this were downright hilarious. It's very, very subtle, but if you're paying attention, you will laugh for sure (or at least roll your eyes).
I didn't expect the film to have the twist that it had. You wouldn't expect that at all, kudos yet again for taking advantage of the pandemic.
I would have liked more death scenes, but given how the story played out, wouldn't make much sense to have more. The few death scenes that they had were pretty interesting.
This is a solid watch, I would recommend it.
This gets a LennyReviewz Score of: 7/10.
- LennyReviewz
- Jan 16, 2023
- Permalink
- QuodNomenMihiEst
- Jan 21, 2023
- Permalink
Set during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, college students and friends Parker Mason (Gideon Adlon) and Miri Woodlow (Bethlehem Million) head out to Miri's parents lakeside house to ride out quarantine. The two have the unexpected visit from Parker's boyfriend DJ Cole (Dylan Sprayberry) who came hoping to get some perspective on their relationship only to find Parker has no interest in being exclusive but allows him to stay until morning. However the three soon discover they're not alone as a masked killer begins terrorizing them with their secluded hideaway now isolating them from help.
Sick is the latest film from Scream writer and creator Kevin Williamson and director John Hyams. Williamson's inspiration for Sick came about during the pandemic where noticing the isolation and effects thereof thought it could be put to good use for a horror film. Alongside Williamson, the movie is also the screenwriting debut of co-writer Katelyn Crabb who had worked as an assistant to Williamson on the 2022 Scream. Now debuting on Peacock, I'm happy to say that Sick is a solidly entertaining time with bloody fun and Williamson's trademark sense of humor.
The movie does a good job of setting itself up with an opening kill sequence featuring Joel Courtney's Tyler that establishes the early days of Covid going through a grocery store and despite plenty of people in the store it's a very isolating experience as Tyler walks through the aisles inundating with vaguely sinister text messages on his phone. While there've been plenty of Covid films only a few have really stuck out as legitimately good such as KIMI or Glass Onion while others such as Songbird or The Bubble were not, I'm happy to say that Sick is closer to the level of the former than the latter. Once the movie gets started it doesn't let up and John Hyams does a good job of putting the script to film with some intensely directed attack scenes using a handheld camera and during the lurking scenes Hyams doesn't use ANY orchestral stings or jump scares and instead opts for creeping dread to build fear and tension. In many ways I was reminded of that Mike Flanagan film Hush from a few years ago that much like Sick was a minimalist slasher film in an isolated countryside. I don't think Sick is quite on par with Hush as I wasn't all that hooked with the characters initially and thought the opening with them partying in the house dragged a little bit, but once the action kicked in I did feel like I got to know them a bit more and I was invested in the outcome.
Sick is fun, humorous, and quick slasher entertainment that will be a welcome viewing for fans of the genre. While some of the character setup drags a little bit, at 77 minutes not including credits Hyams and Williamson create an effective and efficient piece of horror entertainment and I hope to see them collaborate on another project together.
Sick is the latest film from Scream writer and creator Kevin Williamson and director John Hyams. Williamson's inspiration for Sick came about during the pandemic where noticing the isolation and effects thereof thought it could be put to good use for a horror film. Alongside Williamson, the movie is also the screenwriting debut of co-writer Katelyn Crabb who had worked as an assistant to Williamson on the 2022 Scream. Now debuting on Peacock, I'm happy to say that Sick is a solidly entertaining time with bloody fun and Williamson's trademark sense of humor.
The movie does a good job of setting itself up with an opening kill sequence featuring Joel Courtney's Tyler that establishes the early days of Covid going through a grocery store and despite plenty of people in the store it's a very isolating experience as Tyler walks through the aisles inundating with vaguely sinister text messages on his phone. While there've been plenty of Covid films only a few have really stuck out as legitimately good such as KIMI or Glass Onion while others such as Songbird or The Bubble were not, I'm happy to say that Sick is closer to the level of the former than the latter. Once the movie gets started it doesn't let up and John Hyams does a good job of putting the script to film with some intensely directed attack scenes using a handheld camera and during the lurking scenes Hyams doesn't use ANY orchestral stings or jump scares and instead opts for creeping dread to build fear and tension. In many ways I was reminded of that Mike Flanagan film Hush from a few years ago that much like Sick was a minimalist slasher film in an isolated countryside. I don't think Sick is quite on par with Hush as I wasn't all that hooked with the characters initially and thought the opening with them partying in the house dragged a little bit, but once the action kicked in I did feel like I got to know them a bit more and I was invested in the outcome.
