- Release year: 2024
- Director: Kyle Mooney.
- Producers: Matt Dines, Alison Goodwin, Jonah Hill, Christopher Storer, Cooper Wehde, and Evan Winter.
- Screenplay by: Kyle Mooney and Evan Winter.
- Cinematography by: Bill Pope.
- Music by: Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans.
Synopsis: horror comedy depicting the electronic uprising feared by conspiracy theorists during the change of the millennium.
Shotgun Commentary: a horror comedy that is neither scary nor funny, so there’s that…
Review
Y2K is a horror comedy that tries to tap into a moment in time not too far behind us. When the Internet had barely begun developing and the world had yet to see a whole new level of dystopic behaviours.
The concept of showing a reality where one of the most ridiculous conspiracy theories of the 90s turns out to be true is great. Sadly, both the story and the cast are plain and tedious. The short slasher scene being the only enjoyable moment of the whole experience.
The film begins like a knock-off version of Project X (2012). With the same ridiculous teenage sex jokes that already made teenagers cringe back then, and almost the same protagonists.
It almost seems like any comedy protagonised by two teenage boys needs to follow the exact same formula. First, a twink virgin with a crush on a “cool girl” (you can find the definition of that one in Gone Girl, 2014). And second, a fat sidekick whose personality is limited to being fat, horny and some level of pervert. As for the rest of the characters… It would be nice if teen representation could at some point expand further than six stereotypes, but today is not that day.
Slashing the 90s
Luckily not everything about the characters is wrong. If we have learned anything from 90s teen movies, it is that there is a subtle but obvious difference between being 16 and being 30.
Sure, some actors and actresses can get away with it due to unbelievably age-defying genes, but most mortals cannot. As such, it is such a relief to see a film where most teens look the age they are supposed to be. Additionally, the 90s looks they rock are really well picked. Granted, this fashion is not amongst the hardest to achieve, but it is still nailed to a T.
The most impactful moment in the feature, and definitely the most engaging, is the teen massacre that takes place after the year 1999 ends and 2000 begins. Most of the deaths don’t make any sense. Plus, it is hard to imagine all teens are so completely useless in an emergency. But isn’t that the essence of slashers? Complete nonsense and a bunch of ridiculous, but hilarious, gory deaths?
Downhill from there
Sadly, the bloodbath is soon over and the rest of it is not really worth watching. Nevertheless, this critic did, so now you can enjoy a light reading of why it is not worth your time instead of wasting over an hour of your life.
After the half hour of Project X and the five-to-ten minutes of Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), the Decepticons (Transformers, 2007) uprising is going full steam ahead, leaving the few survivors who manage to make it out of the neighbourhood to roam in the woods in search for sanctuary.
From this moment on, only people thought both This Is the End (2013) and Krazy House (2024) were hilarious are likely to enjoy this. If you appreciate a bit of depth in your humour and a bit of complexity in your romance storylines, this is not the film you are looking for.
All in all, Y2K is a pretty underdeveloped film that provides brainless entertainment for people who will most definitely be on their phones while watching it. It has a pretty cool poster that will attract your attention if you are into neons, but you mustn’t judge it for that, the film itself is pretty bland.
Advice to take from this movie:
Today’s advice all has the same goal: how to not be cringe.
- Don’t try to rap in public. Just don’t. Go to a competition if you think you have talent, but don’t make your loved ones go through that.
- If you are the musical guest in a film, maybe sing your own songs?
- Don’t quote random films if they have nothing to do with the situation you are in.
What’s your take? Have you watched Y2K? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