By Jonathan Klotz
| Revealed
I keep in mind precisely the place I used to be on December 31, 1999: I used to be with 5 different pals at a buddy’s home, enjoying Mario Kart 64 and South Park: Chef’s Luv Shack, and we weren’t too involved concerning the finish of the world, however on the similar time, all of us breathed a sigh of aid at 12:01 AM on January 1, 2000 when nothing occurred. For months, the media had been hyping Y2K, a crucial laptop error that might, allegedly, wipe out all know-how in existence. The sophomoric horror comedy Y2K imagines what might have occurred if, as a substitute, know-how tried to kill individuals, and whereas it bombed in theaters, it’s now considered one of Max’s hottest films.
A Killer Home Celebration
Y2K is a superbly aimed nostalgic film for everybody ages 37 to 48 with nonstop references to the flip of the century, together with a killer Tamogotchi, a time-warping soundtrack, and a tremendous cameo that you shouldn’t exit and spoil for your self. In truth, the film is at its greatest proper after the stroke of midnight when three uncool pals, Danny (Julian Dennison), Eli (Jaedan Martell), and Garrett (the movie’s author/director, Kyle Mooney), are at a highschool home social gathering. Rapidly, know-how is attempting to kill the youngsters, from a VCR bashing a lady’s head in, to the Tamogotchi, till lastly, a weird assortment of tech known as The Screenslayer straight up stabs individuals.
The boys are joined by Farkas (Stranger Issues’ Eduardo Franco) and Eli’s crush, Laura (Rachel Zegler), as they search refuge on the college and attempt to save their city from the lethal virus. Bodily rising in measurement because the movie goes alongside, the Amalgamation begins taking management of the townspeople, turning the invisible menace of a virus into a typical, huge film monster. Like the true laptop glitch, Y2K is way extra fascinating within the summary, earlier than it devolves into a typical horror film, as a result of the early home social gathering bloodbath is likely one of the greatest horror film scenes of the last decade, and the remainder of the movie is…there.
Not A Humorous Sufficient Comedy, Not A Scary Sufficient Horror
Y2K virtually combines a 2000’s 2000s-era teen comedy with a horror comedy, however the two halves of the film, like pineapple on pizza, don’t style nice collectively. It’s not as humorous because it may very well be as a straight-up comedy, and never as darkish or ingenious because it may very well be as a pure horror movie, nevertheless it has some nice comedic beats, and some artistic deaths, however just one the place they each completely mix to create a second so stunning and surprising, it would get a response out of anybody. It’s disjointed, poorly paced, and misses the mark, however in a couple of years, this can be a sleeper horror hit.
When it was in theaters, and it was in theaters, this isn’t a streaming unique film, however since nobody went to see it, you’re forgiven. Y2K earned $4 million regardless of the somewhat modest film finances of $15 million; it was a considerable flop and a disappointment when it debuted on December 6, 2024. As its present success exhibits, perhaps going to theaters was a mistake, nevertheless it’s a streaming hit.
Y2K Is A Future Hit
For every part that Y2K does poorly, the film makes up for it with enthusiasm and the infectious pleasure that solely comes from a director’s first main movie. Kyle Mooney remains to be looking for his voice and elegance, however at the very least he’s taking an enormous swing with this horror comedy mashup and isn’t enjoying it secure for a lot of the film. In a couple of years, the corny dialogue and 2000s nostalgia will make this a success to a technology that may’t keep in mind a world with out cellphones and by no means skilled Woodstock 1999
Y2K is now streaming on Max.
