If the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, then who dies first?

By now, we’re all familiar with the “Black character dies first” horror movie trope. “The Blackening” takes that slasher flick hallmark and turns it all the way up, knowing the best means of squelching racism is through satire, cleverly asking: Who gets offed first when all the characters are Black? Well, the “Blackest” person, of course. That is the zany mindset of “Girls Trip” scribe Tracy Oliver and comedian Dewayne Perkins (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), who gather eight college friends at a creepy cabin in the woods for a bloody Juneteenth weekend reunion.

Melvin Gregg as King, Grace Byers as Allison, Antoinette Robertson as Lisa, Sinqua Walls as Nnamdi, Jermaine Fowler as Clifton, Dewayne Perkins as Dewayne, and Xochitl Mayo as Shanika in the horror-comedy "The Blackening." (Glen Wilson photo)
Melvin Gregg as King, Grace Byers as Allison, Antoinette Robertson as Lisa, Sinqua Walls as Nnamdi, Jermaine Fowler as Clifton, Dewayne Perkins as Dewayne, and Xochitl Mayo as Shanika in the horror-comedy “The Blackening.” (Glen Wilson photo)

Cue the booze and ball-busting but ignore the scary surroundings and the uninvited guest (Jermaine Fowler).  What could go wrong? Everything. And the shit hits the fan right away, as the house reveals itself to be a total hellhole. Problems start with a power failure and soon enough a masked madman with a crossbow appears. In between all the Molly, Adderall, and spiked fruit punch, the group discovers the titular board game in a locked game room. A closed-circuit TV shows their friend, Morgan (Yvonne Orji), gagged and tied to a chair. To save her they must play the game, which evaluates “Blackness,” based on trivia about Black culture and history. Answer them correctly within two minutes or die trying. The gang struggles to recall the second verse of the Black National Anthem and which five Black actors were on the ‘90s sitcom “Friends.” The dialogue is fast and furious and laced with social commentary, endearing and biting.

Director Tim Story (“Ride Along 2”) is no stranger to comedy but “The Blackening” is his first foray into horror, which explains why the movie has more jokes than scares. Drawing on classics of the genre like “Scream” and “Get Out,” the movie is self-aware and hilarious with rapid-fire one-liners and fresh takes on classic horror beats. There are even Scooby-Doo “who is that masked man” vibes.

Antoinette Robertson as Lisa in "The Blackening.
Antoinette Robertson as Lisa in “The Blackening.” (Glen Wilson photo)

The ensemble cast has chemistry to burn with strong performances all around, especially Antoinette Robertson. The audience I screened the film with at AMC South Bay in Dorchester, roared when Robertson yells in Scream Queen fashion: “Why do Black women always have to save everyone?” Other standouts are Sinqua Walls (“White Men Can’t Jump”) and X Mayo (“The Farewell”).

In the opening scenes, the script efficiently introduces each character, and back story and sets up the group dynamics. There are longstanding feuds, a rekindling romance, and a serious Spades rivalry, among other subplots. Most of the narrative is predictable but plays out with a lot of heart and humor.  As a horror film, “The Blackening” is a missed opportunity but this friend group is easy to root for. They should have their own sitcom.

Yvonne Orji as Morgan and Jay Pharaoh as Shawn in The Blackening. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

‘The Blackening’

Rating: R for pervasive language, violence, and drug use

Cast:  Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji

Director: Tim Story

Writer: Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins

Running time: 107 minutes

Where to watch: Opens Friday in Boston and suburban

Grade: B