Working at an ice cream parlor, longtime friends Lucy (Brooke Markham) and Karen (VyVy Nguyen) have their shift disrupted when a mysterious woman emerges from the forest and bites Lucy. With a scrapbook of spells in hand, the two head to a remote campground to deal with what they believe to be a werewolf bite that will soon turn Lucy. However, eventually they find themselves facing off against various classical creatures in a bid to save themselves.
Shaky Shivers is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
With an official intro that kicks off with the line “This bonkers horror-comedy was surely written during a crazy night of wild binge drinking and super sweet frozen desserts,” Sung Kang's “Shaky Shivers” certainly fits that description, though perhaps not in the way it was intended. Indeed, the horror-comedy genre can be difficult to nail, and the movie is a series of mistakes into an utterly forgettable experience that presents itself as a half-baked concept rushed out over a night of regrettable indulgence.
This lies mainly in the script, reminiscent of American sitcoms, which contain as many jokers per minute as possible to keep the attention of a simple-minded audience. Moreover, it follows the form of having only one joke landing out of a dozen and, at most, warranting a slight chuckle. Consequently, “Shaky Shivers” becomes a tedious affair from its opening scenes, with any valid comedic moments becoming awash in grown-inducing one-liners that miss the mark.
Check also this interview
The simplistic script also makes it difficult to review the performances of Brooke Markham and VyVy Nguyen, as they play cartoon characters of a non-descript generation. There is such a strong disconnect between the two through the stilted script that it becomes difficult to draw any personality traits from either, beyond their ability to tell jokes poorly. The scripting comes across as out of touch, trying desperately to capture the sensation of ‘youth' without understanding the first thing about them (how do you do, fellow kids), and it is difficult to pin any of this on any actors involved as any emoting or line delivery dies under the juvenile humor throughout.
Regarding Sung Kang's direction, the film lacks polish. It has a certain made-for-TV quality that, admittedly, can slightly tickle that nostalgia of past kid shows like “Goosebumps” or “Are You Afraid of the Dark.” To the credit of Kang and cinematographer Remi Tournois, the production has a complementary flow and a knack for nailing the comedic timing, as the few gags that work are through the visuals. It would be interesting to see Kang and Tournis work with a competent script; with as big of a failure as “Shaky Shivers” is, there is some merit in the execution. On the other hand, the writing by Andrew McAllister & Aaron Strongoni has only given reason to avoid any projects from the two moving forward.
The other saving grace of the production is the creature design, with the zombie in particular, being a pretty gnarly take on the undead. There is not ample bloodshed, but any moments of gore are pulled off impressively with practical effects, including a much-appreciated head crush.
When looking at a film in a critical light, it is vital to go beyond personal bias and ask who the production would/could appeal to. “Shaky Shivers” subtle reach for nostalgia-driven horror-comedy is without merit in a saturated genre with exponentially better-executed films. Moreover, there is enough crass humor and violence that it falls short of the innocent charm of the classic TV series it (seemingly) attempts to homage. Ultimately, “Shaky Shivers” is a horror movie for no one, and even those giving it positive reviews will be hard-pressed to remember it next year when a slew of much better horror comedies come to cleanse the putrid stench of mediocrity.
