Ronit J

The Blackening (2022) Synopsis:

We can’t all die first.

Seven black friends go away for the weekend, only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. They must pit their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies against the murderer to stay alive.

The Blackening (2022) Review:

I had no idea about this movie until it showed up on the featured tab in JioHotstar earlier this year. The premise seemed interesting, and it had really good reviews. I saved it for a day when I’d want to watch something light, and that day came last weekend.

I’ll be honest, with comedies, I manage my expectations purely because of how Hollywood has mistreated this wonderful genre. Sometimes, interesting concepts are just that and not more, like Companion. Other times, they end up being absolute masterpieces like The Monkey or Fresh.

I didn’t expect a masterpiece when I started watching The Blackeninhg, but I did expect to have some laughs and a good time. Funnily enough, The Blackening ended up evoking from me quite the contrasting reactions. It ended up being a masterpiece that I couldn’t fully appreciate or enjoy. And yet, I can see its brilliance.

Anyone who says that racism doesn’t exist anymore is either living under a rock or is living in a disturbingly utopian bubble. For context, it’s been only been 5 years since the George Floyd incident. In such events, it becomes quite a task to tread the line of political correctness whilst putting forth your points in a manner that’s interesting and captivating.

The Blackening follows a group of 30-something black friends who are meeting at a cabin in the woods for a reunion. However, everything starts going downhill when they’re embroiled in a Jumanji-meets-Saw kind of messed up game.

Note: I am going to use the term ‘black’ and not ‘African American’ because ‘black’ itself is an important cultural identifier, both in the film as well as real life. My usage of the term comes from a place of respect and admiration for the film’s creativity and relevancy.

A Racially Relevant Black Comedy (pun intended)

The Blackening takes a prevalent horror trope of ‘black guy dies first’ and flips it on its head. What we get as a result is a hilarious film that actually makes you question the horror genre. None of the black folks in The Blackening behave like their white counterparts in most classic horror films. No one goes exploring alone. They’re outright skeptical about playing the mysterious game. And, they only indulge after one of them is literally threatened with death.

The racial awareness of this film actually indulges in a lot of stereotypes, embracing what constitutes black culture, as well as dismissing bits that are offensive. Because the cast and crew comprise of black people, none of the stereotypes come off as insulting. Instead, their use feels organic, adding to each character’s personality.

What’s more, the film instills ample black history and cultural paraphernalia to enrich the viewing experience. From commenting about the two Aunt Vivs in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Janet Hubert was honestly amazing, and should not have been recast), to even having one of the characters ‘vote for trump’ because let’s face it, Trump is appealing to the working class black community for many reasons, the film is full of such nuggets of genius.

But, the black identity isn’t everything that these characters are. They all have careers, some even indulging in what would be considered traditionally white cultural practices. This respectful treatment of every character makes the film feel real, despite it being a horror comedy developed from a Comedy Central sketch.

Hilarious, Horrifying, But a Tad Esoteric

Let’s put aside the ‘black’ identity of the film for a moment, because movies like these always attract haters. ‘Oh, it’s only acclaimed because it panders to a particular community’. No, it does not. Because, you don’t need to be black to enjoy this film. It’s genuinely funny, with the characters having a real connection and chemistry. Plus, the way the tropes play out and the way the characters subvert expectations results in quite an entertaining watch.

As a horror comedy, it is a decent example of both genres. The humour is equal parts funny and thought-provoking. The horror elements actually dissect the personalities of these characters, highlighting deeper human truths that surface in the face of death and tragedy. However, this is where the praise ends. As a film about black identity, it does depend on that identity to shine. And this exactly is where the film will find its haters.

What really will make or break the film for you is the characters. And they are black. If that is a problem for you, you’re not going to like this film one bit.

I’m not as immersed in black culture to be able to appreciate much of the nuances, leaving me alienated. However, I’m not fully unaware either, which is why I was able to spot enough references to know that this is a really good film. If anything, the film left me wanting to learn more about black history and culture, which I consider a big win for the film.

The Blackening (2022) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

Clifton, who the group had voted out for his ‘I voted for Trump… twice’ comment turns out to still be alive. Not because he survived, but because he’s the mastermind behind this sick and twisted game.

Years ago, he had gotten drunk on their reunion, resulting in a drunk driving incident that killed an innocent woman. Clifton always blamed the group for getting him drunk and making him feel like an outsider. After finally making bail, he concocts this plan, employing hired killers (the clerks at the gas station) to stage an elaborate ‘Saw-like’ game session to kill his former classmates. However, the group manages to outsmart him, pushing him into the same well where he had dumped Shawn’s body.

Now that the game is over, the main group is finally free. However, being black, they can’t just call the cops, lest the police department’s racial bias backfires. So, they call the fire department instead, which—hilariously—shoots them with water.

The ending highlights two important cultural aspects of the black community, which by extension really applies to all communities across the world. 1) alienation: Clifton’s feeling out of place because he doesn’t fully adhere to what the majority believes in, and 2) Community-driven-efforts: the group’s coming together to solve their problems is very characteristic of marginalised groups that survived purely because of their community-driven efforts.

Everything in this film goes down the way it does, purely because of the

Is The Blackening (2022) worth watching?

Yes, but with caveats.

There were many moments across the film’s runtime where I felt a little alienated by the majority group. And yes, I know how that sounds. ‘Oh the film is too black!’ Well, it is. And, it’s a wonderful exploration of that culture. Which is what will really decide whether or not this film is for you. You are allowed to appreciate something without necessarily liking it.

If you’re willing to sit and let yourself be immersed in a film full of black paraphernalia, then you’re in for quite a treat. But, if the ‘film is too black’ comment makes you not want to give it a shot, then this is certainly not a film for you.

In Conclusion:

The Blackening (2022) is a smart horror comedy that manages to be funny, whilst being rich with black culture and history. A little esoteric at times, but enjoyable regardless.

Also check out:

• No Other Choice (2025) | Park Chan-Wook | Film Review
• The Family Man Season 3 | Review
• Party Down Seasons 1 2 3 | Series Review
• Frankenstein (2025) | Film Review
• Creature Commandos Season 1 Review
• The Phoenician Scheme (2025) | Wes Anderson | Film Review
• Why The Poor Don’t Kill Us by Manu Joseph | Book Review
• Island of the Dying Goddess

What did you think of The Blackening (2022)? Let me know in the comments below.

Sign up to my newsletter & get a free copy of Abandoned by the Gods. Is there any movie, show, or book you’d like me to review? Drop your recommendations in the comments below.

Until next time!