Reunion is a typical murder mystery comedy-drama that you must have seen before. So let's see what happens in this movie. The film unfolds during the night of the twenty-year reunion of the Ridgeview High School class of 2001 and the ensuing aftermath. The lavish reunion is hosted at the opulent home of Mathew Danbury, a successful hedge fund manager. Among the attendees are local police officer Evan West, his best friend Ray Hammond, journalist Jasmine Park, eccentric Vivian Chase, aspiring Congresswoman Amanda Tanner, former popular girl Meagan Cooper, and their former teacher, Mr. Theodore Buckley.
As the night progresses, various dynamics and tensions emerge. Evan and Jasmine start to form a romantic connection, their shared history rekindling sparks between them. Despite claiming to be happily married, Mathew flirts openly with several women at the party, including Meagan. The festive atmosphere is abruptly interrupted by Vivian, who takes the floor to deliver an emotional speech about how Mathew tormented her during their high school years, casting a shadow over his seemingly perfect life. The reunion is further disrupted when a severe snowstorm hits, forcing most attendees to leave early. However, Evan, Ray, Jasmine, Vivian, Amanda, and Mr. Buckley, all too intoxicated to drive, decide to stay overnight at Mathew's house.
The following morning, the tranquility of the snow-blanketed house is shattered when Jasmine discovers Mathew's lifeless body in his bedroom, a single gunshot wound to his chest. The storm has downed the phone lines, preventing the group from calling for help, and there are no signs that anyone has left the house since the storm abated. Amidst the rising panic, Jasmine and Amanda stumble upon incriminating late-night sexts from Mathew, revealing his predatory behavior. Evan deduces from the evidence that Mathew was killed after the snowstorm ended, implicating one of the remaining guests as the murderer.
As the tension mounts, it becomes evident that each person in the house has a motive rooted in their troubled high school experiences. Old grudges, secrets, and past traumas resurface, creating a web of suspicion and fear. The group is forced to confront their shared history and the dark truths they've long buried, as they try to uncover the identity of Mathew's killer before it's too late.
As mentioned earlier, the plot of the movie treads familiar ground. You've likely encountered similar storylines before. While the mystery of discovering the murderer's identity might compel you to watch until the end, the narrative doesn't break new ground. The cast delivers commendable performances, breathing life into their roles and adding depth to their characters. However, the plot leaves much to be desired and could have been significantly improved to offer a fresher take on the whodunit genre.
Despite the intriguing setup and the potential for suspense, the storyline remains predictable, lacking the innovative twists and turns that could elevate it. The character interactions and the atmospheric tension are well-executed, but the plot's conventional approach might leave viewers craving a more original and captivating experience.
Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times