Let's talk about modern scream queens for a minute. Who would you say is your favorite? Look, I know that's a loaded question since there are so many incredible actresses who have made a huge impact in horror recently. Honestly, I don't think I'd be able to pick just one. However, I know who would be in my top five, and Kathryn Newton is definitely one of them.
I'm always impressed by how with every horror role that she takes on, she brings something fresh and unique to the character and makes her performances stand out. She truly knows how to command a screen and hold the audience’s attention, and that's not always easy to do, especially in a genre where so many performances can be overshadowed by intense visuals or the action itself.
Last year, we saw two new horror projects featuring the talented actress, and as expected, she gave memorable performances in both. One was the romantic horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein, where she portrayed a young woman who accidentally resurrects a Victorian-era corpse. The other was the vampire horror comedy Abigail, where she played a young criminal tasked with kidnapping a 12-year-old girl for ransom, only to discover the girl is a bloodthirsty vampire.
Now, she's set to star in Radio Silence's highly anticipated Ready or Not sequel. This will be her second collaboration with the Radio Silence team, the first being last year's Abigail. She joins Samara Weaving, who starred in the first movie as a bride forced into a deadly game with her new in-laws. Unfortunately, plot details for Ready or Not 2 are being kept under wraps for now, but I'm sure we can expect another exciting installment packed with everything that made the original such a hit.
With Ready or Not 2 just recently announced to be in the works, we're a long way from seeing it hit the big screen. Don't fret, though! Besides watching the horror movies we listed above that star Newton, you could always check out what I would consider the most underrated horror film in her filmography. It's the 2020 slasher comedy, Freaky, which is currently available to stream on Prime Video for free.
While some may not consider this movie underrated, given the positive reviews it received from both critics and audiences upon its release, I still feel it didn’t get the mainstream attention it truly deserves. Despite its clever premise and standout performances, especially from Newton, it's barely talked about compared to other horror comedies. Perhaps its release during the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in that, but it’s high time this hidden gem gets the recognition it’s long overdue.
Christopher Landon, who is known for his work on the Paranormal Activity film series and the Happy Death Day movies, directed this slasher comedy as well as co-wrote the script with Michael Kennedy. You might know Kennedy from his work on the films It's a Wonderful Knife and Heart Eyes. Additionally, Blumhouse Productions and Divide/Conquer were the production companies behind it.
I'd describe Freaky as Freaky Friday but with a horror twist. It stars Newton as Millie Kessler, a high school student who finds herself in a terrifying situation when she swaps bodies with a brutal serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher. With only 24 hours to reverse the swap, it becomes a race against time to get her body back.
Vince Vaughn stars as the Blissfield Butcher, and he and Newton together on screen are like a match made in heaven. They bring an incredible amount of energy and fun to the movie, and their chemistry is spot-on. After finishing the film, I found myself searching on the internet if they had been in any other movies together because their dynamic was so entertaining to watch. Unfortunately, they hadn’t teamed up for any other projects before Freaky. But I’m hopeful that they’ll team up again for a future project.
The movie's cast also includes Katie Finneran, Misha Osherovich, Celeste O'Connor, Alan Ruck, Uriah Shelton, Melissa Collazo, Dana Drori, and Michelle Ladd.
If you haven't seen Freaky yet, you're definitely missing out! It's easily one of the best horror comedies in recent years. You can stream Freaky on Prime Video right now.