Bad Karaoke (2026) Review

A covers band is travelling from Oregon to California to play at a wedding when they stop off at a dive bar. Singer Emily (Lexi Underwood) uncovers a dusty old karaoke machine and is delighted when the folks at the bar say she can take the machine away for nothing. She should have paid more attention to the speed at which those folks wanted to be rid of it, for the karaoke machine has a cursed history. When the group arrives at their overnight cabin stop, it’s time to party, which means the demonic item is plugged in and ready for action, that action being a series of vocal challenges which could end in death for the performer if they’re not up to scratch…

Kicking off with a prologue detailing the bloody origins of this possessed piece of kit and dropping it into the hands of its new owner in double quick time, Bad Karaoke then delays the, er, bad karaoke just long enough to introduce its roll call of characters. Hitherto unspoken differences as to the future direction the group should take are seeded. There’s potential romance in the air between Emily and Noah (Case Walker), actual romance between adorable couple Hannah (Kat Cunning) and Ava (Jenna Karan) and there’s jokey jock type Matt (Jonathan Jason Green) who’s along for the ride.

There’s just enough of this first act development before the Sing-A-Ling is set up, chooses its first potential victim and then refuses to be shut off. Its design is an amusing one, giving it the appearance of two blazing red eyes and a glowering expression as it passes its harsh judgement on the unfortunate performer, asking them to choose the means of their own death from a number of unappealing options which are as gruesome and permanent as their descriptions. Headpop, anyone?

Having murdered a number of songs at horror festival karaoke events, I wouldn’t have lasted a minute in this situation in terms of quality but the vocal performances here are excellent and undeserving of the chop – save for a couple of enthusiastically shonky ones – although there’s a very good reason that the Sing-A-Ling has its own set of unreachable standards, harking back to the opening sequence and revealing a surprisingly sympathetic backstory plus a shot at redemption for our dwindling cast.

It’s clear that directors Chris Lightbody and Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. want the audience to have a good time and the laughs are kept coming thick and fast, including a diversion in which Steinmiller Jr. himself shows up as cabin owner Guy, who’s far too quick to share intimate details and is over eager to a ridiculous degree, which extends to divulging the location of the stock of lube which he has thoughtfully provided. Guy’s also lured into the song shenanigans and performs a duet with his onscreen wife, which is both fabulous and funny. It’s also resonant with anyone who’s experienced a number by a twosome who don’t quite match each other in terms of proficiency and, given the circumstances, there’s an amusingly ominous feeling that this particular flight of fancy isn’t going to end well.

Despite Bad Karaoke being a chuckle fest for the most part, there are high stakes and the movie doesn’t forget this. I mean, folks are initially dying to sing and then they’re just dying. This reaches its zenith about an hour in when an emotionally heightened Hannah launches into a heartbreaking rendition of I Won’t Give Up and this may the point at which you stop sniggering and suddenly have to pretend there’s something in your eye. It’s a bold tonal shift, even for just those few minutes, but the gut punch is surprising and all the more considering the lunacy surrounding it.

In an era where indie horror movies seem to be in competition as to how mean spirited they can be in the final act, Bad Karaoke sticks to its generally good natured – albeit generally good natured with some startling kills – schtick and sticks the landing confidently with a satisfying, emotionally charged and feelgood resolution that’s full of heart, and not the one that’s ripped out of someone much earlier on – see what I mean about the kills? The central will they/won’t they pairing of Underwood and Walker doesn’t overdo the cutesy stuff, there’s loads of fun to be had as the group tries to work out various ways of defeating the nefarious machine and, of course, there’s the opportunity to sing along with our protagonists as long as the circumstances allow. I’m not saying you should belt out Sexy And I Know It in a packed cinema but hey, you do you. You might get asked to leave, though.

Bad Karaoke put a huge smile on my face. Well, apart from the sequence with Hannah I mentioned earlier, and I have had words with the directors about that. Like all the best karaoke evenings, it’s full of energy, you’ll laugh, you’ll maybe cry and you’ll enjoy the hell out of it. Tell them Blind Mel sent you…

Movie Rating:

Bad Karaoke trailer