MPAA Rating: R/Genre: Slasher Horror/Stars: Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, Wendy Glenn, A. J. Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Rob Moran, Barbara Crampton, Sarah Myers, Amy Seimetz, Ti West, Lane Hughes, L.C. Holt, Simon Barrett, Larry Fessenden, Kate Lyn Sheil, Calvin Reeder/Runtime: 94 minutes
Is it just me or does the world of cinema seem dead set on making us as movie goers think that few things can be as crushing for one’s soul to say nothing of sense of pride/self-worth than that infamous of traditions known as the family reunion? Indeed not only are you almost destined to deal with that one family member who thinks they’re better than the rest (and is more than quick to pull out the trophies to prove it), but you also have (among other noteworthy entries) that one family member who has no shame in always telling embarrassing stories about everyone else, the eternal screw-off who just got fired from their 87th job this year and who would like to see if maybe you could spot them 50 dollars for gas with the promise you’ll get it back with interest next month, the one who constantly wants to watch “the big game” on TV regardless of anyone else’s level of desire, the one who is usually drunk at the minimum halfway through the night, the one who is seemingly always bringing a new significant other and making it clear that they are “the love of their life”….despite 7 others already having come and gone who possessed that distinct title, and the one who everybody puts up with yet also secretly/not so secretly despise for whatever reason flirts through their imagination among others. Oh and Mom and Dad at the head of the table sighing into their desert and just silently hoping for a moment where everyone else will just shut up, stop bickering, and for the love of everything get along for once in their lives. Suffice it to say that with such a wonderful mix of toxicity already present at such events then how possibly could the land of movie magic strive to make them any worse than they already are? How about throwing a masked trio of vicious and ruthless home invaders into the mix thus causing the get-together to turn into a visceral battle for survival? Indeed in case you hadn’t put two and five together dear reader it was that aforementioned narrative hook that was at the crux of the made in 2011 yet released in 2013 slice and dice of horror cinema that I am reviewing for you today known as You’re Next. A film that can best be described as August: Osage County if 30 minutes in, the 3 masked killers from The Strangers decided to show up and start butchering the bickering family members. To be sure, this slice of cinema, even with a surprise or four up its sleeve, really isn’t the most novel in this particular subgenre of horror. With that said however, there is also no denying that, with the aid of skilled work on both sides of the camera, this is still a fairly entertaining and engaging sit that I promise you will not only enjoy time and time again, but will also definitely make you think twice the next time you’re invited to a big family get together in the best way possible.
The plot is as follows: Following a prologue that I shan’t spoil for you here, You’re Next gets its arresting narrative underway as we witness a young woman named Erin as she and her boyfriend Crispian are on the final legs of their journey to a remote vacation home in the Missouri countryside. We soon learn that the reason for the trip is because the pair are attending a get-together of Crispian’s family which is due to take place there. A family that, our pair included, we soon learn takes the forms of Crispian’s parents Aubrey and Paul, Crispian’s more than slightly snobbish older sibling Drake, Drake’s equally as snobby wife Kelly, Crispian’s younger sister Aimee, her documentary filmmaker boyfriend Tariq, Crispian’s younger brother/quasi-sorta black sheep of the family Felix, and his girlfriend Zee respectively. Yet for as dysfunctional as this family unit seems to be, we see that as they all gather around the dinner table that night and family patriarch Paul gives a touching and quite heartfelt toast revolving around the entire family being together again for the first time in quite a while, it really does look like this might actually be one time where everyone is able to both be cordial with one another to say nothing of enjoy each other’s company without trying to take each other’s head off. Sadly we soon see that the amicable moon on display is swiftly shattered when Drake, for some inexplicable reason, decides to act like a jerk and a half to first Tariq before then turning his venomous comments over to Crispian. As a result, it isn’t long before the entire table more or less is engaged in those “time honored family dinner table traditions” of yelling, screaming, and cursing at one another. Now in most movies this would be the beginning of what would eventually lead to the family all going to bed angry with one another before then waking up the next morning and starting to patch things up which then winds up culminating in an emotional moment with lots of tears and orchestral music before everyone then comes together in a group hug. Unfortunately, this is not that kind of movie. I say this because, in the midst of the arguing, someone thinks they see something odd outside and, upon going to the window to investigate, is made the swift recipient of an arrow straight to the head. Suffice it to say it isn’t long before both the rest of the family notices and before more arrows decide to crash the party (and through the windows) thus seeing everyone flee the room as quickly as possible. Thus, in case you hadn’t put two and six together dear reader, this family unit is one that has fallen under attack by several menacing individuals outside and, despite their differences, they must now band together should they want a chance to survive. As to if they are able to do so to say nothing of what their assailants are after those are things that I think I will leave for you to discover for yourself….
