Sissy (2022) Review – A Sharp and Gory Satire for the TikTok Generation

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we will be taking a look at Shudder original Aussie comedy horror Sissy.

Another excellent Aussie horror

Written and directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes, Sissy follows social media influencer Cecilia (Aisha Dee) as she stumbles upon a chance meeting with her estranged high school best friend. Delighted to see Sissy, Emma (Hannah Barlow) invites her to her upcoming bachelorette weekend. Sissy reluctantly accepts, not realising that her former childhood bully will be there, prompting her into a spiral of emotions and chaos.

“Cecilia remains completely likeable, even as she is quickly losing her marbles. She is always presented in a sympathetic manner, making you question exactly who to root for.”

This movie comes across as horror for the TikTok generation. Indeed, much like the recent Bodies Bodies Bodies, Sissy uses the medium of social media as something of a satirical social commentary. We’ve put together an Ending Explained article for Sissy so if you are looking for answers click the link – Sissy Ending Explained article.

Man, does Australia ever put out some awesome horror? Particularly gruesome, bleak and gory shockers. But, likewise, they also knock it out of the park when it comes to comedy horror. We have recently reviewed Better Watch Out, The Loved Ones and Lake Mungo. All three are amazing; however, they are just the tip of the Australian horror iceberg. Sissy shares much in common with the aforementioned The Loved Ones.

It’s a visceral mix of brutal gore, horrific kills and moments of pure hilarity. Featuring a charismatic lead character, Sissy dares you to not like, and relate, to our protagonist. Further, given that many have been victims of bullying, this is a movie that is going to test the morals of certain viewers. As the situation escalates, the conflicted reality of Sissy makes you question who to root for. It’s fantastic stuff! The character-driven plot keeps you thoroughly engaged for much of its run.

Horror laughs

The comedy element here, obviously, is front and centre. Sissy is equally as much a comedy movie as it is a horror. Hannah Barlow frames events with a biting, satirical, wit that aims to simultaneously make you laugh and gross you out. With the movie poking gentle fun at the perpetually online generations of recent years, Cecilia is as much of a hypocrite as any real-life influencer. She portrays the perfect image of positivity for her followers to shill products while living like a slob herself.

“Cecilia is as much of a hypocrite as any real-life influencer. She portrays the perfect image of positivity for her followers to shill products while living like a slob herself.”

The comedy continues throughout the movie. Well-placed camera shots put us into Cecilia’s shoes. She is overwhelmed and the viewer is supposed to know it. The friend group she has suddenly been thrust into seem even more vapid than her. They are obsessed with drama and gossip. The only thing they can focus on are reality shows. It’s hilarious stuff and it only lets up for the gore.

When the kills get going, the gore comes in buckets, too. Heads are crushed, people are thrown off cliffs, a face is caved in. It is brutally bloody stuff but it is all presented with tongue in cheek. Comedic camera shots are used to highlight the victim’s fate. It’s actually quite slapstick in parts but still fits like a speedo given the theme of the movie.

It’s a difficult task to marry comedy with ultra-violence and many movies fail at it completely. As I mentioned earlier, Sissy does a brilliant job here, much like The Loved Ones. A comedic soundtrack helps to lighten the mood as our protagonist attempts to find her zen. Cecilia remains completely likeable, even as she is quickly losing her marbles. She is always presented in a sympathetic manner.

Maybe not for everyone

It is worth pointing out, given all of the above, that Sissy certainly isn’t for everyone. Furthermore, some may be seriously put off by some of the strong comedy leanings. As with Bodies Bodies Bodies, some will fail to see the irony and may not realise it is satirical -something which could make the movie hard to enjoy. With that being said, if you are averse to all things modern then you will likely find a lot of Sissy difficult to enjoy.

The friend group is obnoxious. They are obsessed with gossip and reality TV shows and most people would go out of their way to avoid people like this. They are bitchy, quick to bully, and have no depth of character. All of this is deliberate and designed to make you sympathise with Cecilia, as Cecilia acts as, something of, an avatar for the viewer.

“Sissy is a great effort when it comes to comedy horror. It is another fantastic Aussie horror full of gore, wit, brutal kills and surprises. Well worth a watch.”

She feels out of place in much the same way many people watching will. Still, it has to be said that some will simply dislike the portrayal of the characters. They will potentially find it too much to overlook and it will impact their enjoyment.

A diverse and interesting cast

Sissy has assembled a fantastically diverse cast. Featuring differently abled performers and a mix of races, Sissy places LGBTQ characters centre stage. This is a brilliant example of how horror can lead the way when it comes to progressive productions. There really isn’t a weak performance in the entire film. Aisha Dee, as Cecilia, stands out. She is absolutely fantastic and I would love to see her more in the future. She has excellent comedy timing.

Hannah Barlow, as Emma, is also fantastic. Obviously extremely talented, Barlow also directed and scripted Sissy. On top of that, she performed and wrote songs for the film. A great all-round performance. It is far above that of many who spread themselves too thin on a movie set. Daniel Monks is great fun as the bitchy and loud Jamie. Emily De Margheriti is suitably wicked as bully Alex. Everyone else sort of fades into the background a little. Not bad by any means but less noteworthy.

Direction is fantastic. Camera shots are well used to capture Cecilia’s awkwardness. You really relate to her sense of discomfort. Much of that is down to clever use of closeups and a strong focus on facial expressions. Kills are always presented in a comic and brutal manner. Flashbacks are used effectively to unravel the history between characters. The social media aspect is well integrated with likes and messages highlighted on screen relating Cecilia’s dependency on her fans. It’s all really well done.

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.

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