Marcel Walz has been consistently creating his brand of slasher movies for the best part of the last decade. His latest offering, That’s a Wrap, tries to follow in the formula of Scream, with mixed results. Set during a wrap party of a slasher movie, That’s a Wrap sees the cast and crew picked off by the creation of their own film, The Mistress.
Before getting to the party, That’s a Wrap actually begins the night before. Here, the audience encounters genre star Alexis (played by real-life horror actor Cerina Vincent). Alexis is the epitome of a diva scream queen and as she moans to her agent, she fails to realise the danger that she is about to face. Opening kills are a staple of the slasher film and so this is an expected beginning. However, it fails to be either zippy or intense, and greatly outstays its welcome. This is not the shocking opening hook that slashers depend upon and instead boredom seeps in immediately from That’s a Wrap’s opening gambit.
Thankfully, the pace picks up when the rest of the fictional cast are introduced. Although the cast and crew are plentiful, Walz introduces everyone quickly, using a red carpet photocall as the perfect opportunity to utilise freeze frames and throw character names on the screen. Walz dives straight into the action once this is finished; none of the cast are particularly complex and thus all is needed are snippets of conversations for the viewer to get the lay of the land. Just like in the slasher films of yesteryear, each of the players on screen conforms to a stereotype. These have had a minor modern make-over with the addition of the influencer and the gay guy thrown into the mix.
Whilst touting itself as being as self-referential as Scream, That’s a Wrap seems very confused about quite what that means. There is plenty of chatter about pre-existing properties, but unlike in Scream wherein Sidney and co knew their situation was like a movie, the characters here are all too self-involved to understand their fate. The script attempts irony, but these instances are far from subtle. An uptight cast member is teased by her girlfriends about her getting nailed on stage by the end of the night, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out what their fate becomes. Whereas the viewer has fun with Scream’s subversions and wry nods, That’s a Wrap signposts events too early and is lacking in the fun factor.
Walz tries to inject humour, but most attempts are unsuccessful with Walz coming across as trying too hard. An extended death meant as a homage to Psycho is a massive disappointment. It features a nude scene more gratuitous than that seen in the remake of My Bloody Valentine. As in older slashers, the reasons for the character getting naked are flimsy, and it doesn’t stop there. By the time the killer arrives to dispatch them, the viewer is gleeful, but more because it signals the end of a very awkward sequence.
The biggest offender within That’s a Wrap is the script. It is a string of clunky exposition and awful conversations; the dialogue veers very close to being merely dire. Several exchanges are excessively cringe-inducing. A conversation between two gay characters is a key offender. Worse still, the characters speak in a way that no one ever would. One female character tries to seduce her suitor by telling him that parts of her are ‘marinating’, which is perhaps the least sexy sounding comment ever.
Whilst the writing leaves plenty to be desired, there is no denying that Walz knows how to light a movie. Each scene is beautifully bathed in neon hues. This adds a wonderful visual splash and creates a vibrant looking environment for the mayhem to happen in. The soundtrack also continues Walz’ burgeoning trademark for synths. Whilst there are no bangers like Miko Hughes’ ‘Love is Blind’ (which featured in Blind), the soundtrack is pleasing to the ears. Although still riddled with plenty of misfires, That’s a Wrap does demonstrate progression and is perhaps Walz’ most coherent feature yet.
That’s a Wrap
Summary
Attempting to be a cross between a Giallo and Scream, That’s a Wrap is let down by a clunky and cliche laden script. Director Marcus Walz however remains a master at lighting and, in spite of other issues, That’s a Wrap at least looks pretty.
That’s a Wrap was reviewed at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest. That’s a Wrap is out in the US now.
