*The new Lionsgate horror comedy, “The Blackening,” centers on a group of Black friends from college who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a homicidal killer. The friends are forced to play a game called The Blackening, where they must follow his rules or face deadly repercussions.
The film stars Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, and Sinqua Walls, with Jay Pharoah and Yvonne Orji.
“The Blackening” skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: If a horror movie’s entire cast is Black, who dies first?
EUR talked with Pharoah and Gregg about the complexities of friend groups and what would cause them to kick a friend out of the circle or take their Black card.
Gregg, who plays “King” in the film, a reformed thug who is now more peaceful and loving than guns and bullets, shared that a Black card can never be taken.
“Regardless, you’re Black. And it’s a beautiful thing. You know, we come in all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, all that good stuff. I don’t know where I could take someone’s black card. If they say something to the detriment of Black people, then I could be ashamed that you have that Black card. I could wish you didn’t have it, but I can’t take it.”
Pharoah agreed with that sentiment and joked that he can’t dictate what’s Black because “there are so many things that I do that are not considered black. So I don’t even want to put it out there. Like, look, I know the Backstreet Boys. I say that, and I don’t care. Do you know why? Because when I did it on stage, all the Black people were singing too, making me feel like Backstreet has crossed that realm.”
“The Blackening” hits theaters on June 16.
Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-bred entertainment journalist, producer, and host. You can follow her on all social media @StilettoJill or check out JillMunroe.com.
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