Bad execution of a good high concept I'm a big fan of Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow, and Triangle. I had high hopes for this as there's a formula for this genre of try again until you succeed movie. In Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow, the main character is unlikable with character flaws and as the character explores his world and tries to figure out what he/she needs to do to get out of the time loop, they through learning experiences become a better person and get past their flaws. In Groundhog Day, a selfish person becomes charitable. In Edge of Tomorrow, a coward becomes brave. In Triangle, the victim becomes the stalker.
In Happy Death Day, the selfish becomes caring.
In the the other three mentioned movies, the lessons learned are over a long time and through experimentation. In Happy Death Day, the experimentation happens, but the break through comes too easily. In the earlier scene before the character turn, she is still mean. Afterwards, she's suddenly nice as if through a eureka moment. We don't see the change and she's suddenly nice.
Too much time is spent on the first kills which take up too much screen time. The kills are not that innovative or funny. More time should have spent on her character development. At one point, I thought, why don't she just tear the mask off the killer? Then she'll know who it is even though she'll die.
The non-supernatural killer also popped out of nowhere with no reason as to how the killer found her. At some point, I thought there was some supernatural agency, but there wasn't.
The love story is a bit facile too. Just because the guy tried to save her life, she falls in love with him. A bit pat.
Anyway, a good high concept idea that's executed poorly. This okay movie could have been much, much better.