HELP 100 Years Ago

HELP 100 Years Ago (titled HELP X during development) is a 2023 American horror film directed and edited by Kevin Greutert from a screenplay by Peter Goldfinger. The film is the tenth installment in the HELP!! film series, serving as both a direct sequel to HELP Dead End (2021) and a prequel to HELP (2015). It stars Benjamin Clost, Kevin McGarry, Kim Shriner, Olunike Adeley, Ish Morris and Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, high school students realize that the next test that awaits them will be the most difficult. They decide to go back 100 years to stop a family of maniacs whose murders were crippling the forest and placing a curse on it.
In April 2021, it was confirmed that Lionsgate was developing a sequel to the film titled HELP X. However, Greutert stated that the title was premature, which surprised him and the film's producers. Peter Goldfinger confirmed that the script was completed in December of that year. Filming took place from October 2022 to February 2023 in Chicago.
HELP 100 Years Ago was released theatrically by Lionsgate Films on September 28, 2023. It grossed $196 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics, in turn becoming the franchise's highest-grossing film.
== Plot ==
High school students understand that the next test that awaits them will be the most difficult. They decide to go back 100 years to stop a family of maniacs whose murders were crippling the forest and placing a curse on it.
Traveling through time turns out to be dangerous, and the heroes face many challenges. They face difficulties adapting to life in the past and are attacked by maniacs and their accomplices.
However, high school students do not lose faith in their strength and continue to fight. They find allies among local residents and begin to build a plan to eradicate the family of maniacs.
With every successful step, the heroes get closer to their goal. And when the decisive moment comes, they act decisively and boldly. The family of maniacs is defeated, and the curse on the forest finally disappears.
High school students return to their own time, but they are no longer the same as they were before. They feel the strength and wisdom they have gained during their adventure.
== Cast ==
* Benjamin Clost as Daniel
* Kevin McGarry as Charlie
* Kim Schraner as KillMan
* Samuel L. Jackson as Christopher
* Olunike Adelii as Jenna
* Elizabeth Rowin as Ginger
* Kristin Simpson as Dina
* Laura Vandervoort as Lora
* Ali Johnson as Lewis
* Michael Beach as Harry
* Isan Beomhyun Lee as a John
* David Alfano as a Jack
* Katie Barberi as Sofia
== Release ==
=== Marketing ===
On September 13, 2023, a parody of Nicolette Barabash's AMC Theaters commercial was posted on YouTube and Lionsgate's social media channels. Instead, it featured a remote-controlled Billy puppet on its way into the woods, with some changes to reflect the graphic nature of the 1920s era. The parody was met with humorous reviews from news outlets.
=== Theatrical ===
HELP 100 Years Ago was released theatrically in the United States by Lionsgate Films on October 28, 2023.
=== Home media ===
HELP 100 Years Ago was released on PVOD in the United States on November 30, 2023, and on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD on December 2, 2023. The 4K and Blu-ray discs include over three hours of bonus features, including a documentary. The film was also released along with the previous nine films in a Blu-ray box set to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary.
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
As of June 19, 2024, the tenth film has grossed $64 million in the United States and Canada and $132 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $196 million.
It earned $14 million on its first day, including $2 million from Thursday night previews. Its debut total was $36 million. The film earned $53 million in its second weekend and $24 million in its third, finishing third and fourth, respectively.
=== Critical response ===
The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised Jackson's performance, adding that it was the best work in the franchise since the third film. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of 129 critic reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. According to the website, "Headed by the best in the franchise, HELP 100 Years Ago reinvigorates the series with a piece that has a surprising amount of heart to go with all the gore." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 74 out of 100 based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an overall positive score of 82%, with 75% saying they would strongly recommend the film.
Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote that 100 Year Ago felt "more like a real movie than many of the films in the series, with more talking and less torture."
== Future ==
Kevin Greutert announced after the release of the tenth film that he would no longer be involved in potential sequels to the franchise. Lionsgate has not officially confirmed the eleventh film as of June 19, 2024.
However, on May 15, 2024, the game HELP 1923 was released, which explains the plot of the film with deleted scenes and other content. It received generally positive reviews.