Black Friday Black Friday (2021)

Casey Tebo's 2021 cult-horror-comedy, Black Friday, masterfully leverages its absurd premise to deliver a biting critique of rampant consumerism. Far from a mere genre exercise, the film excels in its nostalgic embrace of practical effects and creature design, creating delightfully grotesque parasitic invaders that harken back to classic creature features. Bruce Campbell, in a role tailor-made for his signature deadpan wit and grizzled heroism, anchors an ensemble cast including Devon Sawa and Ivana Baquero, who perfectly capture the cynical exhaustion of retail workers. The film's technical execution embraces its B-movie roots, with frantic editing and claustrophobic cinematography amplifying the chaotic dread of the eponymous shopping day within the labyrinthine toy store. Beyond the visceral thrills, Tebo crafts a potent satire on holiday shopping mania and the dehumanizing aspects of modern capitalism. While it won't redefine cinematic horror, its charm lies in its unwavering commitment to its schlocky sensibilities, solidifying its place as a quintessential modern horror-comedy.