Review: The 6th Friend

I've seen a lot of slasher movies in my time, and understand the formula pretty well. Halloween defined the genre, Friday the 13th took it to new levels, and the Scream franchise added a wink and a nudge. I've seen them all, so it's tough to get me hooked on one.

The latest entry in the slasher cannon, Jamie Bernadette's The 6th Friend, attempts to blend elements from all these legendary titles into something new and fresh, and for the most part, this movie succeeds.

Bernadette, who also served as writer and producer, leads a strong cast of largely likeable ladies (say that 10 times fast) who reunite five years after a tragedy. As it goes in movies like this, their past literally comes back to haunt them.

I dug the first half of the movie more than the second. Why? Bernadette and director/co-writer Leita Clouston take the time to introduce audiences to the characters so you get to like them, which is rare in slasher movies. And these gals can act! Once the carnage got going, I gave a damn about these ladies and rooted for them.

There's also a nice sense of humour, which I didn't expect.

The second half falls into typical slasher territory, with the women picked off one at a time until a surprise third-act reveal. See if you can figure it out.

I admit, I'm not sure I completely bought how The 6th Friend played out, but I had a good time getting there. Good acting, direction, beautiful woman, and some brutal kills carried me through to the end. I can't complain.

The 6th Friend is a decent genre entry, and one I'd like to revisit without the "pressure" of writing a review. That means it's a Good in our book.

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