“Happy Death Day” isn’t very original, borrowing the “Groundhog Day” formula and inserting it into what is essentially a slasher film. But it still manages to provide an original spin in a surprisingly fun manner.

Anchored by a fun performance from Jessica Rothe, with some sleek direction from Christopher Landon (the son of late actor Michael Landon), this proves to be way better than expected. It’s a self-aware bit of fluff that is more fun than it probably should be.

In a premise straight from “Groundhog Day” and last year’s “Before I Fall,” Tree (Rothe) is a rather shallow college student who wakes up on her birthday in a dorm with a complete stranger named Carter (Israel Broussard). It’s an auspicious start to what otherwise seems like any other day – that is, until the day ends with Tree being murdered.

As soon as Tree reaches her demise, she wakes up in the same dorm room and soon realizes she is living the same day over and over again – with the day always ending with her death.

Tree initially sees this as a curse but soon begins to see it as a blessing – a chance to solve her own murder and perhaps break the cycle and live to see another day.

Landon has a lot of fun with the repeat element, allowing each day to bring another piece to the film, whether it be a humorous touch or a part of the mystery in another scene. The repetitiveness actually allows for creativity that helps make “Happy Death Day” more clever than the average slasher flick. The film recognizes that the audience knows what is coming next but still manages to be one step ahead throughout, gleefully playing with repeating the same day over and over again.

Scott Lobdell’s script throws in a few wrinkles that help keep things from being too predictable. Tree’s body starts to take a toll from all the deaths, giving her an infinite number of lives to work with and a few red herrings get tossed in to hide the real identity of the killer (although the reveal shouldn’t surprise too many people paying attention).

But the main reason “Happy Death Day” works is Rothe. This is a star-making role for Rothe, who is asked to have a change of heart during this ordeal. It’s a change she makes believable, but she also manages to sell the silly side of the premise – giving everything she has into making the character a fighter who is funny and smart but also willing to re-evaluate her life to realize what is important and what’s not. It’s a lot to ask from Rothe, who is practically in every shot of the film, but she delivers in a big way and appears to be having almost as much fun as the audience.

It all adds up to a film that is probably way better than one might expect from the trailers. Sure you’ve seen “Happy Death Day” before, but you haven’t seen it spun this way.

Starring: Jessica Routhe, Israel Broussard

Directed by: Christopher Landon

Rating: PG-13 for violence/terror, crude sexual content, language, some drug material and partial nudity

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: B-