62
Metascore
17 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75San Francisco ChronicleBob StraussSan Francisco ChronicleBob StraussDespite some gruesome brutality, Totally Killer has a very light-on-its-feet quality. But as artificial entertainment goes, this one’s put together with ruthless care.
- 75Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperChicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperIt’s a mix that doesn’t always work, and at times the 1980s period-piece jokes are almost too easy, but the dialogue is snappy, the horror scenes are effectively staged, and the cast is terrific.
- 70SlashfilmMatt DonatoSlashfilmMatt DonatoTotally Killer tries to skirt responsibilities by having you laugh at its self-awareness, which works as much as it doesn't. Kiernan Shipka will be the reason people talk about Totally Killer, even if the film's foundation of paper cards is one strong gust away from collapsing at any second.
- 70IGNAmelia EmberwingIGNAmelia EmberwingTotally Killer may not reinvent the wheel, but its blend of Scream meets Disney Channel Original movie gets the job done quite admirably. The cast and the story’s heart makes up for any technical missteps, and while it definitely falls into the usual time travel traps, it makes fun of itself while doing so!
- 63Slant MagazineRoss McIndoeSlant MagazineRoss McIndoeIt might not be quite as incisive a piece of genre dismemberment as Wes Craven’s Scream or Drew Goddard’s Cabin in the Woods, but it has a lot of fun poking at the tricks and tropes of slasher movies all the same.
- 60Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzArizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzShipka is both funny and gritty as the wry observer unwillingly drawn into the action, the kind of role at which she excels.
- 60We Got This CoveredScott CampbellWe Got This CoveredScott CampbellThe ambition often outweighs the execution, but Totally Killer is still a fun and bloody riff on several different genres at once.
- 50The New York TimesBrandon YuThe New York TimesBrandon YuThe fun premise can make for a passively enjoyable watch during a Halloween binge, but the film mostly feels like it’s just going through the motions.
- 40The GuardianBenjamin LeeThe GuardianBenjamin LeeThere are echoes of Happy Death Day, Back to the Future and The Final Girls in Amazon’s perky Halloween offering Totally Killer, echoes often loud enough to drown out the film entirely. Its time-travel slasher plot cribs elements from all and relies on enthusiasm over invention to keep us entertained, a gamble that only works in brief bursts.
- 38The Seattle TimesDominic BaezThe Seattle TimesDominic BaezIt wants to make a joke at its source material’s expense, but all it ever accomplishes is making you want to watch those classics instead.