Totally Killer

Totally Killer twists slasher rules into a time-travel comedy, so it is aimed at viewers who like horror references with their jokes. By our assessment, its best trick is that mix of teen attitude, genre parody, and body-count mechanics without becoming too grim. The downside is familiar for this sort of film: once the references land, the machine can start to feel a little schematic. In practice it moves fast, keeps the tone light, and spends much of its energy on how a modern character reacts to an old-school horror setup. Compared with straight slashers, Totally Killer is less about dread than about playing with the genre’s habits. That makes it a better fit for people who enjoy self-aware horror than for viewers wanting real suspense. The movie keeps its footing by staying playful even when the body count rises.