The retro-styled Night of the Reaper hits a lot of the right notes. There’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned babysitter slasher. Especially one that’s lightly Halloween themed. From the beginning, Night of the Reaper sticks to a solid strategy: simple story, complex characters.

• Directed by: Brandon Christensen
• Written by: Brandon Christensen. Ryan Christensen
• Starring:: Jessica Clement Ryan Robbins. Summer H. Howell

The Story:

A masked killer is terrorizing the residents of a small town before Halloween by recording their murders on VHS.  Most of the movie follows two stories:  the sheriff investigating the murders, and Deena, our final girl and most recent target. 

Night of the Reaper very much relies on a third act twist. How much you get out of this movie is going to depend on how much you can accept the events of the third act. I will say that, for me, it mostly works. It plays against the tropes established in the movies Night of The Reaper is so clearly influenced by. I don’t particularly want to get into too many details here. I’d rather audiences make up their own minds without spoilers.  

Instead, I’ll try to talk about Deena. She’s probably one of the better final girls I’ve seen in a while. Smart, resourceful, and angry, Deena has the best qualities of the classic ‘80s archetype. She is driven by something so much more powerful than just her own survival instinct. That kind of motivation is rare in a final girl. The actress does a fantastic job with the complexities of the character. 

Theme

Night of the Reaper is thematically about motives for killing; what drives people to commit heinous acts, and what is possible to live with after the fact. The first 2/3rds of the movie is really spent setting up the mood and tension. Since the cold open, we know the killer’s M.O. Watching it play out slower, with a character we’ve spent time getting to know, is unnerving. Finding out why these things are happening does not make this more comforting. 

What’s even less comforting is the conclusion that the survivors arrive at when the danger has passed. In most slashers, there comes a point where the victim fights back. Sometimes quite brutally. Night of The Reaper tries to address the consequences of knowing you have crossed a line to survive.  I wish more time could have been given to this thread. It’s interesting, and in this setting, novel. 

The Vibe:

I heard Night of the Reaper described as “cozy”. I would have to agree. The retro styling and ‘80s aesthetic make it a very familiar watch. Even when it’s not.  Stylistically, it’s a great looking movie; well-edited and beautifully shot.  It never veers too far into style over substance. The director also never broadcasts his influences.  They exist as subtle nods rather than overt visual homages. 

Making a modern “retro” slasher can be a challenge. The core audience knows the movies the film will be referencing and expects certain things.  It’s easy to get it wrong or rather, not live up to unrealistic expectations.  Night of the Reaper feels like it leans into the aesthetic of a classic ‘80s slasher without limiting itself. 

How is it a Slasher?

A masked killer stalks and murders victims, so it fits the bare minimum. There is a lot of isolation for our victims and final girl.  Since Night of the Reaper leans into the “lone babysitter” trope, there are plenty of tense moments with the girl in a dark house at night. 

The killer is a bit of a weak point as far as traditional slashers are concerned. We get a reason why they are killing, kind of.  Not much is said about any traumatic backstory or how they got started. That could have helped round out things a bit. But it’s also not the focus of the movie. 

Changing the focus in the third act is what makes Night of the Reaper more than a standard modern slasher for me.  There’s so much we’ve seen in this type of movie, it’s cool to explore new twists on themes. 

Final Thoughts

Night of the Reaper is a totally rewatchable and yes, cozy slasher. If you are looking for a high body count and tons of gore, look elsewhere. This is about mood and tension, and it delivers. 

Night of the Reaper is available to stream on Shudder.