My Thoughts on Night of the Reaper
Night of the Reaper is a film that is treading familiar slasher territory, featuring a masked killer, babysitters, and suburban streets, that leans itself into a retro, 1980s VHS aesthetic, which is all clearly quite influenced by Michael Myers and Halloween.
The beginning of Night of the Reaper spends more than a few minutes on Emily, the babysitter, before the killer even strikes, and I definitely I appreciated the tension building attempt, where the slow build helps make that first scene feel almost voyeuristic, like we’re creeping along with Emily in a way that is uncomfortably intimate, before she dies of course. (C'mon, not a spoiler, who wouldn't have seen that coming?)
When the story jumps forward to Deena, the tone shifts, as we see Deena reconnecting with old friends, Willis and Chad, and witness some small, human moments which help situate the characters in this world.
Sheriff Rodney then receives an unmarked package containing a garage door opener linked to the earlier babysitter murder,, before more packages arrive, each with videotapes showing The Reaper’s previous killings.
I liked the idea, and it reminded me a bit of how villains in older movies leave clues for the authorities, and the Reaper remains largely an off-screen threat until the halfway point, which might not work for all slasher fans, as without seeing him actively stalking anyone, you might struggle to accept his threat and danger.
The suspense is also quite uneven, and for long stretches, all the tension comes from Deena reacting to shadows or odd sounds, or from her cautiously investigating something that might not even be dangerous, which makes it all feel a bit repetitive.
When the twists finally arrive in the late stages, we do get some bursts of originality and I liked how the story tried to subvert expectations, even if some of it felt rushed, and while some motives are murky, which make some revelations feel quite hollow, there’s a certain audacity to the way the film delivers a series of quick shocks.
I will also add, if you're into the 1980's vibe, Night of the Reaper delivers on that front, and the filmmakers clearly cared enough about the small touches to make the world feel real, and there’s a certain charm to the way the cinematography lingers on everyday objects that contrasts with the violence creeping in.
I definitely have mixed feelings overall though about this one, as while I admire the attempts to play with the slasher formula, and I enjoyed certain character interactions and late twists. the story often drifts, and the suspense is inconsistent.
And while the final payoff does delivers some surprise, it also exposes the story’s reliance on gimmicks rather than careful plotting. For me, Night of the Reaper is a film that looks and sounds confident, tries to be clever, and occasionally succeeds in doing something unexpected.
But it’s also uneven and frustrating at times - entertaining in parts, annoying in others, and overall, I found it more intriguing in concept than in execution, but if you're a slasher fan, it's worth a one time watch.