“While it’s great to see practical zombie effects, the filmmakers don’t really do much with the monsters that we haven’t seen before […] At the core of Black Friday is a deep, icy anger over capitalism and shopping, with the employees bemoaning their dead-end, soul-sucking jobs […] However, the movie is not only a little too pointed with its theme, it also fails to offer any alternate ideas, let alone any hope, or heart.” Combustible Celluloid
“Instead of savage satire, Black Friday settles for being a hollow horror-comedy that just acts slightly silly instead of actually loading up on sharp jokes and good gags.” Culture Crypt
“Overall, the film feels as if it just needed more time in pre-production to sharpen up the script and rehearse – but if you have a soft spot for monster movies and like the idea of gore in a superstore, this could still work for you. It’s an amiable little film and you could do a lot worse.” Eye for Film
“The story and situation occurring in the shop lends itself so perfectly for a silly and over-the-top giggle fest and the restrained approach kills the sense of fun. On the other side of the coin, the more serious moments don’t land well either due to the outlandish scenario unfolding. Balancing a horror-comedy is one of the hardest genres to nail, most films opt to pick a side, but Black Friday flounders around in the middle…” The Hollywood News
“for a film that purports to be a horror-comedy the laugh factor could have done with being upped considerably […] It’s also lacking the frenetic sense of mounting jeopardy that better examples of this kind of subgenre (e.g. 2015’s Bloodsucking Bastards) achieve. That said Black Friday is a reasonable timewaster with a cast of genre favourites…” House of Mortal Cinema
“Black Friday throws some monster action at you, provides some laughs, you get to hear a good score composed by Patrick Stump and get to see some nice special effects, then it lets you get on your way before it has taken up too much of your time: only 79 minutes go by before the end credits start rolling. It wasn’t everything I wanted it to be, but it’s fun enough for a viewing or two.” JoBlo
“Put simply, Black Friday, like some poor retail employee forcing their lips to stretch into a smile as they’re berated by a parent screaming about the latest doll that pees itself being out of stock, is trying too hard at times. But in that, there’s a passion to create entertaining holiday horror that’s impossible not to appreciate. Black Friday is your average mashed potatoes and gravy horror movie.” Killer Horror Critic
” …almost nothing is done with the film’s general conceit of mindless shoppers acting just a hair more mindless as they become creatures out of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The script by Andy Greskoviak nods to the fact that no one should really have to leave their family during Thanksgiving dinner to sell overpriced toys […] but the film lacks teeth. It’s too content with its premise to really do anything with it…” RogerEbert.com
“There is a lot of pop-philosophical chatter […] plenty of nasty comeuppances served to jackasses who mistreat denizens of the “service industry,” and enough alien goo and gore to make The Blob (1988) helmer Chuck Russell blush. Is it a teeny bit heavy-handed? Sure! But the trends it satirizes are so gauche and overblown that it feels appropriate, and the ensemble cast […] is so easy to root for that a little bit of easy moralizing amid the carnage fits the vibe.” Rue Morgue
“Ultimately, Black Friday is an idea more than a story. Sometimes this benefits the film; the action sequences are fun to watch, and the special effects are perfect for this kind of intentionally campy horror movie […] In terms of mindless entertainment, Black Friday checks the right boxes. Unfortunately, the movie also tries to have a message, and in that regard, it completely fails.” Screen Rant
Production and release:
Filming began in Boston on November 16th 2020.
Black Friday had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest on Friday, September 24th 2021.
In the US, Black Friday will be released theatrically on November 19th and On-Demand on November 23rd 2021.
Trailer:
MOVIES & MANIA says:
Given the great cast and the obvious opportunities for combining mockery of chaotic consumerism, retail Hell and monster mayhem, Black Friday is – surprisingly – merely an ok movie that raises a few smiles but never any fear or real sense of involvement in the outcome. There are some great practical effects and some decent action along the way but the film gets bogged down two-thirds of the way in with scenes of the slightly clichéd characters ruminating over their lives amidst the mayhem.
Unfortunately, like the shopper silliness it’s named after, Black Friday is fairly superficial. It’s enjoyable but don’t expect too much from what was such a promisingly satirical premise.
Suggested double-bill:
Slaxx (2020)
