The first great horror slasher of 2024 has arrived, and it is super queer! Just in time to take attendance: Departing Seniors, debut director Clare Cooney’s take on a meta, atmospheric blend of horror and comedy. This yearbook of entertaining tropes recalls (and often directly name-drops) too many 90s classics to cite. The primary influence becomes all too apparent from the second the best friend of our gay teenage lead suggests they need to figure out who’s “playing Billy Loomis here,” regarding the killer’s identity. Yes, without 1996’s iconic Scream, there would be no Departing Seniors. Every single person involved in this production seems so obviously indebted to the Wes Craven masterpiece; that the film still remains a total blast instead of being a dull retread is a minor miracle. Similar to other recent high-concept slashers such as Happy Death Day or Totally Killer, Departing Seniors adds a psychic, supernatural element to keep things feeling fresh. Look out Final Destination’s Alex Browning, a new premonitory final boy has come to keep one company.
With aspirations to carry over his photography expertise into Northwestern University, nerdy cutie Javier (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, A Good Person) just wants to spend the few days before high school graduation going through last-minute photos for the yearbook. Unfortunately, the spark of a grisly murder disrupts the normal flow of senior affairs. In the opening kill sequence—a staple in these slashers—a bullying incident at the school swimming pool leaves the aggressor dead. His killer dons a creepy white mask: one side appears sad with a tiny tear streaming down one cheek, whilst the other sports a sadistic half-grin. This masked maniac just happens to be sporting the visage of a mounted mask representing the school’s Drama Club. Before anyone can say “red herring,” potential suspects pop up left and right. It is up to Javier and his best girlfriend, Bianca (Ireon Roach), to unmask this villain, and put a stop to their killing spree once and for all.
Leave it to screenwriter Jose Nateras to inject even more fun into an already exciting premise. A ticking clock angle constantly updates the viewer on both the day of the week, and how many more days until graduation. As an added bonus to Javier being our de facto final boy, he receives a special hand-me-down gift, courtesy of his kooky Tia. Javier becomes privy to his newfound gift after a cruel prank involving a pumpkin spice latte water balloon sends him to the hospital in a neck brace.
If he touches an item, Javier will have flashes of its connections. A person’s inner thoughts or a glimpse into their actual future may sound appealing in theory, yet Javier’s gift shows him how a person at school could die. These premonitions soon become key to solving the twisty whodunit swirling at the center. Portrayed as intense visualization of the future, Javier’s visions add a tangible flair to quieter parts of the film. Departing Seniors has a somewhat low body count when stacked against similar movies in the genre. However, every death here means something substantial.
Could it be the sweet and sensitive trumpet player making puppy dog eyes at Javier, the charming William (Ryan Foreman)? Maybe behind the mask is Javier’s English professor, Mr. Arda (Yang Gellman, Jason X, Urban Legends: Final Cut)? What about snooty racist and homophobic overachiever Ginny (Maisie Merlock), or jock closet case, Brad (Sasha Kuznetsov, Perpetrator)? At a certain point, I had my killer guess narrowed down to a few different people. Among the chaos, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio and Ireon Roach play off one another’s energies. As two besties, they are completely believable. Their bond is one of the most successful aspects of Departing Seniors, overflowing with contagious energy.
No matter whose corpse ends up on the chopping block, the identity of the killer seemed obvious to me at first glance. Never have I been happier to be proven completely wrong. Before it charges into a gripping finale, Departing Seniors expands each major character. Even the awful Ginny gets a full-on backstory. If we are sympathetic to not just the heroes but also the bullies, seeing them picked off one by one becomes decidedly more high stakes. It would have been easier to toss a bunch of cookie-cutter victims to the chopping block to satiate the bloodlust of genre fans. Instead, the subtler option prevails. This is a slasher with heart. Do not come for the gore—less of the red stuff flows than one may anticipate.
Could Departing Seniors end up the first in a long line of sequels carrying over the drama club killer? Its winning combination of Scream meets Final Destination, with a whole lot of gay blended in, works wonders. At the point when an organic reference to Stephen King’s Rose Red emerges, I was head over heels. The door feels wide open for the next great horror icon. Snarky dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, an excellent killer reveal, and an edge-of-your seat chase scene are just the cherry on top. Despite low budget trappings, Departing Seniors collects a fascinating ensemble cast for one of the most entertaining horror films of the new year!
Join the Departing Seniors just in time for graduation, slashing into select theaters and Video On Demand/Digital on Friday, February 2nd from Dark Sky Films.
