Unlike other period pieces that simply glorify the past, takes a scalpel to 80s nostalgia. When Jamie tries to report a potential serial killer to the police, the male officers laugh at her. When she suggests women stick together, her 80s mom says, "That’s how you get a reputation."
Here is why has earned its cult following and why you need to watch it (or re-watch it) immediately. Totally Killer
The film smartly contrasts 2023’s hyper-awareness with 1987’s willful ignorance. It never feels preachy, but it forces you to realize: Maybe the 80s weren’t so awesome if you were a teenage girl. This is where the title operates on a second level. The 80s are "totally killer" (cool), but also: a killer is literally on the loose because society wasn’t listening to women. Unlike other period pieces that simply glorify the
Writing duo David Matalon & Sasha Perl-Raver, along with director Jen D’Angelo’s polish, understand the rules. adheres to its own time-travel logic without getting bogged down in exposition. The killer’s mask (a creepy, smiling reproduction of the town’s founder) is iconic. The kills are creative without being torturous, harkening back to Scream rather than Saw . The 80s are "totally killer" (cool), but also:
At its core, is a movie about motherhood. Jamie thinks her mom, Pam (the 2023 version), is a nagging, scared, embarrassing liability. But when Jamie travels back to 1987 and meets Teen Pam, she realizes that her mom was once cool, reckless, and brave.
Are you Team 1987 or Team 2023? Let us know in the comments below, and whatever you do—don't go into the fortune teller booth alone.