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Comedy horror film

Totally Killer (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Totally Killer (2023) movie poster

Totally Killer is a 2023 comedy horror film directed by Nahnatchka Khan, starring Kiernan Shipka as Jamie Hughes, Collette, Liana Liberato and Stephi Chin-Salvo. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes and earned $2,697 worldwide. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
worldwide gross
$2.7K
Echo Score
65
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Totally Killer (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 46m (106 min)
Director
Nahnatchka Khan
Genres
Comedy , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Totally Killer About?

The premise of Totally Killer without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A teenager's Sweet Sixteen party takes a terrifying turn when the infamous Sweet Sixteen Killer resurfaces on Halloween night. As she celebrates, Jamie finds herself targeted by the killer, who is reviving their dark and gruesome legacy. Navigating a night of terror and deception, she must use her wits to outsmart the killer and fight for her survival.

Totally Killer Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • time travel
  • year 1987
  • halloween
  • 1980s
  • slasher horror
  • time machine
  • teenager
  • year 2022
  • throat slit
  • serial killer
  • reference to molly ringwald
  • nail gun as weapon
+38 more
  • mandela effect
  • generational differences
  • whodunit
  • science fair
  • hot tub
  • pot brownies
  • reference to zac efron
  • reference to uber
  • reference to marty mcfly
  • reference to dungeons and dragons
  • reference to drew barrymore
  • reference to thundercats
  • reference to meat loaf
  • stabbed in the arm
  • carnival
  • trick or treat
  • trick or treating
  • trick or treaters
  • trick or treater
  • photo booth
  • pepper spray
  • dodgeball
  • waterbed
  • cabin in the woods
  • reference to sting
  • reference to the police
  • nail gun
  • shot with a nail gun
  • gravitron ride
  • f word
  • teen horror
  • profanity
  • reference to tiktok
  • reference to nelson mandela
  • title directed by female
  • slasher
  • propaganda
  • time travel sci fi
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Cast & crew

Totally Killer Cast & Characters

Kiernan Shipka leads the cast as Jamie Hughes, Collette, with Liana Liberato as Tiffany Clark and Stephi Chin-Salvo as Marisa Song. Directed by Nahnatchka Khan; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Totally Killer

· 16 more
From the director

More from Nahnatchka Khan

More films directed by Nahnatchka Khan, best-rated first: Always Be My Maybe and Ali Wong: Don Wong.

Full filmography
Ratings

Totally Killer Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Totally Killer 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in story & flow (50).

65 /100

Totally Killer Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Totally Killer offers an energetic homage that balances nostalgic 80s visuals with a playful slasher narrative. Critics praised the colourful cinematography and engaging chase sequences, while noting uneven execution in production design and editing. The script delivers witty self-aware humor but occasionally succumbs to predictable tropes and narrative gaps. The cast brings spirited performances despite limited character depth. Overall, the film provides a fun seasonal experience with uneven resonance, resulting in moderate appeal.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels in its vibrant production design and dynamic editing, particularly in its inventive chase scenes. The colourful cinematography effectively evokes an 80s aesthetic, though some technical aspects feel constrained by streaming budgets. Direction maintains a playful sincerity but occasionally lacks polish in shot composition. Ultimately, the visual presentation is engaging but uneven in its execution.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, the cast delivers spirited performances that infuse the narrative with energy. Dialogue feels snappy and self-aware, supporting moments of genuine charm. However, several protagonists and supporting figures remain broadly sketched, limiting emotional depth and undercutting dramatic stakes. Chemistry between leads is serviceable but seldom transcends genre conventions. Overall, the emotional impact is modest despite occasional sparks of character-driven engagement.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, the film presents a lively premise that merges slasher tropes with time travel intrigue. Early pacing holds attention through playful twists, but momentum falters in the second half as narrative holes emerge and predictability sets in. Originality is hampered by familiar genre beats and superficial plot logic. The result is an engaging setup undermined by uneven coherence and diminished dramatic stakes.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    When it comes to sensory experience, the soundtrack and sound design effectively support the film’s campy tone, punctuated by sharp effects during slasher sequences. Visual styling embraces an understated neon palette that nods to 80s horror, creating consistent atmosphere. Yet some sequences lack visual cohesion and the musical cues can feel generic at moments. On balance, the sensory elements are lively and functional, though not uniformly memorable.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch factor, Totally Killer offers enough playful callbacks and comedic twists to reward repeat viewings during seasonal binges. The mixture of slasher tropes and time travel gimmicks provides minor surprises that can be enjoyable on subsequent watches. However, weaker narrative coherence and character depth limit long-term appeal, and many plot turns become predictable when revisited. Overall, the film sustains moderate replay value without significant lasting resonance.

Plot

Totally Killer Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Totally Killer from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the quaint town of Vernon, a chilling series of events took place on the nights of October 27, 29, and 31 in 1987. On these fateful nights, three teenage girls—Tiffany Clark, Marisa Song, and Heather Hernandez—met a horrific end at the hands of the notorious Sweet 16 Killer, each brutally stabbed 16 times on their 16th birthdays.

Fast forward to the present day: teenager Jamie Hughes is looking forward to a Halloween concert with her friend Amelia Creston, while her mother Pam Hughes decides to stay back and hand out candy. Unbeknownst to Jamie, Pam shares a tragic connection with the victims, having been friends with them, and that very night, she becomes the killer’s next target, brutally slain in a shocking twist.

Full summary

The whole story of Totally Killer, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Totally Killer Box Office

Totally Killer grossed $2,697 worldwide.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.7K

International
$2.7K
Videos

Totally Killer Trailers & Videos

11 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 9 clips.

All 11 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Who's The Next Blumhouse Slasher?
  • Clip Stuck the landing on this one, no notes.
  • Clip Sneak Peek
  • Clip A Deadly Trick Or Treater
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Totally Killer?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year does the main story of Totally Killer take place?

Details

Totally Killer Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “16 Facadas” and “سراپا نفس‌گیر”.

Also known as
  • 16 Facadas
  • سراپا نفس‌گیر
  • Конкретный убийца
  • Реальний вбивця
  • Абсолютний вбивця
  • Totally Killer – Gefährliches Spiel mit der Zeit
  • Dezesseis Facadas
  • 토탈리 킬러
  • לגמרי רוצח
  • Sangrientos dieciséis
  • Zatrzymać morderstwo
  • Gyilkos a múltból
+15 more
  • ハロウィン・キラー!
  • Dulces y Sangrientos 16
  • 绝对杀手
  • ย้อนเวลาหาฆาตกร
  • On Numara Katil
  • Naprostý zabiják
  • Абсолютный убийца
  • 完全殺手
  • Absoliutus žudikas
  • Sát Thủ Xuyên Không
  • Apsolutni ubojica
  • Επιστροφή στον Δολοφόνο
  • Тотални убица
  • Totalno ubijalsko
  • Напълно смъртоносен

Seen Totally Killer?

FAQ

Totally Killer FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Totally Killer, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Totally Killer?

Totally Killer runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).

When was Totally Killer released?

Totally Killer was released on October 6, 2023.

Who directed Totally Killer?

Totally Killer was directed by Nahnatchka Khan.

More films by Nahnatchka Khan

Who is in the cast of Totally Killer?

Totally Killer stars Kiernan Shipka as Jamie Hughes, Collette, Liana Liberato as Tiffany Clark and Stephi Chin-Salvo as Marisa Song, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Totally Killer make at the box office?

Totally Killer grossed $2,697 worldwide.

How is Totally Killer rated?

Totally Killer has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.

Does Totally Killer have a post-credit scene?

No. Totally Killer has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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