Review of You're Next (2013) by Nesbitt10 — 22 Aug 2013

What "You're Next" lacks in originality in regards to its premise, more than makes up for it with clever surprises, an infectious energy, and a desire to satisfy rabid horror fans, while also remaining appealing to mainstream audiences. What gives "You're Next" a clever twist is how the movie presents itself as just the opposite. The movie also possesses an entertaining sense of dark humor, invigorating a generic storyline that feels revitalized. Director Adam Wingard and Screenwriter Simon Barrett's previous collaboration "A Horrible way to Die" (2010), displayed great potential and promise. "You're Next" is unquestionably the duo's crowning achievement to date.

The story begins with married couple (Barbara Crampton and Rob Moran) celebrating their 35th anniversary with their four grown children, and the children's significant others. It's been awhile since the entire family was together, and it doesn't take long for old rivalries to emerge. Crispian (AJ Bowen), is a college instructor who is currently dating Erin (Sharni Vinson). His brother Drake (Joe Swanberg), is the quintessential jerk with his wife (Margaret Laney). Their sister, Aimee (Amy Seimetz), has a pretentious filmmaker boyfriend (Ti West), who's an easy target for dinner-table mockery. The youngest sibling, Felix (Nicholas Tucci), is a screw-up with a gloomy girlfriend (Wendy Glenn). Obviously, the reunion doesn't go according to plan. Tempers flare during family dinner, but the feuding quickly comes to a halt when an unseen killer strikes a fatal blow. They now realize that the house is now surrounded by homicidal strangers wearing masks, who appear determined on leaving no survivors.

Once Barrett's sharp, wicked script kicks into top gear, the cast is gruesomely eliminated to the bare essentials. The violence is visceral and bloody, but so tongue- in-cheek, it often causes a smile coupled with ripples of nervous laughter. The movie successfully blends horror with a pitch black comedy throughout, and continuously finds clever ways to subvert the typical, predictable cat and mouse games. The striking, gruesome sequences go a long way towards perpetuating the movie's increasingly forbidding vibe, though there's little doubt that "You're Next" fares best once the tables have turned. Undoubtedly, the breakout star of "You're Next" is the Australian leading lady Sharni Vinson, who comes across as equally strong and smart in a wonderful performance.

Wingard and Barrett have fun with the premise with impressive results, integrating the personal relationships and family conflicts that feed into the developing terror, while having fun playing with audience expectations. The tense atmosphere accompanied with the infectious energy it exudes makes it easy to gloss over any deficiencies. "You're Next" is light on psychological and narrative complexity, but it's unquestionably a cut above the slasher norm. The movie had its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.