MovieChat Forums > Happy Death Day (2017) Discussion > My biggest problem with the movie.

My biggest problem with the movie.


I thought the movie was okay, but like many of these movies, it was frustrating that the main character didn't act in a logical manner.

Since she was living the same day over and over, she had the advantage of knowing where the killer would be, depending on what actions she took that day. So all she had to do was find a gun, repeat the actions of the previous day, and when the killer shows up at the same time and place as the previous day, shoot the killer.
But I guess that would make for a short movie.

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Thing is every 'new' day she would do something different and so would the killer. Remember when she was spying on the doctor's wife the killer randomly ran behind her and killed her in the pool. There was also the red herring serial-killer in the hospital so it wasn't *that* easy to find out who it was.

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Yes, when she did something different, so did the killer. As I said:

"repeat the actions of the previous day"

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OK but let's say she walks through the tunnel the second time attempting to repeat the events of the original night. As soon as she picks up an axe to defend herself, prior to entering the tunnel, she is altering the future events. The killer would just find another way to kill her, no?

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All she had to do was get a gun, and do what she did the day she locked herself in her room. The killer ended up in her shower. Just wait for the killer to come out of the shower, pull out the gun, and end the movie.
The killer would have no idea she'd gotten a gun, and would do the same thing as the previous day.
Yes, if she's walking around carrying an axe, the killer will probably change tactics. But if she has a gun in her pocket, the killer's not going to be aware of that. In that case, she could walk into the tunnel, wait for the killer to appear, pull out the gun, and blam!

One other thing she could have tried, is to sacrifice one of her lives in order to unmask the killer. Go for the mask, and tear it off as the killer stabs her. Mystery solved.

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read the previous post again. it renders your answer obsolete in each and every point. not meaning to be rude, just seriously think about it.

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If you think it renders my answer obsolete, then explain why.

Because it doesn't.

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Go for the mask, and tear it off as the killer stabs her. Mystery solved.


That's what I would have done the second time. But Tree is an idiot and the whole movie revolves around her so...

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"All she had to do was get a gun". Despite what media tells you, it's not like going and buying a coke in most states. And the act of going out and getting a gun would completely change the expected actions of her day.

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I enjoyed it..[spoiler]She saves her life and every survivor's by: finding TWO killers-a guy named Mr.Coons something, and her own ROOMMATE Lori[/spoiler]. Large part due to the specific ending and how it turned out for Tree*, I actually WAY preferred this one.


*How did the writer or novelist come by that name? Short for Trini, Trina, Theresa??

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Mr. Toombs (not that it matters), and the character's full name was Theresa. I've personally known a Theresa who went by Tree. I guess it's a thing because Terry has a masculine connotation?

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Yeah, I thought so and looked it up and found the same (Teresa, actually). I have a Theresa for a friend and will start calling her Tree (I';ve called her Therese or Tess before.P-)

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Well, there's always Tess.:)

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It would be "Teri" or "Terri" for a female, not "Terry".

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Well,this is still outperforming and has legs, along with Blade Runner 2049. :)

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The plot relies on Tree being a dumb whore bitch. I don't think she deserved a happy ending either.

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I haven't seen this since I saw it with a few friends in the theatre, but from what you wrote, I do recall us feeling the same way. My friends and I were picking off scenarios. Why not call the police and ask for them to tail you? Why not buy a gun? Why not stay in a wide open field and run if you see someone from a distance coming closer? Why not just walk down the busiest street you can find? Why not pull a "Home Alone" and booby trap a room she was in?

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While your idea is great and i appreciate it, people are not robots, they act on their experiences and impulses. We cant say for sure that the killer would come from the same place even if she is the same way. Moreover this is a horror comedy. It is supposed to entertain you like a romcom. I don't even consider this horror but a spoof like scary movie except here it is very subtle and masks itself as serious horror for so long until it reveals slowly.

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While your idea is great and i appreciate it, people are not robots, they act on their experiences and impulses. We cant say for sure that the killer would come from the same place even if she is the same way. Moreover this is a horror comedy. It is supposed to entertain you like a romcom. I don't even consider this horror but a spoof like scary movie except here it is very subtle and masks itself as serious horror for so long until it reveals slowly.

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The reason your response doesn't make sense (even tho you posted it twice :) is that Yes; everything would've proceeded Exactly the same way, had she done the same thing. This is made abundantly clear with the running joke of her seeing the same people doing the Exact Same Thing as she leaves the dorm.

The OP is, of course, right. I'm sure the filmmakers are aware as all; they just didn't care. They wanted to tell this specific story, and it's more than a little tongue-in-cheek. It's like giving the writers of Animal House a hard time because of how those characters behaved. The movie is aware; it just doesn't care. It's not that kind of movie. . .

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She had to find out who the killer was first. Somebody else said she tried different things and the killer always adapted and got to her.

The only negative thing about this movie is the short hand story telling at the end. I guess they had to wrap it up somehow and make it a neat 1 hour 40 minutes which I appreciate.

But on the final day she kills the "killer" but doesnt have to go to the cop shop for questioning. There are no witnesses and the only evidence is a poison *spoiler* which she could have made herself and she kicks the killer out of the window. The love interest on the last day knew her as if he spent the whole movie with her, when in his reality he had one awkward conversation that morning, she gets out of his bed hungover, goes off and kills someone. The next thing he knows that day is when they are at a diner playing like old friends laughing about it. You saw a drunk girl leave your bed, then she kills someone. You dont know this psycho.

Its forgiven because it was a pretty well made film and I understand they couldnt dwell too much untying every knot or we would have a 3 hour movie when this run time was perfect.

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