The Deeper Meaning of Happy Death Day
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- I made this video essay after watching Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019), directed by Christopher Landon and starring Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Rachel Matthews, Phi Vu and more. In this video, I explore the deeper themes of these two films; symbolism, the entanglement of birth and death, the cyclical time loop nature of life under the sun, whether there's hope for growth (hence, 'Tree' Gelbman's name), the multiverse and more.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:40 The Time Loop
05:54 The Arc
13:07 The Scientific Fluke
20:02 Scream Connections
20:50 Outro
Check out 'Cinemagogue - Director's Cut' by James Harleman...
cinemagogue.com/2023/10/23/cin...
Popcorn Theology Podcast...
popcorntheology.com/
REFERENCES
- Happy Death Day (2017)
- Happy Death Day 2U (2019)
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I think one thing you missed that makes the second movie hit a little harder on the premise it set out for. The first movie reshapes her into a better version of herself, but the second movie puts her in situations that actively challenge her growth and forces her to make difficult decisions that test whether it was superficial or real change
Thanks for your comment! Great point. And that's why it's a worthwhile sequel, it's not just a rehash of the lessons she's already learned.
The last time I got to visit my father in hospice during Covid lockdown, he had me pick a movie on tv. I came across this movie and being a horror buff I was intrigued- my dad said to me "you're just like your mother" and chuckled. To me I knew it was actually a loving compliment. He passed shortly after and I never forgot the movie and the moment. I was grieving and I searched endlessly to figure out the name of it and when I did I was shocked. I cried. A lot. And now I have it on dvd and I revisit the moment as a good one and to be in the face of the brutal truth of life and death.
Thanks for sharing that Kimberly. So sorry for your loss. Amazing how films can speak into our personal lives like that.
I also watched this film with my father, he is still alive today(I'm sorry if this offends anyone, it wasn't my intention) but I had a lot of fun with him that day. We also saw the second film and I couldn't stop laughing at the humor in these films!
Have you seen the sequel? It even has the death of a parent as a major plot point
@@DeathnoteBB YOU CAN'T JUST HYPE IT UP LIKE THAT
@@laraprisma6381”he’s still alive” what a sick humble brag.
I’m sure a lot of people were mad that it seemed like the second movie erased the progress she made with her grief, but in reality dealing with the loss of a loved one is a messy process. You can fall back into previous stages or jump ahead and skip stages only to go through them later. Mourning is not a straight line by any means and it’s completely realistic that she “lost some progress”.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone actually complain about the second film “erasing” Tree’s progress with grief. The only complaint that I heard about was that some people didn’t buy her decision to return to her original dimension and be with Carter instead of staying in this alternate dimension where her mom is alive.
@@windowsVD That's dumb ngl, doing that just shows that she's moved on from her mom and letting the past go to have a better future
"Happy Death Day" is a damn good film. One of Blumhouse's best releases.
My favourite scene in cinema! "You are gay!"
Why are you gay?
It seems like this movie is an extremely condensed version of the premise of The Good Place. If you're given an (in)finite number of times to redo your life with no repercussions, you could grow as a person, especially if you have people you care about and who care about you with you. I guess that's also the premise of Groundhog's Day, but The Good Place spells it out as the thesis of the show. It emphasizes the importance of connections and how they can make us better people.
Thank you so much for tying my favorite TV show to my favorite movies!
Happy death day is honestly a masterpiece. It balances the right amount of fun and seriousness. The casts chemistry is great. Love it
Fr. Went into it thinking it was a random B class film but ended up becoming a fan
Great video! IMO, Happy Death Day is one of the best meta slasher films since the original Scream, and I really wish the series had continued down the path that the first film set rather than the comedic tone the sequel had.
Ah thanks so much! Yes, the sequel definitely leans into the comedy a lot more than the horror.
i actually love both original and sequel. i didnt expect to like it but it actually is clever in its own way. it's not as serious but it works
The whole movie reminds me of Momento Mori. This is a famous Latin saying meaning remember you will die. Only by accepting death is Tree ever able to better herself, overcoming death in the process. It also goes to show that nothing will change until you change. Tree is never able to find her killer until she improves her character. By accepting the seeming goodwill of her roommate’s cupcake, she is able to finally change her fate.
Hm, more Donny darko
i always liked happy death day a lot. It felt like being a time loop sort of liberated the story from the general mean-spirited vibe slashers have by necessity and allowed for a really gleefully over-the-top indulgence in fun chase scenes.
I went into the cinema expecting a typical horror movie. Instead I came out feeling... Refreshed and.. wistful. I ended up loving Tree a LOT, and the journey she goes through. I dont remember if it was the first or second death day movie but, Tree seeinf her mother alive again made me cry😭 I have both my parents but i still felt what she felt. The sorrow mixed with happiness, to finally see her mother again, even though, that isnt really _her_ mother..
