Sick (2022) Review – A Traditional and Tense Covid-Era Slasher
Sick: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A lean, high-octane slasher that successfully captures the energy of the late-90s horror boom. Sick thrives on its simplicity, offering a tense game of cat and mouse that benefits from Kevin Williamson’s sharp genre instincts and John Hyams’ confident direction. While the pandemic-themed motivation for the killer is a bold choice that may age the film rapidly, the actual chase sequences and kills are masterfully executed. It is a 3-star slasher highlight that, despite featuring some unlikable characters and predictable tropes, delivers exactly what it promises: high-stakes thrills and a relentless pace. If you are looking for a reliable popcorn horror that doesn’t overstay its welcome, this is a rare Peacock standout.
Details: Director: John Hyams | Cast: Gideon Adlon, Beth Million, Dylan Sprayberry, Marc Menchaca, Jane Adams | Runtime: 1h 23m | Release Date: 13 January 2023
Best for: Fans of the Scream franchise, lovers of home-invasion thrillers, and slasher enthusiasts looking for a well-made contemporary entry.
Worth noting: The film was co-written by Katelyn Crabb, who previously served as an assistant to Kevin Williamson on the 2022 Scream reboot.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, Peacock
Rating: 3/5 Stars
(Efficient pacing, effective chase scenes, predictable but fun slasher tropes)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing the slasher movie Sick from Scream‘s writer and creator Kevin Williamson and director John Hyams. I actually meant to review this movie a long time ago. It just totally slipped my mind. This movie comes to you by way of Peacock and Blumhouse productions and while most of their movies are utter arse wipe, Sick is the rare exception.
Table of Contents
Traditional slasher fun from a genre vet
Sick follows the story of friends Parker (Gideon Adlon) and Miri (Beth Million) who are spending the weekend quarantining together at Parker’s family lake house. A surprise visit by DJ (Dylan Sprayberry), Parker’s boyfriend, is the least of the pair’s concerns. With the weekend quickly descending into chaos as the group are stalked by someone, seemingly, wishing to do them harm. But what is the “would-be” killer’s motive?
If this movie feels familiar, that’s because it was put together by the team behind the Scream movies. Once you push past the rather milquetoast opening and dull preamble, it becomes very clear where Sick‘s pedigree lies. This is a traditional, late 90s-style slasher movie. Everything you might expect is here from shadows seen in the corners of eyes to the chase scenes through a darkened house. It is high-stakes, cat and mouse, horror from the midpoint on.
Action extends into a vast outdoor environment surrounding the house as the characters battle reason after reason to be dragged back inside. You’ve seen it all before and for anyone familiar with some of the slashers of this era (Urban Legend, I Know What You Did Last Summer, et al), Sick will feel like slipping on a familiar cosy jumper. Albeit one soaked with blood and shredded to pieces by a knife-wielding maniac.
Fun, familiar, slasher thrills
For the most part, it works quite well. This is a simple formula and it is difficult to mess it up. Some of the suspense is quite satisfying and the use of darkness and shadows works well to create some serious tension. Sick feels much like an old friend. It’s a type of horror movie that disappeared for a while but is now back and bigger than ever. Against a slew of new Scream movies and a possible I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel, Sick slots in nicely. It is tense, high-octane and doesn’t let up once it gets going.
“Sick feels much like an old friend. It’s a type of horror movie that disappeared for a while but is now back and bigger than ever.”
Something that Scream did so well was the creation of an iconic villain motivated by something, somewhat, unexpected. The reveal at the end of Scream is a genuinely classic horror moment and was, at the time, rather surprising. Sick aims to do the same thing. Eschewing the nameless, faceless, shape-style slasher movie villain in favour of a villain with a concrete motivation and an actual backstory. Turning the characters being stalked into not just simple victims but a part of a much bigger picture.
Whereas the villain’s motivation feels timely against a backdrop of recent events in the real world, it also feels like something that will age the movie tremendously in time and also feels just that little bit silly. Sick is destined to become something of a time capsule and I am not sure whether that is a good thing or not.
Still, it makes a change from the low effort “bad person does bad things because they are bad” nature of a lot of slashers so I give it credit in that respect. Let’s just say that it may surprise a few people and may cause an eye roll here or there.
Not all positive
On the more negative side, I found the characters here extremely unlikable. Parker and Miri are fairly obnoxious and difficult to care for, making it hard to invest in their situation. The backstory at the heart of the movie is a little bit ridiculous. Sick often goes to the near empty well of horror cliché, ticking just about every box possible when it comes to the usual slasher tropes. If you don’t like these types of movies, as it is, Sick will not be the movie to change your mind.
Acting is okay despite the characters not being immediately likable. Cinematography is decent and the crew’s experience is on full show when it comes to putting together effective slasher set pieces. Some of the handheld camera shots add a nice layer of additional tension. Pacing is fine, the action gets going pretty quick and there are enough scares to keep you interested.
“The movie races by at a scant 83 minutes so there’s no time to smell the roses. Again, don’t expect too much innovation but what is here works really well.”
The movie races by at a scant 83 minutes so there’s no time to smell the roses. Again, don’t expect too much innovation but what is here works really well. There aren’t too many surprises outside of the twist plot and the movie is ruthlessly predictable, as is fairly traditional for slasher movies. All in all, though, not too bad at all.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- The Pedigree: Kevin Williamson’s influence is clear, resulting in a slasher that understands how to build tension and execute a chase.
- Pacing: At a brisk 83 minutes, the film never drags and keeps the adrenaline high from the midpoint onwards.
- Practical Thrills: The use of shadows and handheld camerawork adds a gritty, visceral feel to the home invasion sequences.
The Bad
- Unlikable Protagonists: The main characters are written as fairly obnoxious, making it difficult to fully care about their survival.
- Predictability: Outside of the specific motive reveal, the film follows every established slasher trope to the letter.
- Aged Concept: The heavy focus on Covid-19 protocols ensures the film will likely feel dated very quickly.
The Ugly: The Motive. While unique, the killer’s reasoning is so specific to real-world events that it borders on the comical and may cause a few eyes to roll.
Should You Watch Sick?
Yes, especially if you are a slasher completionist. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it executes the formula with more skill and budget than most Tubi or Shudder equivalents. It’s a solid, reliable choice for a Friday night horror fix that delivers exactly what it says on the tin.
You might also like:
- There’s Something in the Barn (2023) review – culture shock meets killer elves
- Slapface (2022) Review – A Messy and Muddled Metaphor for Abuse
- The Conspiracy (2012) Review – A Chilling And Believable Deep Dive Into Paranoia
- Loop Track (2023) Ending Explained – What Was Chasing Ian
- The Interior (2015) Review – A Divisive Genre-Bender with a Heart-Stopping Scare
Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight
Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.
A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.
Support the Site Knockout Horror is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Basically, if you click a link to rent or buy a movie, we may earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps keep the lights on and the nightmares coming. Don't worry, we will never recommend a movie purely to generate clicks. If it's bad, we will tell you.
Disclaimer: Images, posters, and video stills used in this review are the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included here for the purposes of commentary, criticism, and review under fair use. Knockout Horror makes no claim of ownership and encourages readers to support the official release of all films discussed.