Sick is fun, humorous, and quick slasher entertainment that will be a welcome viewing for fans of the genre. While some of the character setup drags a little bit, at 77 minutes not including credits Hyams and Williamson create an effective and efficient piece of horror entertainment and I hope to see them collaborate on another project together.
- IonicBreezeMachine
- Jan 12, 2023
- Permalink
Movies like this live or die based on the decisions of the protagonists and while the ones in this film make some decent decisions, as the movie progresses they become increasingly dumb. It's a shame because there are some effective thrills and a solid premise here.
It balances the tone of satirizing Covid while also not completely disregarding the pandemic. The Covid stuff does lead to some pretty funny jokes though. It's a bit predictable as you can guess the killer's motives and it loses some momentum near the finale. For a Peacock Original, Sick is a decent jaunt into the world of pandemics and home invasions.
It balances the tone of satirizing Covid while also not completely disregarding the pandemic. The Covid stuff does lead to some pretty funny jokes though. It's a bit predictable as you can guess the killer's motives and it loses some momentum near the finale. For a Peacock Original, Sick is a decent jaunt into the world of pandemics and home invasions.
This was just a mediocre slasher movie with hardly any edge-of-the-seat moments. It was another COVID themed movie. I've seen a couple of others but they were quarantine themed.
Once in a while I come across a movie where I despised the protagonist and felt no sympathy towards them whatsoever. This was another one of those movies.
In this instance it was Parker that I despised. She was careless, promiscuous and very much self-centred. I felt sorry for Miri who suffered simply for being there with Parker. I felt sorry for DJ and Mr. Lyons who basically died because of Parker.
I felt sorry for Pamela and her husband and could understand why they were doing what they did. Simple revenge for their son's death because of COVID which they believed Parker was the one that infected their son at the party.
Anyway this was just an average movie which is surprising for Blumhouse because they usually produce some really decent movies.
Once in a while I come across a movie where I despised the protagonist and felt no sympathy towards them whatsoever. This was another one of those movies.
In this instance it was Parker that I despised. She was careless, promiscuous and very much self-centred. I felt sorry for Miri who suffered simply for being there with Parker. I felt sorry for DJ and Mr. Lyons who basically died because of Parker.
I felt sorry for Pamela and her husband and could understand why they were doing what they did. Simple revenge for their son's death because of COVID which they believed Parker was the one that infected their son at the party.
Anyway this was just an average movie which is surprising for Blumhouse because they usually produce some really decent movies.
- haroot_azarian
- Apr 24, 2024
- Permalink
Director Hyams creates a few tense moments that blends with righteous thoughts and bloody entertainer....
Oddly manages a clear winner that easily survives on the grounds of pandemic catastrophy....
Short & sweet runtime ensures a pure slasher thriller with vibrant lighting in the dark ambience,camera work is a major asset in holding audience live until the end...
Early scenes does have an impact on our minds on facing the reality check like shortage of toilet papers and refusing to assist some one an deadly situations on pandemic times raising a human values rare existence...
Overall a unique slasher thriller that needs a attention.
- PANDIAN120621
- Jan 13, 2023
- Permalink
Parker and her best friend take off to her family's secluded second home to quarantine during the rise of the COVID 19 pandemic, but a stalker has followed them there, and a Nightmare scenario begins.
The trailer really interested me, I'm intrigued by people's views and actions in regards to the pandemic, and I love a good slasher movie, the result was a competent and quite exciting mix.
Really interesting to consider who's side you're on, I won't give Nothing away, but by the end, you may well question if you're on Parker's side of not.
It's not heavy on the politics, they don't push a narrative either way, Covid plays a part, but it's just the backdrop for the situation.
Competently acted and visually pretty good, there are definitely a few thrills and spills along the way, it certainly opens with an audience grabbing scene.
This was pretty good.
7/10.
The trailer really interested me, I'm intrigued by people's views and actions in regards to the pandemic, and I love a good slasher movie, the result was a competent and quite exciting mix.
Really interesting to consider who's side you're on, I won't give Nothing away, but by the end, you may well question if you're on Parker's side of not.
It's not heavy on the politics, they don't push a narrative either way, Covid plays a part, but it's just the backdrop for the situation.
Competently acted and visually pretty good, there are definitely a few thrills and spills along the way, it certainly opens with an audience grabbing scene.
This was pretty good.