I always enjoyed this movie, but it wasn't until watching again after my mother died that I really appreciated what it was saying. Some might dismiss its message as simplistic, but the most impacting lessons are usually quite simple. Tree might have been compelled by circumstance, but she chose to become a better, stronger, and more compassionate person. I think she's what hallmarks Scream for me - because you're right, HDD isn't self-referential - but Tree is almost as awesome as Sidney Prescott. I'd be really interested in your take on another of Chris Landon's horror-comedies, Freaky. Thanks for a great video!
Thanks so much for sharing that. I'd love to check out Freaky!
I will alow
_BOTH_ the first and second movie were entertaining yet thoughtful. Love them so much
I watched Happy Death Day completely by accident one day and I was completely blown away. I assumed it was gonna be generic slasher stuff and I’m a lifelong horror fan, so I’ve seen that kinda thing done so many times that it takes a lot to make that particular flavor feel worth it to me. But this series really managed to do something fun, interesting and emotionally effective enough to do just that. I’d take a third with the same team any day.
A completely underrated set of movies that I wish got more recognition for just how good they are
Tree is one of my very favorite horror heroines. She grows into a better person and has a really fun sense of humor. Jessica Rothe is fun in the role.
"There's no way this is intentional," I think to myself until approximately 8 minutes in.
A single quote from the director:
How do you only have 2k subscribers?! This video was so insightful and very well done. Looking forward to watch more from you!
Ah thank you! Very kind!
For what it matters, I don't see Multiverse stories as making things insignificant, quite the opposite. The universe is vast, infinite, and unknowable, yes. But you matter. Every little choice you make, matters. What you do here, what comments you leave on a random youtube video, could change things in ways you can't foresee. It's not hopelessness, but Hope itself. What you did, what do, what you will do, they all shape the world around us. After all, if there are infinite realities out there, the only thing that matters is that your are in this one, with these people, and there is no other exactly like it.
Dude in first grade I saw this trailer and the next day I told everyone about it and we sang happy birthday but birth was swapped with death. The teachers had to make us stop lol
16:32 tree's mother's words here hit me so hard..
That part about wanting to reconnect with a deceased loved one just for one more dinner REALLY hits. These movies definitely punch above their weight.
P.S. it was filmed at my alma mater, Tulane, and the school next door, Loyola U! hOW COOL!
I love the premade garageband loops in the transitions 😭😭
I saw this movie with my mom on the day I had to put my kitten down (he had FIP). Weird choice for a distraction I know but I'd been wanting to see it for a while. Then the sequel came out and my mom passed away a couple years later and...yeah I still love both movies, I think they're incredibly underrated, but the sequel especially is so hard to watch without crying
I FUCKING LOVE THIS MOVIE, glad there’s a video about it now
Just found your channel and hands down one of my new favorites. Lovely job!
Ah thanks so much! Very kind.
This was a neat video that inspired me to watch the movies, but one thing that stuck out to me was the understanding of samsara/karmic consequences as a "punishment." From the way I was taught, samsara is something generally to escape from, but its not because it is a punishing thing. It's taken to be a fact that existence entails suffering of some kind because it's not possible to satisfy all desires, but karma is just the consequences of your actions across the cycle. Just like how it is inaccurate to say you were punished with pain from touching a hot stovetop as a kid, pain is just the natural consequence of touching hot things. It operates under a different moral framework, so while it makes enough sense to say she's possibly being punished for her misbehavior, in "actuality" she's experience the natural consequences of her behavior. To escape samara is in some way to escape the bindings of your desires; in my own perspective, it's likely because a lack of desire and a lack of disappointment goes both ways. Whether you recognize existence as "one" or "null," "you'll" likely wouldn't perceive suffering as suffering by that point
Yes exactly^^^^^^ it’s not a punishment. If anything I keep seeing this theme of growing and learning through those experiences in Hindu thought. You had to pass through a terrible birth because of your past actions so you can grow and get to a better birth or escape it.
Gotta say though, the idea that she'd go back to the universe where her mom is dead for a guy she essentially just met really bothered me. Like there's really no way that makes sense, especially since she could still find and date him but whatever. Good analysis regardless
For real. Everyone would choose the mother universe. Unless you truly have already moved on
Thanks so much for your comment! That's a good point. Perhaps part of it is her coming to terms with the fact that it's not truly her reality. So can this woman truly be considered her mother? Again, this for me is one of the issues with the whole multiverse thing.
I think Carter serves more as symbolism in that moment. Like she's going back to her universe because she realised that while she didn’t have her mom anymore, she has a new supportsystem around her that's worth protecting. She's got her dad, and now she's also got Carter who's first and foremost been her friend through these movies, they've built something together that's worth nurturing. I think that's what she goes back for.
