Sick Review: A COVID-19 Slasher

Sick rewrites the rules on survival with Blumhouse delivering another horror-slasher that people will be talking about. The premise follows an unknown masked stranger stalking two best friends quarantining together in a secluded lake house during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s a heart-pumping thrill ride!

The movie opens with some COVID-19 statistics also advising of the stay-at-home order. The film then transitions to our first character, Tyler Murphy (Joel Courtney), at a convenience store where supplies are very scarce, and he is being stalked by an unknown figure. What we know as of now is someone in that store is watching and following him, anonymously sending Tyler a photo of himself. He returns to his apartment where weird and eerie things begin to occur, and is later attacked and killed by his unknown stalker in all black wearing a balaclava. Imagine "A" from Pretty Little Liars in a pandemic-era going on a major killing spree. Horror movies with a cold opening are the perfect starter because it leaves you questioning: What is going on? Why is this happening? Why was this character axed first? What is the connection?

We are then introduced to our two main leading ladies, Parker Mason (Gideon Adlon) and her BFF, Miri Woodlow (Bethlehem Million), as they embark on a getaway to the Mason family lake house to quarantine together. As we see Miri being conscious and responsible wearing a mask, she strongly encourages Parker to wear hers, although she argues she doesn’t have the virus, she puts one on so her friend is also not at risk.

Once they arrive at their destination, this beautiful log-style lake house overlooks the water and to Miri’s surprise discovers the house is completely sectioned off, and the nearest neighbor is two miles away. Seclusion. Isolation. Sounds absolutely perfect for quarantine, right? Once the creepy texts start rolling in, thinking they’re being watched, the girls ignore it assuming someone is pranking them since Parker is an active Instagram poster. She blocks the unknown texter, not allowing anyone or anything ruin her quarantine time.

As night falls, the girls are startled by an unknown visitor who is later revealed to be DJ (Dylan Sprayberry), Parker's fling, who follows Parker to the lake house not announcing himself as he finds his way inside. Once the girls agree to let him stay the night, they hang out for the remainder of the evening. DJ does confront Parker about their “situationship” and she admits she’s more open to seeing other people because they are not official, and has the right to do so. While getting advice from Miri, we see an unknown figure sneak into the house, and what we know now is that this is not another friend or fling dropping by to visit.

Sick creates so much tension with the inclusion of frenzy chase scenes, dramatic irony, horror movie easter eggs, and countless plot twists. It’s a brilliant take on modern horror combining the COVID-era rules with a home invasion - which is by far genius and refreshing. Adlon, who also starred in Blumhouse’s The Craft: Legacy (2020), was fun to watch in this movie. Both Adlon and Million definitely embodied final girl energy as both characters put their survival skills to work.

Director John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Reckoning, Alone) keeps you intrigued leaving you on the edge of your seat as blood splatters and bodies pile up. Another significant contributor is Scream scribe Kevin Williamson, who also co-wrote this movie. While watching this you are definitely reliving the fear and reality of the pandemic and it literally feels like stepping back in time three years ago thinking, “Wow, this was really our life in 2020.”

Sick is now streaming on Peacock. Rated R for strong violence, terror, language throughout and some drug use with a runtime of 83 minutes.