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Stars: Emma Reinagel, Graham Weldin, Aline O'Neill
Director: Brittney Greer
Producer: Talking Dog Pictures

“I’m a suspect!”

Opening with a murder within the corn field… Is this Children of the Corn, or even Freddy vs. Jason? No, it’s Happy Halloween, a feature from the final day of GASP! Horror Film Festival.

Time has passed since Hadley’s (Emma Reinagel) ex boyfriend killed another lad, and almost her, on Halloween. Returning back to school after a long recovery period, life should be as normal as can be for Hadley, but when a murder is posted on social media, it brings the trauma and shock back to not only Hadley, but the rest of her high school community too. Soon thereafter, more murders take place, and fingers are inevitably pointed toward one another, and even Hadley’s friends ultimately question why murder and chaos has resumed since her return to the limelight.

As Happy Halloween progresses, not only do the delightful practical effects of gruesome death elevate the visual status of the film, but the tonal development of mystery and mystique – especially in the third act – really aids the film overall. The acting talents – especially that of Emma Reinagel (Hadley) and Graham Weldin (Kagan) – really begin to flourish, too, as Happy Halloween ultimately escalates into a fully fledged exhibition of murder mayhem.

Happy Halloween does pose a variety of tropes similar to that of what we see in the typical teen/high school horror, but nothing too distracting or nauseating from the main body of the film. Of course, too, there are occasional vibes similar to that of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Both of which are unsurprising, but completely acceptable, too.

Additionally, Happy Halloween also manages to modernise itself with its usage of social media. Whilst social media, or tech, may not be at the forefront of the film – like Countdown, for example – its usage nonetheless is a key assist to the murders that take place. When another teen is killed, the Murderer posts it on social media and literally EVERYONE in the neighbourhood is notified. Certainly modern, but also hilarious how normalised this is.

Ultimately, there will be viewpoints that Happy Halloween is just another of its kind, but more importantly, it is legitimately fun and spooky – especially the further the story delves and the risk elevates. From writer-director Brittney Greer, Happy Halloween is a tremendous achievement in teen horror, and horror in general, especially given any production or budget limitations. The soundtrack during the credits is awesome, too.

Happy Halloween had an exclusive Manchester screening at GASP! Horror Film Festival 2024 on Sunday 23rd June.