Ultimately it's Tree deciding to be (mostly) selfless and go back to the reality that was meant for her. It's character growth.
Tree was going to stay but two things happens that changes her mind. 1. When she and her mother were talking her mom kept referring things that in this universe they did together but in hers she didn’t, so she really didn’t know who she was talking to and felt like staying here with her mom would be living a lie. 2. Carter dies that day in the hospital trying to save Lori, so if tree stayed here she couldn’t even date him later. Tree goes back with these to things in mind. She loves her mom, but Carter helped her and even dies multiple times drying to save her and others. She goes back to be with someone who truly cares
I have to stop you at 13:14 `cause I haven´t seen the 2nd. jet.
But I agree with youre analysis and I like you´re voice and style.
Last Vid was nice as well.
You should watch the 2nd one soon. It is just as great, further challenging her growth
Sure thing! Thanks so much!
I adore these movies, thank you for the video.
Oh my gosh. When I was like 7 or 8, I saw an ad for this movie and I was completely in shock and traumatized. For 2 or 3 months I stopped using CZcams. Luckily I am much older and more mature now and I think this is a quite interesting film. :)
How ik yu was British before i pressed the vid not tryna clown yu, yall just always got me on these deep introspective dives and i love it❤
17:53 Teresa's actress did a TERRIFIC job here. Moved me to tears
I thought this was a channle with at least 10k subscribers. This is some good content.
WONDERFUL JOB!
Thank you!
These movies were great. There was some girl power stuff in it, but they didn't make her an unstoppable force. Instead, she was like a rubber band. Bouncing back each time. I liked the overall mystery, and the sequel had more comedy in it, which actually helped set it apart from the first one.
Say what you will about Blumhouse, I really enjoyed Happy Death Day. One of the only slashers I really enjoy as she doesn't die, just loops.
Really great essay, man. Subs now.
Ah thank you so much!
I got to meet Phi Vu on a cruise a couple weeks ago, didn’t realize who he was at the time though 😅
Most horror movies are deeper than people think
Agreed!
15:24 Man, you look at that like it's soul crushing. Ya know, back in the 90s, the multiverse was actually cool in comic books. There were established rules, and they didn't pull any stunts for shock value. Not until the mid-2000s anyway. The problem now is that we keep visiting the same idea for a multiverse. So we've seen it over and over and over.
Yeah they almost always do it in the same way if not a slight but meaningless tweak
What a remarkable insight to a movie i considered a waste of time.
Thank you so much for going so deep and thorough with this video. I subscribed immediately.
Ah thank you so much! Welcome to the channel!
I watched this movie a couple of years ago and it terrified me. I also share a birthday with my mum, and it’s pretty close to the MC’s birthday. I though that this was a sign that the same thing is going to happen to me and I was trying to “avoid it”, now I laugh about 11 years old me sticking with my mom 24/7 so that we either survive together or die together.
Great video
For anyone wondering the graph is x^2+sin x
I remember all the ads of this movie on tv
I'd like to see it as DBD cosmetics or as a chapter.
I agree. A half-chapter with her as the survivor would be great!
Yes! And Babyface as the killer. I would download DBD again for this
@@xsomili5501what do you think the power would be?
Happy death day and its sequel are among my favorite movies I rewatch all the time.
i always thought this movie was like a joke horror movie, but i guess it really is deeper than that.
Loved the video, Happy death day is such a great movie and your analysis was so amazing, especially bc most people just think this is a dumb funny movie
Just a random, entirely unrelated side fact with absolutely no hidden or ulterior motive behind sharing it:
The Phyrexians, a machine-species from another plane of existence, recently breached the walls of the multiverse within Magic: the Gatherings lore.
The exact point this story happened irl, something which was set up for decades worth of books and card sets, coincides precisely to when ai like chatgpt exploded in popularity.
Since then, every crossover you can imagine from multiple other multiversal fictions have bridged into the world of Magic, and vice versa.
The walls are coming down, whether anyone likes it or not.
Our fiction is just the testing ground for reality to get its iterations accurate.
Carter was a sweetie pie!!
The thing i love about this film is that it's not unlimited, you will die eventually so you can't do the same thing over and over again.
Loved this movie sm
I absolutely loved these movies. They are genuinely good movies. Not just movies that worked for. I hope if they do make the 3rd they keep up the level they’ve been working at. Not caving to what a marketing group says they want. That’s was makes the 3rd in a series frequently disappointing.
Great in depth video on the meaning of this horror comedy movie
Ah thank you!
You’re so underrated
I'm spooked, I have the same birthday (death day) as the protagonist 😂
He looks a lot like MatPat in my opinion.
true
It's just a theory,a film theory!
