A Slasher for a new generation of teens, Slay is a play on words when a horror-obsessed trans icon is thrown into the real deal when she and her friends are put on the chopping block just as they’re about to start living their best lives. Packed with pretty faces, socially conscious ideals, and graphic kills, Slay is one I definitely did not want to miss at this year’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF).
A killer is on the loose and targets a group of teens on a weekend getaway (think Clueless meets Scream).
Slay, IMDB
Everyone loves a montage, and Slay starts us off with one detailing the life of rising star Chloe Cruz (Zoey Luna). We see her living her most authentic life, having fun with her friends, starting a YouTube show, and eventually scoring a part in a movie production — despite her father and some members of the public’s thoughts on her being trans. As Chloe is preparing for her big break, one of her friends is murdered, reigniting hateful rhetoric and — for lack of a better term — putting a damper on some celebratory party plans. The group decides to spend the weekend away anyway, but soon discover what a horrible choice that was when friendships start to unravel — and people start to die at the hands of a masked killer.
Slay was my first watch at the BHFF, and I picked a banger of a movie. Everything about it felt high quality and high class, from the cinematography to the casting and dialogue and the music too. Slay didn’t feel like an “indie” movie, but rather something I’d see at any nationwide theater chain. It just looked really good, feeling exactly like it was described: “Clueless meets Scream.”
And that goes for the kills too. Slay is a true Slasher with a masked killer dicing up teens left and right. I couldn’t tell what percent of death scenes were practical vs. CG, but it all looked seamless… and messy! The deaths were very convincing.
On that same note, the killer was a surprise because Slay somehow told us exactly who the killer was early on without actually revealing the entire thing. I won’t give any spoilers, but I was convinced of one perpetrator, then thought of another suspect, but turned out to be wrong on so many other levels. In true whodunit fashion, Slay keeps you guessing without resorting to terrible writing or plot holes. By the end, my head was simultaneously going “Wow!” while also going “WTF?!”
Now I want point out that this movie is firmly in the LGBTQ+ realm. I am all for representation, so I’m glad to see such an awesome movie feature people from all walks of life. Chloe and the rest of the group are shining examples of the support groups we need to be and hope to have (discounting all the murder and backstabbing, obviously), which brings me to another point: Slay is impeccably cast with each and every character being likeable — or hate-able, as with horror legend Shawnee Smith’s character. I was rooting for everyone to make it and it hit harder when they got into dire straits. Overall, Slay proves that everyone bleeds the same red when they’re being stalked and stabbed by a blonde barbarian.
There is something for everyone to love about Slay, and its nonstop action and empathetic cast made the ending all the more crazy and unexpected. I don’t know if I’m looking too far into it and seeing subtext that may or may not be there (like someone trying to live their life only to be struck down by others, but rising above once again), but either way, Slay was highly entertaining and something I’d definitely recommend.
Slay slayed.
For more on Slay, follow the movie on Instagram. For more on the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, follow them on web and Instagram.
