Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Playful tone lightens time-bending slasher movie's violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Happy Death Day
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 40 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a mixed bag, often praised for its entertaining slasher elements and its balance of humor and suspense, making it suitable for younger audiences new to the genre. However, concerns are raised regarding its rating, with some parents finding it inappropriate for children due to sexual content and implied violence, while others advocate for it as a fun introduction to horror for teens.
- entertaining slasher
- inappropriate for kids
- suitable for teens
- humor and suspense
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 103 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a fun and accessible introduction to the horror genre, combining comedic elements with light slasher thrills, making it suitable for young viewers. While it contains some violence, mild sexual references, and occasional swearing, most reviewers agree that it's not excessively scary or gory, focusing more on character development and humor than traditional horror elements.
- fun horror introduction
- light on gore
- mild sexual references
- character development
- suitable for younger viewers
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In HAPPY DEATH DAY, Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) wakes up on the morning of her birthday; she's hung over and in a strange dorm room, which turns out to belong to the helpful Carter (Israel Broussard). Tree goes about her day, which includes a lunch meeting with her nasty sorority sisters and a closed-doors rendezvous with a married teacher. At night, on her way to a party, a killer in a creepy baby-face mask stabs her. Then Tree wakes up, and it's the same day again; she's reliving it over and over, meeting the killer every night, and dying violently. One day, Carter wonders whether, if she can discover the killer's identity and save her own life, it could break the cycle. Unfortunately, she starts feeling weaker each morning, as if her "lives" are running out. But then she finds out that an escaped killer, Joseph Tombs (Rob Mello), has been lurking nearby.
Is It Any Good?
Though it obviously borrows from Groundhog Day, this gleefully silly slasher movie has a playful spirit, likable characters, and even some half-decent life lessons. Director Christopher Landon (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) finds just the right tone for Happy Death Day, starting with Tree's introduction as a self-centered jerk. Tree is kind of horrible and not very savvy -- she's certainly never seen any horror movies and has no idea how to fight off a masked killer -- but she's fully human, and she grows on you.
When, like Bill Murray's Phil in Groundhog Day, Tree has time to evaluate her life, she starts trying to set things right, and her attempts are wonderfully endearing. As for the movie's slasher elements, they're not terribly gory or scary; they seem to be in line with the movie's lighthearted tone. But fans of slasher movies will certainly enjoy some of the clichés Landon plays with (in some ways, Happy Death Day isn't dissimilar to Scream or The Final Girls in that regard). In short, Happy Death Day is aware of what it's up to, but not in a way that prevents you from enjoying the story or the characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Happy Death Day's violence. How much is shown? Does the lack of on-screen blood lessen the impact of the violent moments?
How scary is the movie? Do you consider it a horror movie? What's the appeal of this kind of movie?
How does Tree change over the course of the movie? What does she learn? What do you think you'd you do if you lived a single day over and over again?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 13, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : September 25, 2018
- Cast : Jessica Rothe , Israel Broussard , Rob Mello
- Director : Christopher Landon
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : School ( College & Graduate School , High School ) , Family Stories , Friendship , Holidays ( Halloween ) , Fantasy ( Monsters )
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence/terror, crude sexual content, language, some drug material and partial nudity
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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