Fans of the horror genre are experiencing a slasher resurgence as popular horror film series like Halloween and Scream return to the spotlight. Freaky, starring Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn, was one of the more creative slashers of the previous several years. It was directed by Christopher Landon. Now, the famed Blissfield Butcher’s (Vaughn) mask and the mysterious La Dola Dagger are being released by the renowned horror studio Trick or Treat Studios. The mask in the film resembled a terrible mash-up of the masks of classic slasher killers like Michael Myers from Halloween, Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, and Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
It looks like Jason’s famous hockey mask, if it were carved from stone, and it has the same aged, rustic, and sinister air. The mask’s ceremonial appearance pairs well with the La Dola Dagger, which Vaughn’s Butcher acquires in the film’s opening scene and subsequently uses to assault Millie (Newton). That’s where the film’s hook—or rather the film’s stab—comes in Freaky Friday. The story of a young girl who trades places with a serial murderer is both clever and entertaining. Trick or Treat Studios nailed the dagger’s hypnotically gruesome skull grip.
Ghostface’s hunting knife, Jason’s machete, and Michael’s kitchen knife have all met their match against this dagger thanks to its innovative design. In 2020, when many movie theatres were closed due to the pandemic, Freaky was one of the unusual films to have a wide theatrical distribution. Its box revenue took a hit as a result, but the film has since garnered a devoted fan base because of its hilarious lead actors, shockingly graphic R-rated murders, a clever mix of horror and humour, and several loving nods to the genre’s rich history. Besides establishing Newton and Landon as modern genre icons, the picture marked a return to form for Vaughn.
Landon directed another horror comedy blockbuster trilogy, the Happy Death Day films, before filming Freaky, and Newton got her start in the horror category with the Landon-written horror sequel Paranormal Activity 4. When it comes to masks, Trick or Treat Studios has long been one of the best options available, making it a go-to supplier for horror fans. They have done a fantastic job using masks from classic horror films like Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Jaws, The Munsters, Goosebumps, The Return of the Living Dead, Child’s Play, and even more recent films like Jordan Peele’s Nope.
It’s fantastic to see Trick or Treat Studios keeping up the quality with a modern slasher film like Freaky, which doesn’t get nearly enough attention. Blissfield Butcher Masks and La Dola Daggers may be purchased in advance from Trick or Treat’s website for $19.99 and $34.99, respectively. Both are scheduled to ship by September 12—precisely in time for Halloween. To tide us over until we can add the Blissfield Butcher lore to our horror libraries, we can watch Freaky on HBO Max.