The Blackening – Movie Review | Netflix (3/5)

THE BLACKENING is now on Netflix US, and this Horror-Comedy was so much funnier than I ever expected. As a fan of the horror-comedy hybrid, I did think it would be entertaining, but this hit harder than I thought it would. Read our full The Blackening movie review here!

THE BLACKENING is finally on Netflix in the US, and if you like horror comedies, then you will definitely want to watch this. And yes, of course, some characters will do the opposite of what they should, but in a horror-comedy, that might be the best move.

The runtime is just 1 hour and 37 minutes, and there has been talk of a sequel, so I hope it’s coming. This horror-comedy is from 2022. Now it’s on Netflix and easy to watch (or rewatch) the genre-hybrid focused on the tropes black characters usually endure in horror movies.

Continue reading our The Blackening movie review below. Find it on Netflix US from September 4, 2025.

Juneteenth Reunion in a Cabin in the Woods

The Blackening gives us the story of a group of Black friends reuniting for a Juneteenth weekend. This reunion happens in a cabin in the woods, which is perfect for a horror movie, but not so perfect if you want everyone to survive.

Then they find a strange (and very offensive) game that seems to lure them into playing. Well, that was a mistake. Think Jumanji, but where a crazy killer is pulling the strings instead of a supernatural game.

While it begins with a game, the punishment for losing is death.

That might all sound very serious, and not everyone will make it, but really, it’s also very funny. Think the first Scream, where people call out everything that’s wrong with horror movies and fight back, but this one has the added element of Black characters.

And as we all know (or should know), Black characters stereotypically die first in horror movies.

They Can’t All Die First

Whether you enjoy horror spoofs like Scary Movie or think they go way too far, I think you’ll enjoy this one. The dialogue is sharp, the characters are funny, and the killings are very creative, while the pacing remains sharp.

Also, The Blackening has so many wonderful pop-culture references, but manages to stay a lot more focused on its core subject: The trope that black people always die first in horror movies.

That’s why even the tagline was amazing with “We Can’t All Die First”.

While the pop culture references are obviously focused on horror movies and famous Black people or movies (from Set It Off to Sister Act 2), there’s also room for plenty of other areas of pop culture.

Not least, White people relating to Black people with a Ranger named “B. White” showing up several times.

Minorities in horror movies

Now, I am not Black, so I won’t claim that I can relate to the specific elements of this story, but I do know the feeling. As a gay woman, I also see “my people” being part of the horror movie character gallery usually included in horror movies, but also among the first to die.

Usually, the gay character dies after the Black character. If someone wants to shake it up, they kill the gay character first. Well, in The Blackening, there’s also a gay Black character, so you know this person would usually die first.

However, remember my comparison to Scream? These characters are not stupid; they know the “rules of horror movies” and fight back.

I loved that… also, it was often damn funny!

For the record, one of the reasons I love genre movies is that minorities are usually included in the stories and are key characters in the plot. They may die (and die early), but in these movies, almost everyone is killed, so at least it’s acknowledged that we exist.

Also, the ultimate survivor is usually a woman (AKA the Final Girl).

Watch The Blackening on Netflix now

The Blackening comes from director Tim Story, who previously directed comedies like Ride Along and Think Like a Man. Maybe that’s part of the reason why the comedy works so damn well, but I am very pleased to report that the horror elements are also very efficient.

The screenplay comes from Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) and Dewayne Perkins. The latter also stars in The Blackening as the character Dewayne, who is black and gay, so he knows there’s a bull’s eye on his back.

The cast of The Blackening is overall just wonderful and features so many actors with excellent comedic timing. From Jermaine Fowler, X Mayo, and Melvin Gregg (Snowfall) to Grace Byers, Antoinette Robertson, and Sinqua Walls, I enjoyed all the character portrayals.

If you haven’t watched The Blackening yet, don’t miss out now that it’s finally coming to Netflix. And if you have watched it, then a rewatch is probably high times. Plus, there just might be a sequel in the works, so why not be ready for that?!

The Blackening is out on Netflix (US and other countries) from September 4, 2025.

Details

Director: Tim Story
Writers: Tracy Oliver & Dewayne Perkins
Cast: Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Wells, with Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji