You're Next

Cast of Characters:

Erin - Sharni Vinson

Felix Davison - Nicholas Tucci

Zee - Wendy Glenn

Crispian Davison - A. J. Bowen

Drake Davison - Joe Swanberg

Aubrey Davison - Barbara Crampton

Paul Davison - Rob Moran

Director - Adam Wingard

Screenplay - Simon Barrett

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity

      After two long years, the much awaited slasher film You're Next is finally here. Wait a minute. No black guy, no brainless bimbo and no douche-bag jock? Who's dying first then?

      You're Next takes place at the Davison home. Celebrating their 35th anniversary, Paul (Rob Moran) and Aubrey Davison (Barbara Crampton) invite their four children, along with their significant others, over for a family dinner to celebrate the occasion. It's a been a while since they've all been together under the same roof and that clearly shows. It seem like only seconds after "amen" for the food has been uttered that one of the sons is getting under the skin of another.

      Well, what's the best way to end an argument? That I can't say, but a good way to at least interrupt one is to launch a crossbow arrow through one of the guest's foreheads. That definitely does the trick and will most certainly send this family from shouting down each other's throats to embracing each other tightly while the theme song to Family Ties croons in the background.  Now under a home invasion by some masked intruders, the Davison family must fend for their lives... Cue the suspenseful synthesizer music... Or they... will... die!

      When I first read about this film, it was getting quite a bit of positive buzz. Then I saw the trailer for it a few months back and wondered how the hell could just another The Strangers or The Purge gain any positive buzz? I mean, I was honestly getting ready to "D-" the hell out of this film. For starters, some of the performances - while not horrible - weren't really much to be desired of. Most of the performers are relatively unknown, with the exception of Rob Moran who you've probably seen in quite a few Farrelly brothers films. The twists are somewhat predictable as well... but I've said it before and I'll say it again. Never judge a film by its trailer and this sucker punched me in the face by how entertaining of a flick it was. Look no further than director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett for the reason why. Over the past 10-15 years, we've been bombarded with a number of slasher films (a lot of them shitty remakes) that take themselves so seriously, and most of the time they're all about how much they can amp it up in terms of blood and gore. Yes, I may be 28, but I'm still gonna bark out loud like an old man, "They don't make 'em like they use to!" Wingard and Barrett know the material they are working with and have great fun with it, even slightly poking fun at a few cliches we've commonly seen in slasher films. That's what makes this such an effective little film. Whether it's the family debating on who should run out to the car to get help (They point out Drake can't do it 'cause he has an arrow stabbed in his back, and the daughter of the clan starts crying that her family doesn't have enough faith in her to pull it off) or one of the killers repeatedly stabbing a victim with one tool and then another and another after each previous one seems to not do the trick ("Why won't you die already?!"), You're Next never takes itself too seriously without going entirely overboard into camp territory, and although it doesn't scream originality, the way the plot unfolds still keeps you engaged. With some rather nifty camera work at times, some pretty funny kill moments and a foot tapping score that screams vintage John Carpenter while setting just the right tone the film needs, Wingard and Barrett prove themselves to be competent filmmakers within this genre. Finally, I have to mention Sharni Vinson. Even though I did say the acting wasn't up to par at times, Vinson still was quite the badass here, and out of all the performances she was easily the best. This was the first time I've seen her in anything, and this may very well be a breakout role for her.

     Is it perfect? No. Is it scary? Not really, but is it entertaining? You're damn right it is. It doesn't break any new ground by any means, but considering that it's been forever and a day... and yeah, another day after that since I've seen a slasher film that didn't make me wanna gouge me eyes out, you could still say this is a refreshing breath of fresh air for the genre. Despite the drunk asshole college kid sitting in front of me that almost made me kick-start You're Next 2 into instant production, I had a fun time. I give You're Next a B+ (★★★½).

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