Family reunions. What a pain!
There's the yelling, and the screaming, and the arrows through the head and whatnot. I mean, really. Can't we for once just have a nice meal without someone getting their feelings hurt or their throat slashed?
Is that really too much to ask?
Well, if you happen to be a member of the hyper-dysfunctional Davison clan in director Adam Wingard's excellent horror thriller You're Next, the answer to that question is "don't make me kill you."
Gathering at their father's newly purchased Tudor mansion, a structure large enough to house most of Adam Levine's mirror collection, the adult Davison children, along with their dates, have unenthusiastically reunited for a dinner to celebrate their parents' wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, the main course seems to be resentment as the "Amen" of grace is barely uttered before all out war in the form of petulant arguments and petty accusations begins. (Fun fact: characters played by Joe Swanberg and Ti West, two notable directors themselves, are heard arguing over underground film-making and commercials.) But just when it seems like this bickering might last longer than an Yngwie Malmsteen guitar solo, one of the dinner guests stands up to take a look outside and is quickly turned into a human shish kabob.
The ensuing chaos forces the remaining dinner guests to acknowledge their terrifying predicament and band together as they fight for their survival. One guest in particular, the lovely and unassuming Erin (played by Sharni Vinson of 2012's Bait), is surprisingly level-headed throughout the attack and dishes out pain like a nurse with an IV needle. As guests begin getting cut down one by one, it's Erin who continues to fight back with surprising courage and ingenuity. As "last girls" go, this tough lady could definitely give Laurie Strode or Ellen Ripley a run for their money.
The film does contain convincing portrayals of violence. Early on, the gore is fairly mild by torture porn standards, but as the movie reaches its climax the kills become more graphic and unique. Let's just say you may never drink fresh squeezed juice again.
The dialogue in the film is pleasantly organic, possibly an influence from the mumblegore movies it culls its talent from. And there are some quotable lines as well. Humor is used exceptionally well by Wingard to break up the tension. (One scene in particular has two characters arguing about sex while a dead body lies next to them.) However, although the characters are more than placeholders in the story, they are never fleshed out, possibly so the audience doesn't feel too much remorse when the victims fall prey to the special effects guys' evil genius.
You're Next is a film with a strong female lead and elements of mystery that could hold some interest for folks who don't consider themselves fans of the genre. And it's a movie with a good (though not great) plot, fun special effects, and a satisfying conclusion. But in the end, You're Next is mostly a well-made piece of horror entertainment that will please even the most discerning of horror fans, leaving many of them looking forward to a repeat viewing.
So grab yourself a copy, turn down the lights, pop the corn, and send out the invitations for scary movie night at the old homestead. But just be careful when telling your spouse, because as we all know, there's only one thing worse than a family reunion.
And that's a visit from the in-laws.
Gathering at their father's newly purchased Tudor mansion, a structure large enough to house most of Adam Levine's mirror collection, the adult Davison children, along with their dates, have unenthusiastically reunited for a dinner to celebrate their parents' wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, the main course seems to be resentment as the "Amen" of grace is barely uttered before all out war in the form of petulant arguments and petty accusations begins. (Fun fact: characters played by Joe Swanberg and Ti West, two notable directors themselves, are heard arguing over underground film-making and commercials.) But just when it seems like this bickering might last longer than an Yngwie Malmsteen guitar solo, one of the dinner guests stands up to take a look outside and is quickly turned into a human shish kabob.
The ensuing chaos forces the remaining dinner guests to acknowledge their terrifying predicament and band together as they fight for their survival. One guest in particular, the lovely and unassuming Erin (played by Sharni Vinson of 2012's Bait), is surprisingly level-headed throughout the attack and dishes out pain like a nurse with an IV needle. As guests begin getting cut down one by one, it's Erin who continues to fight back with surprising courage and ingenuity. As "last girls" go, this tough lady could definitely give Laurie Strode or Ellen Ripley a run for their money.
The film does contain convincing portrayals of violence. Early on, the gore is fairly mild by torture porn standards, but as the movie reaches its climax the kills become more graphic and unique. Let's just say you may never drink fresh squeezed juice again. The dialogue in the film is pleasantly organic, possibly an influence from the mumblegore movies it culls its talent from. And there are some quotable lines as well. Humor is used exceptionally well by Wingard to break up the tension. (One scene in particular has two characters arguing about sex while a dead body lies next to them.) However, although the characters are more than placeholders in the story, they are never fleshed out, possibly so the audience doesn't feel too much remorse when the victims fall prey to the special effects guys' evil genius.
You're Next is a film with a strong female lead and elements of mystery that could hold some interest for folks who don't consider themselves fans of the genre. And it's a movie with a good (though not great) plot, fun special effects, and a satisfying conclusion. But in the end, You're Next is mostly a well-made piece of horror entertainment that will please even the most discerning of horror fans, leaving many of them looking forward to a repeat viewing.
So grab yourself a copy, turn down the lights, pop the corn, and send out the invitations for scary movie night at the old homestead. But just be careful when telling your spouse, because as we all know, there's only one thing worse than a family reunion.
And that's a visit from the in-laws.
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