Now right off, it is worth pointing out that the work behind the camera on this slice of cinema is not too bad all things considered. Yes, in all fairness, the narrative at play here is a wee bit on the flat side to such an extent that you can literally see every single curve in the road as well as pretty much guess with absolute certainty not only who is about to get bumped off once the carnage starts, but also when it’s going to happen as well. As a result, this is by no means a novel slice of cinema in that regard. On top of that, there is also no denying that 95% of the characters in this (with the exception of our main heroine and perhaps the parents to an extent) are all various shades of unlikable. Thus on top of being able to predict just who is going to get butchered as well as when, you ultimately find yourself not really caring all that much about these people when they meet their end at the hands of one of the 3 masked psychos in this. Yet, despite these issues and the fact that this film was released a solid 2 years after filming was completed, there is no denying that the rest of the work done behind the camera results in not a creative mess as you might expect, but rather a fairly well-designed slice of horror cinema that, even with a few elements being quite familiar, still proves to be rivetingly potent. For starters, we see that the creative team on this decide to construct this slice of cinema’s personality through how they flesh out the characters particularly in regard to the various, typically antagonistical, dynamics and dispositions that exist within the group overall. As a result, we see that this helps to conjure up some kind of tone to the film whilst also aiding us in spotting when certain characters act a bit…off as the film goes on. On top of that, we see that the creative team does a great job at providing the film with a wonderful dark sense of humor so don’t be surprised if in between gasps of terror you also find yourself chuckling a bit at some of the snarky quips being thrown out. We also see that the film’s creative team does a grand job at utilizing the film’s singular location through ducking and weaving its way through both the interior and immediate exterior of the home in such a way that we are given a sense of discovery mixed with edge of your seat unease that it helps to ensure what we see is as distinct as the kills themselves. Speaking of the kills I guess now would be a good time to mention that the gore hounds amongst you are sure to be quite pleased with the viscerality that you are given here which I can only describe as Straw Dogs meets the original Home Alone (try getting that image out of your head). Suffice it to say that, when you also factor in a terrific synth musical accompaniment that would make even John Carpenter smile with pride, there may be a few issues here and there with the work done behind the camera, but there is also no denying that at the end of the day overall it manages to showcase fairly well that this is a slice of cinema that, despite its very run of the mill narrative and mostly unlikable characters, is able to blend in enough heart, passion, and skill that what you get truly is a film that is downright engaging.
We also see that, despite most of them playing various shades of despicable jerks, the cast of players in front of the camera all do a fairly good job with the material that they are given. This starts with Sharni Vinson as Erin and honestly she’s really freaking good here. Not just in the moments where the film requires her to be a bit on the wryly witty side, but also in the moments where she’s probably the only halfway decent and caring person in the room and rushing around less like a person scared out of their mind during a home invasion and more like a trauma surgeon on ER as well as in moments that I can’t really go into here. Indeed there is definitely more to this character than first meets the eye and when she is finally permitted by the film to start to show the other side of her is when we as movie goers get to watch as Vinson is definitely able to operating at her best in this. Suffice it to say this is a genuinely terrific turn from an actress who, as of this writing, I still can’t believe hasn’t become a bigger star in the land of movie magic. We also get a wonderfully smug and condescending turn here from iconic independent filmmaker Joe Swanberg in the role of Crispian’s jerk of an older brother Drake. Indeed I have long admired Swanberg as a director, but here he does really good work at playing this guy who yes is fairly despicable, but who you also can’t help and laugh at some of the quips that come out of his mouth especially the ones he generates after his back is the unlucky recipient of a crossbow arrow. Suffice it to say that it is one heck of a performance and I hope we get to see others like it in Swanberg’s future. Equally as good here is the role given by the late Nicholas Tucci in the role of Crispian’s younger brother Felix. Yes there might be some things you can guess about this character and where his arc in the story is going to go, but Tucci still does a wonderful job at playing this guy as someone who might appear to not be the brightest bulb in the room yet is definitely playing with cards that the others are not if you get my drift even whilst still being a bit reserved towards how everything going on in the house is playing out. Suffice it to say that when you also factor in delightful efforts from such talents as Rob Moran who is definitely the heart of the film in the role of the well-meaning family patriarch Paul, Wendy Glenn, A.J. Bowen, Amy Seimetz (Rachel Creed in the 2019 Pet Sematary), fellow indie horror filmmaker Ti West, and (in a stroke of genius casting) Barbara Crampton from Re-Animator and Chopping Mall as the family’s matriarch Aubrey among others it’s clear that there might be some issues with this slice and dice of horror cinema, but the work done by the cast most assuredly does their best to make up for them.
All in all and at the end of the day, is You’re Next a perfect slice of horror cinema or even one that will stand by side with such gems as the original Halloween, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, or The Exorcist (to name but a few examples)? Sadly no, but then again that is a very tall order for any film to try and attain. Having said that however, does that make this the worst thing to happen to the horror genre of movie magic since the 2005 remake of The Fog? Thankfully no that is definitely not the case either. To be sure, this slice of cinema might not be the revelatory game changer that it might have been touted as at one time, but even so there is still no denying that even at a lean and mean 96-minute (including credits) runtime this is one slice and dice of horror cinema that, flaws and all, is still a heck of a lot of fun to be had. Indeed the work done behind the camera is most assuredly more than competently done to say nothing of handled by people whose love for the genre in which they are operating is certainly evident in every frame and minute plus the work done in front of the camera by a game cast of players (some of whom happen to be skilled indie filmmakers in their own right) is certainly quite lively and engaging even IF most of them happen to be playing different variations on the old “irredeemable jerk” trope. Suffice it to say then that it might not be the perfect mix of a more brutal Home Alone meets The Strangers that you were hoping, but at the end of the day You’re Next is still a darkly comic and viscerally fun slice and dice of rainy day horror cinema that will not only make you immensely thankful for the various (hopefully less dramatic and venomous) interactions that you have at your own family get togethers, but also one that acts as twistedly delightful proof that sometimes the phrase “the ties that bind us are stronger than the occasional stresses that separate us” isn’t always accurate. A belief incidentally that is especially the case when you and your loved ones are being assailed by a trio of masked intruders armed with, among other things, crossbows. Make of that dear reader what thou will. On a scale of 1-5 I give You’re Next a solid 3.5 out of 5.
