A group of old college friends reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway, only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, they soon realize this isn’t a game. A film by Tim Story, starring Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji.

Morgan (Yvonne Orji) and Shawn (Jay Pharoah), a couple, are organizing a reunion with their close friends in a secluded cabin on Juneteenth. They uncover a suspicious game room in the basement, where they find an ancient board game called “The Blackening.”

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

Morgan, intrigued by the board game, wonders how to play when they both hear a mysterious voice demanding them to pick a card. The card bears a question they must answer correctly or die. Thinking it’s a sick trivia game, Shawn answers. The enigmatic voice informs them that the answer is incorrect. The lights suddenly go out, the door behind them slams shut, and an arrow pierces Shawn’s neck.

The film cuts to the rest of the group, as Dewayne (Dewayne Perkins) drives Lisa (Antoinette Robertson) and Allison (Grace Byers) to the cabin. Allison excitedly mentions that she’s looking forward to partying with all eight of them, unaware that Dewayne doesn’t yet know they’ve invited Nnamdi, Lisa’s ex-boyfriend, whom Dewayne despises for cheating on his best friend.

King (Melvin Gregg) and Nnamdi (Sinqua Walls) arrive at the cabin, joined in the evening by Shanika (X Mayo) and Clifton (Jermaine Fowler), a former classmate she ran into at the gas station. None of them recognize Clifton, nor do they know why he’s there or who invited him, but they all assume Morgan and Shawn invited him as part of their game.

After a game of Spades, a blackout plunges the cabin into darkness. King volunteers to find the fuse box, but Lisa spots a large figure moving in the shadows. The group gathers to assist King, only to discover that all the doors are locked except for a green door labeled “GAME ROOM” that wasn’t there before. Believing it’s part of Morgan and Shawn’s elaborate prank, they enter the room filled with old board games. But when they realize that Shawn has been killed, they’re forced to play “The Blackening” to save Morgan’s life.

A comedy-horror film directed by Tim Story, with a screenplay by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, based on the 2018 short film by Chicago-based comedy troupe 3Peat. The script playfully subverts the slasher/horror genre trope of Black characters dying first by posing the question: if all the characters are black, who will die first? The tagline, “We can’t all die first,” is brilliant and could easily be the title of the film.

The cast delivers stellar performances, their chemistry simply impeccable. The real villain’s identity may be predictable, but his motivation is compelling nonetheless. The BLACKENING is undoubtedly one of the most memorable comedy-horror films I’ve seen in years, featuring a perfect blend of satire, comedy, and horror.

The BLACKENING premiered at Toronto International Film Festival on 16 September 2022. The film was released theatrically in the United States on 16 June 2023.