7/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Oct 17, 2023
- Permalink
- kevin_robbins
- Jan 23, 2023
- Permalink
This took me by surprise. I'm sure that there have been others, but this is the first film that I've seen that is wrapped around the Covid pandemic. It's really nothing more than a slasher movie reminiscent of the Scream series, which I don't particularly care for, but it's very efficient, very tense and for what it is, it's the real deal with an unusual motive for various bloodlettings, though not as many as usual for this kind of thing which works well. Some of the things here were predictable, but it's never too stupid which surprised me. The opening is very strong with Joel Courtney who I remember from the very good Super 8 from a few years back. The entire cast does okay, but a special mention of Jane Adams is needed and she is having great fun in this role.
- justahunch-70549
- Jul 8, 2023
- Permalink
There are some movies you know 5 minutes going into it that it's going to be worth the while. This was such a movie. The beginning was suspenseful out of the gate and had me looking away. Great action, scary, decent acting and the kind of slasher that I would gladly see a sequel of. It had me jump several times and was just generally creepy. It actually had a similar feel to Scream which I love. It had also a sense of realism that this could actually happen that I appreciated. The characters actually did semi-intelligent things as opposed to just plain stupid decisions. It didn't insult the viewers intelligence. Finally I really liked the homage to the whole period of lock down COVID. There were a few parts that actually had me laughing because of how ridiculous and paranoid the first days of lockdown were for people. They need to make more slashers like this that are truly scary from beginning to end. Keep them coming!
- tikitim-47092
- Jan 16, 2023
- Permalink
There's a lockdown and it's time to quarantine, so with Miri you locate to a new scene, a plush cabin by a lake, a great place to take a break, put your feet up 'til routine can reconvene. An uninvited guest, knocks on the door, he's a friend you find it tricky to ignore, so he joins the isolation, and then demonstrates frustration, you retire for the night, not wanting more. Alas, a good night's sleep's not on the cards, as the silence is soon broken, the quiet jarred, an aggressive strain makes entry, most resistant and unfriendly, and the antidote will leave you deeply scarred.
Not the worst film from the genre you'll come across.
Not the worst film from the genre you'll come across.
- NewNovella
- Jan 12, 2023
- Permalink
Sick is one of those films I can't quite justify giving a very high rating, but is a blast to watch. The director describes the movie as not having a second act, and going from act 1 to act 3. I'd have to agree and it makes this movie breeze by.
A slasher with a low body count, but a fun time nonetheless. It knows it's not here to reinvent the genre, it's here to make you laugh and give you tense moments.
Doesn't go hardcore on COVID politics, one way or the other. Just presents a slasher set during the beginning of the pandemic, and makes it an important piece of the story without seeming awkward or forced.
A fun time. Someone please make a petition to get Peacock to release a physical media of this movie!
A slasher with a low body count, but a fun time nonetheless. It knows it's not here to reinvent the genre, it's here to make you laugh and give you tense moments.
Doesn't go hardcore on COVID politics, one way or the other. Just presents a slasher set during the beginning of the pandemic, and makes it an important piece of the story without seeming awkward or forced.
A fun time. Someone please make a petition to get Peacock to release a physical media of this movie!
- SlashedProductions
- May 14, 2023
- Permalink
- marieclairesolo
- Jan 12, 2023
- Permalink
If you like home invasion,slasher,lockdown films. Then this bad boy is just for you. I really liked it. There's plenty of suspense and stabbing to keep all fans of the slasher genre happy. The characters are likable and the plot once you realise what it's all about is great. I'll just say it's not your pointless no motive kill everyone,slasher movie. It does have a point so to speak so it made me like it a little bit more. Can't really think of many horrors that have taken part in the lockdowns we were all part of. So this was something a bit different and what we were all part of so can relate to in some sort of way. Give it a go.
- korkysyard
- Jan 14, 2023
- Permalink
Slasher-style horror movie released in 2023. Let me be frank, I opened the movie without hope, I said it's a lousy movie again, but it turned out better than I expected. But the reason for the excuse is funny. Covid and pandemic situation prevail in the movie. Starter classic slasher style. So the first victim dies within the first minutes. Then there is a pandemic situation due to Covid and two girlfriends go to a deserted lake house for quarantine. The murderer at the beginning of the movie is also coming there.
The movie is better than the movie "Scream 5". There are exciting scenes. I gave the movie 1 point more because it misled me.
The only thing that caught my eye was the loose clothing on the lead girl. So it draws attention when running away. He looks like a clown.
There is no sex or nudity in the movie.
The movie is better than the movie "Scream 5". There are exciting scenes. I gave the movie 1 point more because it misled me.
The only thing that caught my eye was the loose clothing on the lead girl. So it draws attention when running away. He looks like a clown.
