Another horror film by Blumhouse but with a sufficient difference. The horror doesn’t hang heavy, it’s almost tongue-in-cheek and is filled with comedy.
The story appears initially like many mean girl films with Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton) who is the one receiving the harassment from the mean boys and girls at her high school. With knowledge that the idea of the film is the swapping of bodies between Millie and the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn) we know the meanies are going to pay at some time before the story ends.
On a magic night the Butcher and Millie swap bodies as they reach for a ritual blade that has historical significance. At just the right time each is wounded by the knife and they awake the next day as the other person.
All of that leads to significant comedy and some heave me-ham. Not to let horror fans down we see necks cut, a nasty teacher (Alan Ruck-remembered from Ferris Bueller) split in two by a table saw in the shop he teaches in. The slicing is strong but we know the good guys are not going to loose this battle with the Butcher.
While people die, Vaughn carries on looking silly while running like a girl with his hands in the air and showing a number of feminine characteristics. He also has a heart to heart talk with Millie’s mother (Katie Finneran) in which Mom is impressed by his understanding of her relationships and suggests he might want to date her. Creepy idea but Vaughn pulls it off very well.
Newton is equally effective as the killer in her body, her eyes almost move side to side as she slams back at the mean folks at high school.