Go ahead and predict what Tim Story will do next, I dare ya. One of the reasons Story is an interesting filmmaker to keep an eye on is that he’s done pretty much everything. This is the same guy who gave us two live-action Fantastic Four movies in the pre-MCU era. He’s also directed loads of music videos, multiple stand-up specials with Kevin Hart, not to mention directing Hart in two Ride Along films and a pair of Think Like A Man comedies, sports drama Hurricane Season, and his breakout film, Barbershop. In short, Story can skillfully handle anything you put in front of him, which makes him also the perfect choice to direct horror-comedy, The Blackening.
The Blackening centers on a group of Black college pals who reunite at a remote house in the woods for a Juneteenth weekend of partying and games of Spades. What they instead find is a racist board game and a sadistic killer who challenges them to prove their Blackness or die. Something has to give. Since Black characters always die first in horror movies, who dies first when all of the characters are Black?
It’s hilarious, topical stuff perfect for the new wave of diverse genre films since Get Out changed the game.
I had the chance to speak with Tim Story about The Blackening, how he got involved with the project, and what it was like directing so many funny people as they destroy all of the horror tropes pertaining to people of color.
The Blackening opens in theaters on June 16th. Check out the interview below!