There is no sex or nudity in the movie.
- olcayozfirat
- Jan 17, 2023
- Permalink
I'm officially at the age where it's really hard to relate to this generation of whiny, social media addicted kids. I truly wanted all of the characters to die.
Also, even though it's very different, it's still too similar to Scream. From the opening scene, to the knife yielding, black clad killer, to the set pieces, it is very derivative of the better slasher.
The fact that it takes place during the pandemic seems very irrelevant. It feels very gimmicky, honestly.
Three people hole up in a lake house to quarantine. A guy dressed like a ninja shows up and it becomes one of those home invasion flicks, where the victims get stalked and hunted in ever more ludicrous scenarios. Something else happens that was enough to keep me intrigued and from turning it off, though.
But the bulk of the movie is that. People being attacked by masked intruder.
Sure, in the end they try to tie it all back to Covid, but ultimately, this flimsyly plotted trifle will not stand the test of time. Destined for the trash heap of horror history. 86 min is the runtime of this movie and roughly how long it will take me to forget it.
Kitty cat pig. Oink oink.
Also, even though it's very different, it's still too similar to Scream. From the opening scene, to the knife yielding, black clad killer, to the set pieces, it is very derivative of the better slasher.
The fact that it takes place during the pandemic seems very irrelevant. It feels very gimmicky, honestly.
Three people hole up in a lake house to quarantine. A guy dressed like a ninja shows up and it becomes one of those home invasion flicks, where the victims get stalked and hunted in ever more ludicrous scenarios. Something else happens that was enough to keep me intrigued and from turning it off, though.
But the bulk of the movie is that. People being attacked by masked intruder.
Sure, in the end they try to tie it all back to Covid, but ultimately, this flimsyly plotted trifle will not stand the test of time. Destined for the trash heap of horror history. 86 min is the runtime of this movie and roughly how long it will take me to forget it.
Kitty cat pig. Oink oink.
- pomeu-63850
- Jan 13, 2023
- Permalink
Sick was shockingly a SICK slasher film. Recently movies have been so spoiled and over done with political correctness and woke ideology but rarely does it work this perfectly. This movie is well thought out and serious while still having comedic relief and being scary/suspenseful throughout. The takes on COVID and the jokes about distancing and masks is absolutely golden. And the fact the story is all tied back to someone getting COVID and contact tracing is an absolutely brilliant take and incorporation to a slasher film. What a pleasant and refreshing gem of a movie and I highly recommend!!
- RobTheWatcher
- Jan 16, 2023
- Permalink
The opening 10 minutes are a pretty decent recreation of Scream's opening. A victim is being stalked and attacked by a masked killer. But this victim, after successfully evading the killer, suddenly does something extremely stupid that no person in their right mind would do. He grabs a baseball bat and leaves his secure hidout to confront a guy with giant hunting knife.
This is emblematic for the rest of the movie. Most characters act stupidly all the time. While there is some tension here and there during the first half, and some pretty good camera work, the story is poorly written and the tension falls apart immediately after the first confrontation.
The movie wants to be Scream with Covid. But it makes several mistakes.
In Scream, the motive of the killer wasn't instantly known, but the theme was. Horror movies. And how to survive one (or more likely not). Here, the killers don't have a theme. We just get an exposition dump just before the final fight. Until then, it's just random black clad killer stabbing people.
Scream gave us multiple suspects. Here, there are none except for one obvious red herring.
Finally, the protagonist:
Scream's Sidney Prescott was immensely likeable. So much so, that she carried 5 movies. Usually it's the killers (Jason, Freddy etc) who carry a horror franchise, but Neve Campbell absolutely made the series her own.
The acting is mostly bad as well. Slasher movies need charismatic and relatable leads, who we - the audience - want to survive. Here we get a spoiled, selfish brat. Her friend, the black girl, is not only written as a smarter character (because of course she is, it's the 2020s) who is more knowledgible and emotionally mature and doesn't play with people's emotions, but the actress is also far better and more charistmatic. So we're stuck with a main character (the audience avatar) who's an unlikeable jerk and makes stupid decisions. Way to not keep your audience invested.
The overacting by the killers is laughable, and the movie becomes a farce once they tie a character down and subject them to a terrible exposition dump about their motive. At least that's something the audience can relate to at that point. Except we're not forced to listen, we can fast forward to the final kill, which ends up being marred by the worst cgi since She Hulk.
They couldn't even afford a measly fire suit for that stunt and had to use an some after effects overlay.
