‘Ick’ Review
Stars: Brandon Routh, Mena Suvari, Molina Paulie Weissman, Taia Sophia, Zeke Jones, Harrison Cone, Kedrick Brown, Peter Wong | Written by Joseph Kahn, Dan Koontz, Samuel Laskey | Directed by Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn returns with Ick, a wild horror-comedy that blends Invasion of the Body Snatchers with the tongue-in-cheek vibe of The Faculty, all while blasting a relentlessly nostalgic 2000s pop-punk soundtrack. It’s loud, ridiculous, knowingly absurd, and somehow all the better for it.
The story follows Hank (Brandon Routh), a washed-up former football star now teaching science in his hometown. Once the golden boy of the local high school, his dreams were shattered after a freak accident left him injured and bitter. His ex, Stacy (Mena Suvari), has long since moved on, but when a new student named Grace (Molina Paulie Weissman) arrives, Hank begins to suspect she may be his daughter. That revelation alone would be enough drama, but matters escalate when “the Ick,” a mysterious goo that has quietly existed in the background of society, suddenly becomes far more aggressive. It seeps into minds and bodies, turning neighbours into threats, and Hank must fight to protect Grace while rediscovering a sense of purpose.
Kahn directs with his trademark energy: everything is heightened, neon-tinged, and larger than life. He embraces the absurdity of the premise without apology, filling the film with winks to the audience and outrageous set pieces. The film’s beating heart, however, is its soundtrack. If you lived through the heyday of mall culture, you’ll be grinning ear to ear as Blink-182, Good Charlotte, Paramore, Hoobastank, The Killers, and yes, even Creed, blast across pivotal moments. It feels like a mixtape from 2003 brought to life on screen, with every needle drop fueling the chaos.
Brandon Routh is pitch-perfect here, balancing pathos with self-aware humour. He channels both the goofiness of his turn in Scott Pilgrim and the sincerity of Superman Returns, making Hank a character worth rooting for. Suvari adds emotional grounding as Stacy, reminding us just how underappreciated she is as an actress, while Weissman is a real discovery – her sarcastic, sharp performance makes Grace the ideal counterpoint to Routh’s weary optimism.
The film is far from flawless. The CGI and practical effects are serviceable rather than spectacular, and the alien mythology is undercooked, leaving questions unanswered. At times, the pacing sags, with scenes dragging just a bit too long. Still, these issues feel minor in the grand scheme, especially when the film leans into its campier instincts. Ick thrives as a cult-style oddity, one part horror, one part parody, and one part love letter to an era of cinema and music that doesn’t get celebrated often enough.
Ultimately, Ick succeeds because it knows exactly what it is: a silly, nostalgic, gonzo slice of horror-comedy made for people who grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s. It won’t convert everyone, but for the right audience, it’s a blast from start to finish.
**** 4/5
Loud, silly, nostalgic fun that knows exactly what it is, Ick is out now.
