Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Horror comedy tackles racism; violence, drugs, swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Blackening
What's the Story?
THE BLACKENING follows a group of friends -- Lisa (Antoinette Robertson), Dewayne (Dewayne Perkins), Nnamdi (Sinqua Walls), Allison (Grace Byers), Shanika (X Mayo), King (Melvin Gregg), and Clifton (Jermaine Fowler) -- who are set to have a fun Juneteenth weekend with fellow friends/married couple Morgan and Shawn (Yvonne Orji and Jay Pharoah). But the weekend turns scary once the friends realize that they're trapped in the house with a mysterious, deadly game that wants them to prove who's the blackest among them.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fun film for older teens and adults to watch with friends, especially if you're looking for a way to mark the Juneteenth weekend. Even though The Blackening is described as a horror comedy, squeamish viewers will be able to make it through the movie mostly unscathed, as much of it is focused on comedic moments related to what happens within horror films -- and within Black culture.
The cast is hilarious; their apparent off-screen camaraderie shows in the way they interact with each other on screen. The film also takes care to create humor that's specific to the Black experience -- e.g., exaggerating a type of nonverbal communication many Black people have with one another (giving each other "the look" when drama is about to happen). The characters' experiences also demonstrate how Black people have historically found humor in the tragedies that are unfairly placed upon them, such as dealing with police brutality. Humor is how many Black people have been able to survive the seemingly impossible, and that's true for these characters, too, as they use humor to keep themselves alive in harrowing moments. Overall, The Blackening highlights the fun and humor that can be found in being a Black person who's just trying to survive in America.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stereotypes in film. How does The Blackening challenge stereotypes about Black people?
What kind of racial injustices are covered in the film? Are you familiar with the clichés that the movie is satirizing?
How do the characters use their skills to survive? Do you consider them role models?
How are White characters portrayed? How does that differ from what you're used to seeing?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 16, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : June 7, 2023
- Cast : Antoinette Robertson , Sinqua Walls , X Mayo , Jermaine Fowler , Grace Byers
- Director : Tim Story
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Black Movie Writer(s) , Queer Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement , Racial justice ) , Family Stories , Friendship , Fantasy ( Ghosts , Monsters ) , Holidays ( Halloween , Juneteenth , Kwanzaa ) , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : pervasive language, violence and drug use
- Last updated : September 6, 2025
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