Black Friday

Sales have always provoked in some consumers a certain madness to want to buy all kinds of products even if the utility is uncertain. In the same way, who has never wanted to work in a big toy store during the holiday season and realize how much some of these consumers are willing to fight to find products in limited quantities and not always of perfect quality. Add to that a pinch of science fiction with hostile aliens and mutations of all kinds and you'll get a simplistic but very effective horrific comedy that features two actors used to this genre like Bruce Campbell (Ashley Joanna "Ash" Williams in the cult saga Evil Dead) and Devon Sawa (Syfy series Chucky). 

The action of Black Friday takes place mainly in a toy store on Thanksgiving night. The store opened especially for Black Friday at midnight and many customers eagerly await its opening to rush to the many toys on sale. For the employees of this store, this night is not their best day as they expect to have to deal with customers of all kinds and yet they are not prepared for what is about to happen to them. While the store is run by Jonathan (Bruce Campbell), a complete jerk who takes out his frustrations on his staff, Ken (Devon Sawa) is a long-time employee, divorced and in love with his much younger colleague. That night, a few steps away from the store, a parasite of an alien nature crashes and transforms the customers into real monsters and above all gives birth to a gigantic creature such as we can see in Kaijus movies. The night will be long and uncertain for its employees who will have to rely on themselves and put their differences aside to survive what seems to be the end of the world.

Despite a reduced budget, Black Friday does not disappoint at any time and finds intact the DNA of the classic horror comedies of the 80s. Its numerous special effects work perfectly and the two main actors Devon Sawa and Bruce Campbell deliver solid performances aided by dialogue that works to perfection. Scratching American society for its many excesses, the film moves easily from unbridled comedy to horrific scenes with real dexterity.  After directing several Aerosmith music videos, TV shows, a debut film Happy Birthday (2016) and a documentary Steven Tyler: Out on a Limb (2018), director Casey Tebo gives birth to his first genre film here and proves to be rather good at creating an eerie atmosphere and leading a skillfully composed cast. 

Released in theaters in the United States on November 19, 2021 and then in Vod a few days later (November 23), we would have liked this film to benefit from a real promotion during its release in France but we will have to be satisfied with a broadcast on OCS. 

Black Friday
Directed by Casey Tebo
Written by Andy Greskoviak
Produced by Bruce Campbell, Warner Davis
Starring Devon Sawa, Ivana Baquero, Ryan Lee, Stephen Peck, Michael Jai White, Bruce Campbell
Cinematography : David Kruta
Edited by Chris Tonick
Music by Patrick Stump
Production companies : MFW Manufacturing, The Warner Davis Company
Distributed by Screen Media Films
Release date : November 19, 2021 (United States)
Running time : 84 minutes

Seen on November 24, 2021

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