You're Next

Dir: Adam Wingard

Year: 2013

Cast: Sharni Vinson, A.J. Bowen

Genre: Horror/Dark Comedy/Thriller

Cert: 18

Rating: ★★★★★

IMDb

One of my absolute favourite movies from 2013, You're Next begins with a brutal murder accompanied by some classic rock. After that it then follows a couple on the way to a massive mansion far out in the middle of nowhere to celebrate their anniversary of what I can assume is about 40 years. All of the family come down for a massive dinner and they all bring their partners, their son, Crispian, played by rising Indie-horror star, A.J. Bowen, brings his Aussie girlfriend Erin, played by Home & Away star, Sharni Vinson, to introduce her to the family. They set for their big dinner but it remains tense with the usual dysfunctional family talk, arguments etc. Amidst all of this arguing, Crispian's sister, Aimee's pretentious Indie film-maker boyfriend, Tariq, played be real Indie-horror director, Ti West, hears something outside, until he is greeted with an arrow to the skull, thus ending the family argument but beginning an intense fight for survival against a group of blood-thirsty home invaders wearing animal masks. But they're all blissfully unaware that Erin has a serious knack for being able to survive in extreme circumstances and she becomes the groups hope for survival.

This is what I can simply call my most enjoyable cinema movie of 2013. I went with a bunch of friends and some were a bit worried at first, not really sure about the whole mumblecore style. I was used to it already from a few other movies and from Adam Wingard's other movie, A Horrible Way To Die (Which was also superb!). Once it got to the dinner scene, everyone was on board. The dialogue was absolutely hilarious and had us all roaring at several moments. The beauty of Mumlecore is that it allows for a good bit of improvisation and it's always delivered really naturally, so Crispian and his brother Drake, played by Indie-actor-director, Joe Swanberg was hysterically funny, he delivered plenty of smug cheek that made you hate and love him at the same time. The thing that made this movie really stand out was the jet-black humour that runs through it, each kill manages to make you laugh with build up, shock you with the pay off and then have you laughing even more at the aftermath. It's brilliantly done! Each kill is done brilliantly and in some of the most fun and creative ways I've seen in a horror! Some to slasher proportions. It begins with numerous cliches but they're clearly just there to be destroyed only a few short minutes later. The directions the plot goes are just brilliant and very creative and nothing is spoiled too soon. You remain out of the loop for a good bit which makes each pay off more satisfying. It was great to finally see a horror movie break the cliche of the stupid female protagonist who does all the dumbest shit and doesn't think for a second. In this, Erin is always on the ball, thinking 10 steps ahead of everyone else to ensure their safety, something people never do in horrors now, especially home invasion types! She pretty much asserts herself the position of one of horrors best female badasses. The music in this is great too, at one point it becomes proper 80's synthesizer style in a truly MacGyver-esque scene. Me and all my friends left that film thoroughly satisfied, packed to the brim with dark laughs and laden with gore, it was truly the most enjoyable cinema journey I made that year! I don't know what will take that title this year, it will most likely be The Raid 2: Berandal. Oh my fuck, I seriously can't wait for that! Get on this movie as soon as you can, it's tremendously good fun and you should keep in mind the style of mumblecore while watching it so you don't get put off!