*Step into a thrilling blend of horror and hilarity as “The Blackening” takes you on a wild ride!
Picture this – a group of friends from college gathering at a secluded cabin in the woods, ready to celebrate Juneteenth with an epic reunion weekend. Little do they know, their festivities will become a battle for survival. A mysterious masked serial killer emerges, forcing them to participate in a deadly game called “The Blackening.” This twisted board game unveils the darkest secrets and confronts them with the chilling question of who is deemed the “Blackest” among them.
The film is based on a 2018 short film by writer and actor Dewayne Perkins (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Upshaws) Perkins was back onboard for the film’s expansion to a full feature, along with Tracy Oliver (Harlem) and Tim Story (Ride Along) directing. The film stars Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, and Sinqua Walls, with Jay Pharoah and Yvonne Orji.
Perkins portrays a heightened version of himself, “DeWayne,” X-Mayo, as Shanika is the outspoken friend. Jermaine Fowler plays Clifton as a fringe friend who always seems to show up even if they weren’t invited. X-Mayo shared that Clifton would be the friend who wasn’t invited to the cookout or would throw a cookout where he’s the only guest.
Perkins shared how creating this film solidified his love of seeing films with a group of Black People. He explained, “I think that films are such a big part of how we consume culture and learn. And similarly, I’ve seen “The Blackening” a couple of times in theaters, and every time like, I went to a screening in Alabama, and I didn’t have to see it, but I still chose to. I wanted to sit in there and share this moment because it is very different every time I’ve seen it with a different group. And kind of feeding off that energy is so addictive.”
Family reunions are not on the list of best-shared experiences for Perkins. His co-star X-Mayo shared how she and Fowler were “roasting” Perkins about his dislike of those types of gatherings, “we’re praying for him in regards to that,” she joked. “It’s a little too much serotonin, too much energy for him. we had a prayer circle for him earlier.” That playfulness is something that carries over into the film. You believe the characters are longtime friends who understand how to push each other’s buttons.
The film has laughs plus enough twists and turns to keep the audience engaged. Check out the entire conversation above.
“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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