The somewhat older among us will certainly be on the so-called “Y2K panic”, which began to grass in all sorts of dramatizing headlines at the end of the 1990s: it was about a potential computer problem, which threatened only two-digit entry of years within the programming of systems. Therefore, it was feared that almost the entire computer-controlled world would break down after the millennium and a gigantic, global chaos would break out. Ultimately, however, the effects remained relatively harmless – also due to extensive precautionary measures.
In the sci-fi horror comedy playing at this time “Y2k“However, the bug has not been resolved or prevented by directorial debut. Instead, the computers and machines suddenly try to take over the world domination by simply exterminating or assimilating mankind. That sounds like a potentially fun water-wenning scenario, but is then neither implemented as a horror film nor is the only component that works correctly. Lovestory between the main characters played by Jaeden Martell (“Es”) and Rachel Zegler (“Snow White”). So you keep your fingers crossed, even if you have already written off the rest of the film.
Just a week after she had to record it in “Snow White” with an evil stepmother, Rachel Zegler in German cinemas got to do with murderous computers this time.
Silvester 1999: The high school nerd Eli (Jaeden Martell) plans to spend the millennium change with his only buddy Danny (Julian Dennison). They want to look at “Junior” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito on VHS and stuff unhealthy stuff into them. When shopping, the duo previously meets Eli's secret crush, the pretty as clever and friendly Laura (Rachel Zegler). In contrast to Eli, very popular teenager tells the boys about a celebration, at which almost the entire school will be there. When her evening is rather depressing at home, Eli and Danny decide to finally dare and simply crash the party.
But while Danny is really allowed to kiss someone there at midnight, Eli has to watch sadly how Laura is licked by the nasty sports cannon Chris (The Kid Laroi). However, he does not have too much time to blow troubles. Because on time with the beginning of the new millennium, all electronic devices begin to crush. As if by magic, computers, vacuum cleaners, toothbrushes and drilling machines form into killer robots that mercilessly attack the kids. If you are still alive, you storm outside-but you have to quickly find that the phenomenon is obviously not limited to a single party location …
Pure AOL Nostalgia
The entry into “Y2K” is still very successful: As with a desktop film like “Searching”, we only look at Eli's computer screen for the first few minutes. Anyone who was AOL user at the time, which was probably true for about half of private PC users in the western world, will have a lot of fun having the authentic visuals and sounds of back then. Meanwhile, younger movies can have fun that the connection to the Internet is accompanied by a cruel-up and whistling noise via dial-up modem. Likewise, the fully pixelated videos in stamp size, the cumbersome transmission of text messages or the time span to be invested in the download of a simple photo.
The nineties of the soundtrack dominated by heavily trendy acts such as Fatboy Slim, Chumbawamba, Korn, Semisonic and Limp Bizkit are first-class and used over the entire term. Speaking of Limp Bizkit: Their front man Fred Durst (“I Saw the TV Glow”) plays himself in the second part of the film and takes on his arms and his image in a funny way. However, Durf's astonishingly extensive cameo appearance is also the best functioning comedy element of the entire film. Otherwise, most Jokes either run into the void unpleasant or are already foreseeable for miles. This is already a bit of a disappointment with a director and screenplay (co-) author, who was part of the legendary TV sketch show “Saturday Night Live” for nine years.
This time the usual teen staff of the Slasher cinema does not get to do with a masked killer, but with murder-lifting toothbrushes and toasters.
The horror segments are similar to that: Sure, there is plenty of blood, arms and heads injects regularly separated – and a teenager is even steered by a blender. But these scenes are all rather unspectacular and optionally hasty or put too lame in the picture, so they hardly leave a lasting impression. In addition, the insurgent robots look more silly than frightening. Most of them are also very clumsy and slow. Which is why – if necessary for the course of the action – it also seems to be quite easy to run away in front of them or to make them harmless with a few cables or strings.
Conclusion: A not particularly funny script meets a debut director who doesn't really get it out with the timing. Certainly not the best conditions, especially for a horror comedy. Nevertheless, “Y2K” is not a complete pipe crepe, which is mainly due to the (together) game by Rachel Zegler and Jaeden Martell.