Meta jokes, perfect pace and sophisticated storytelling are wielded with skill by playful director Cody Calahan
Canadian writer-director Cody Calahan has been building something of a reputation in horror circles for his playful, narratively sophisticated work in what seem like superficially pulpy films, such as Antisocial, Let Her Out and The Oak Room. His latest offering is pretty on-brand, with winking meta-jokes, such as having the central character Joel (Evan Marsh from Shazam!) be a journalist who writes about horror films. What’s more, when we first meet him, he’s pitching a story to a horror film producer (Gord Rand) about a serial killer who is a taxi driver, a joke that pays out satisfyingly much later. In less skilful hands, gags like this would be highly irritating, but Calahan and the cast get away with it thanks to fine comic timing and likable ensemble playing.