Way to give the middle finger to whatever part of the audience stuck around until the end. That's like a restaurant throwing you a stale candy bar on the table for dessert.
The covid theme feels tacked on and is more distracting than anything else. It doesn't mesh with the subject of the film.
This is emblematic for the rest of the movie. Most characters act stupidly all the time. While there is some tension here and there during the first half, and some pretty good camera work, the story is poorly written and the tension falls apart immediately after the first confrontation.
The movie wants to be Scream with Covid. But it makes several mistakes.
In Scream, the motive of the killer wasn't instantly known, but the theme was. Horror movies. And how to survive one (or more likely not). Here, the killers don't have a theme. We just get an exposition dump just before the final fight. Until then, it's just random black clad killer stabbing people.
Scream gave us multiple suspects. Here, there are none except for one obvious red herring.
Finally, the protagonist:
Scream's Sidney Prescott was immensely likeable. So much so, that she carried 5 movies. Usually it's the killers (Jason, Freddy etc) who carry a horror franchise, but Neve Campbell absolutely made the series her own.
The acting is mostly bad as well. Slasher movies need charismatic and relatable leads, who we - the audience - want to survive. Here we get a spoiled, selfish brat. Her friend, the black girl, is not only written as a smarter character (because of course she is, it's the 2020s) who is more knowledgible and emotionally mature and doesn't play with people's emotions, but the actress is also far better and more charistmatic. So we're stuck with a main character (the audience avatar) who's an unlikeable jerk and makes stupid decisions. Way to not keep your audience invested.
The overacting by the killers is laughable, and the movie becomes a farce once they tie a character down and subject them to a terrible exposition dump about their motive. At least that's something the audience can relate to at that point. Except we're not forced to listen, we can fast forward to the final kill, which ends up being marred by the worst cgi since She Hulk.
They couldn't even afford a measly fire suit for that stunt and had to use an some after effects overlay.
Way to give the middle finger to whatever part of the audience stuck around until the end. That's like a restaurant throwing you a stale candy bar on the table for dessert.
The covid theme feels tacked on and is more distracting than anything else. It doesn't mesh with the subject of the film.
- kuner-59029
- Jan 15, 2023
- Permalink
This was one of the best American slasher films in recent years! Set in the height of "COVID masking" times, it's full of intensity and plenty of blood. It's definitely worth watching if you enjoy Scream type movies. The only part I found awkward was how some of the COVID discussion seemed to stick out as lacking the sort of "punch" it was probably intended to have. Villan(s) don't always need to explain every last detail about their motivations or backgrounds, but this seems to be a trend which this movie also followed. Nonetheless, a great experience overall! Enjoyed the haunting soundtrack as well.
- honest_reviews17
- Jan 13, 2023
- Permalink
It started out as rather derivative. The initial killing seemed un-associated with the movie, just a slasher all in black. We then meet Parker and Miri who are going away to Parker's family lake house to quarantine, as it is the start of the COVID concerns. They get to the house, which is really quite a place, but as she said, used only once a year. Parker is a real internet social posting person. Late at night, a person shows up, pounds on the door to be let in, which they don't, but he gets in anyway, and it turns out it is D. J., Parker's friend who is obsessed with her, but she isn't all that into him. And later, a man in black shows up to kill. This starts the unstoppable ruthless killer that is a stock of slasher movies, but actually after some fits and starts, Parker and Miri do fairly well for themselves, even badly injured. But the killings don't stop, and the movie actually gets better. And there is an interesting twist behind all this. To nitpick, for a 'cabin' that is used only once a year, all the inside lights are on, even in an attic that wouldn't be expected to be visited. And they were all on the minute they opened the door in the afternoon.
Yet another horror movie with indestructible bad guys. Bad guys who also know, without fail, which direction the hero's have gone, even in the middle of a wooded forest and not only that, can manage to go from chasing them to somehow getting in front of them at the drop of a hat.
The car. I mean really. The car happened to come along at exactly the right time at exactly the right spot to pick up the girl. Fml. Let alone how they knew the phone numbers of the main characters and somehow where they were going to be and when.
Garbage. The worst kind of horror film. Lazy. Pointless. Illogical. Even at 82 minutes it's also too long.
The car. I mean really. The car happened to come along at exactly the right time at exactly the right spot to pick up the girl. Fml. Let alone how they knew the phone numbers of the main characters and somehow where they were going to be and when.
Garbage. The worst kind of horror film. Lazy. Pointless. Illogical. Even at 82 minutes it's also too long.
- john-340-750819
- Oct 19, 2023
- Permalink