I love this movie
I remember seeing a trailer for this when I was 7 because I was going to the theatre to watch the my little pony movie. It scared the shit out of me lmao
You should check out "before i fall"
Fun Fact: Some studies show you're actually more likely to die on your birthday 🎂☠️
Great video! I'd never really given this movie much thought, but I quite enjoy your analysis. Looking forward to checking out more of your channel
Why do I always get this video recommend to me past 3 am? Hell naw I ain't watching it before sleep
I actually have a super complex background related to this movie that’s very interesting but I’ll never tell u
Happy death day is my favorite movie, and eclesiastes is my favorite book on the bible, THIS VIDEO WAS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR ME (or so I like to think lol)
Amazing! Welcome.
Hilarious video, how do you keep a straight face all the way through? lmao
IMO it’s like traumas following you no matter how much you try to avoid it
I noticed that I got weaker after a stroke and seizures landed me in a coma for 3 months and I was able to even wrestle my brothers to the ground before I went into the coma after I can barely beat my 4-year nephew who is currently on my arm and leaning on me
1:08 Oh, I just stick to the cigarette metaphor.
This video is so well made , U deserve way more subscribers
Ah thank you!
I wish we would get more Comedy Horror movies like this one~
I swear, my one prediction did not happen.
I predicted that the reason she could not guess who her killer was because a new one cane in each day. I figured she had to guess the killer for that day or encounter everyone as a group to stop her loop.
I feel Happy Death Day has more in common with Primer than Scream 😂
You make some very good points. Unfortunately I couldn't watch along quiet all the way. Next time please add in a 20-37 second clip of plastic toy keys jingling so i can stay focussed. Thank!
I feel like happy death day 1 & 2 is one of the 6 or so blumhouse movies.
If a 3rd does come out, I'm interested as to what they'll call it.
Happy death day: three wishes (like the birthday candle from the first movie)
Director Christopher Landon said the current title is "Happy Death Day To Us"
Never did i think , somebody would think about this , and help me too , to think this way .
I am glad i came across this video .
So. Alchemy is the secret to immortality.
You have to die before you can really live.
Self awareness.
Metaphysical gold, and all that.
A tale as old as time.
Love this movie, had to click. Hope its worth it.
any relation?
These movies are like Amnesia:A Machine For Pigs, in the other stats, it's bad, but in story and morals, it's a masterpiece.
can you do final destination ??
Good suggestion! I'll add it to the list
Love the content! People will flock in droves soon my friend
Aw thanks so much!
I watching this the day after my birthday
happy late bday to you!
@@nomu5873 thank you
Not an MKL Jr quote to support a film theory.
My problem with the second movie is the multiverse (Because the Way Hollywood Handles it is really Stale to Me and Uninteresting)(my setting stats the multiverse is real but it isn't infinite and that crossing universes is literally 2nd year magic and so Theirs Complex Multiversal Conflicts (note that every Universe doesnt branch off from one True Universe but instead the Universal Constant slightly Deviates (Alpha) so the atoms ofeach universe are the same but their positions are ever so slightly off dominoing into Different worlds within the same Multiverse (also multiverse is a misnomer here because kf the fact of their being multiple grouped together based on Clusters of Divergence and along with that Multiversal collaboration leads to people whom would Never be born without being able to cross Universe's,
This and the babysitter series need a tgird fikm
they never do anything with the accumulation of damage from multiple deaths, it's abandoned as soon as it's introduced.
Its more a idea that she can't just do it as much as she want
@@alcidedragon which ends up being inconsequential and logically makes no sense
@@ajax201000 No ? Why ?
@@alcidedragon why does it make no sense?
Because time is veing reset, everything except Tree's memories reset so why would any damage remain? The cause of the damage literally never happened once time was reset.
@@ajax201000 If you consider that her body is reset why do she have her memory back then ?
10:46 I just gotta say, I don't like your upside down chart. Arcs go up and down. Not down then up, that's a dip.
You look kinda like MatPat
STOP THATS WHAT I WAS THINKING
3:25 haha that’s my birthday
wait…
movie makers: we saw groundhog day and decided we could make something similar
this guy: DEEP LORE
ngl tho this is cool
Joe bartolozzi from a different universe
18 september is also my birthday 🤣
In german groundhogs day is called and dayly greats the groundhog which led to wdge of tomorror/qll ypu need is kill getting the nickname and dayly dies the groundhog as a perfect synopsis of thw movies concept . . . .i found that very funny . . . But saldy few pwoplw get tge reference and its meaning even in germany ans knowing groundhogs day
1:00 speak for yourself I intend to Live Forever😅
I also call the Bdays happy suviving another year day.
My CZcams algo is riddled with Brits explaining American stories to me and how much deeper they are than expected and I want to complain but I can’t… because if I do, a lad from Glastonbury will explain why having a problem with this is deeper than expected. Then a mate from Brisbane will explain it’s simple but elegant and that’s why it’s neat.