Review of You're Next (2013) by Orlando O — 22 Jan 2014

You're Next brings back the slasher horror film with an 80's tone. It sure does pack a fun twist but does lack any scares and is filled with a frustrating family dramatization.

Crispian (A.J. Bowen) and his girlfriend Erin (Sharni Vinson) are going to his family reunion dinner party at his parent's vacation home. After dinner, Crispian and his parents and brothers and sisters end up being stalked by a few strangers in masks. It is only a matter of time for the family to hold out until they become the victims.

You're Next plot does sound like another rehash from 2009 The Strangers movie. It does go in a different direction with a twist that shows the motivation behind the attacks.

The movie does lack any real scares but plays out as a slasher film. It does have some of the horror movie clichés especially with people making bad decisions. Although, there is some praise going to Erin (Sharni Vinson) who fights her way through the antagonists in a brutality way. She is like the opposite of what every person does in a horror movie.

The negative thing I really disliked about the movie was the family drama the movie showed. Crispian is easily offended by his jealous inconsiderate brother Drake (Joe Swanberg). Then, they all go into a long family argument over dinner making the movie feel like one big overdramatic moment. It did get annoying when it came to the family having a conflict of their own. It could have been better handled than feeling cheesy. After the 25-minute mark, the movie does step into gear when the family becomes the victims one by one.

Adam Wingard must have had a little fun with his directing duties in handling the horror genre and adding in the simple clichés. The music composer Mads Heldtberg was also decent when it came to intense scenes. Yet again, You're Next does become a bloodbath until the credits roll and that is were the movie only worked best.