Sick

Directed by John Hyams, Sick follows two friends (Gideon Adlon’s Parker and Bethlehem Million’s Miri) as they arrive at a remote cabin to quarantine during the COVID pandemic – with trouble (and violence) ensuing after it becomes clear that they’re not alone out there. It’s pretty standard slasher-movie territory that’s employed to compelling and frequently enthralling effect by Hyams, as the filmmaker, armed with a script by Kevin Williamson and Katelyn Crabb, delivers a briskly-paced, perpetually surprising endeavor that grabs the viewer’s interest and attention right from the get-go – with the fun, exciting opening certainly living up to one’s expectations given Williamson’s involvement (ie this is almost as effective as Scream‘s pre-credits sequence, to be sure). From there, Sick progresses into an admittedly familiar midsection that’s augmented (and elevated) by the charismatic performances and smattering of impressively captivating interludes and set-pieces – with, in terms of the latter, Hyams’ brutal, visceral approach enhancing the impact of the film’s high-octane moments. By the time the revelation-heavy and thoroughly surprising third act rolls around, Sick has cemented its place as one of the most compelling and flat-out entertaining slasher pictures to emerge in a very, very long time – to the extent that it ultimately deserves a place alongside the genre’s most lauded entries (including, of course, Scream).

***1/2 out of ****