HELP Resurrections

HELP Resurrections is a 2019 American horror film directed by Kevin Greutert and written by Peter Goldfinger. This is the eighth part of the HELP!! and the second in the chronology of the remake universe, which starred Benjamin Clost, Kevin McGarry, Kim Schraner, Olunike Adelii and Ish Morris. After long hours of fighting the maniac and his traps, the high school students manage to temporarily neutralize “KillMan” and run deep into the forest, trying to find a way out. They decide to hide in an old abandoned house, where they discover an old book with mysterious signs and manuscripts.
HELP, released in 2015, was considered a standalone film in the series before a sequel was ordered. Early development began in 2016, and production officially began in 2017 with a budget of $10 million.
The film was released by Lionsgate Films in the United States on October 27, 2019. HELP Resurrections received generally positive reviews, becoming the first film since HELP!! 4, who succeeded. It also grossed $121 million at the worldwide box office. It was followed in 2021 by a sequel, HELP Dead End.
== Plot ==
After long hours of fighting the maniac and his traps, the high school students manage to temporarily neutralize “KillMan” and run deep into the forest, trying to find a way out. They decide to hide in an old abandoned house, where they discover an old book with mysterious signs and manuscripts.
Using instructions from the book, they realize that "KillMan" is actually a cursed spirit that can only be defeated by performing a certain ritual. However, they understand that they need to collect all the necessary items and perform the ritual as soon as possible until the spirit returns to its full strength.
High school students are forced to go on a dangerous journey through the forest, fighting against dangers and time to find all the necessary items and complete the ritual. In the process, they encounter complicating circumstances, but do not lose hope of salvation.
Finally, when all preparations are made, they perform a ritual to summon the spirit of "KillMan" and ask for his forgiveness. At first the spirit resists, but then its sinister shell begins to fade and disappear, leaving the high school students safe.
They make their way out of the forest and back to the sea, where they continue their party, realizing that they have overcome the test and found the strength within themselves to defeat evil. This will be an unforgettable experience that will unite them forever and help them become stronger.
== Cast ==
* Benjamin Clost as Daniel
* Kevin McGarry as Charlie
* Kim Schraner as KillMan
* Olunike Adelii as Jenna
* Ish Morris as Alexander
* Carlos Diaz as Carl
* Elizabeth Rowin as Ginger
* Kristin Simpson as Dina
* Laura Vandervoort as Lora
* Paul Braunstein as Freddy
== Release ==
On October 10, 2018, Lionsgate launched the "HELP Continues!" campaign. Lionsgate released eight promotional posters featuring each of the film's actors.
HELP Resurrections was released in the UK on October 25, 2019 and in US cinemas on October 27, 2019. HELP Resurrections is the only film in the franchise that was never rated NC-17 by the Motion Picture Association of America, receiving an R rating without cuts.
In 2020, the game HELP: No More was released, which became a game variation of the plot of the film. It was received positively.
=== Home media ===
The film was released digitally on January 3, 2020, and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on January 17, 2020. The film's soundtrack was distributed digitally on October 27, 2019. The film earned $12 million in home sales.
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
HELP Resurrections grossed $47 million in the United States and Canada and $102 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $149 million.
=== Critical response ===
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 69% of 91 critic reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Resurrections will definitely attract many fans of the franchise, but for longtime fans it should simply prove to be a fairly entertaining, if rarely scary, diversion." Metacritic, using a weighted average, gave the film a score of 64 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported that women under 25 (21% of the film's audience) and older men (30%) gave it a 76%.
IGN gave the film a score of 7.5 out of 10, writing: "The good news is that the new film is one of the best horror films of the year. The bad news is that it's still pretty boring, which is good news... It's not. I can't capture what made the franchise finally work."