[6]

In this home invasion horror flick from writer Simon Barrett and director Adam Wingard (V/H/S), a group of animal-masked killers armed with crossbows and axes begin preying on a wealthy family coming together for the parents' anniversary. The film spends a generous twenty minutes or so getting you acquainted with the family -- including three sons, a daughter, and everyone's significant others. But then the shit hits the fan, and it pretty much keeps hitting it for over an hour. You're Next isn't a drastic departure from formula, but it has a few surprises in store. If it took itself too seriously, it'd be easier to write it off as just another home invasion movie. But with its tongue-in-cheek humor and increasingly hyper-stylized execution (no pun intended), it reminds me of a good old-fashioned '80s slasher/revenge movie. Is it derivative or classic? You decide -- but nostalgia goes a long way with me.

Some of the acting is creaky and Wingard relies too much on shaky-cam during the inciting attack on the family home, but overall You’re Next works. While Wingard is moderately successful at building suspense and orchestrating kills, the film ultimately rests on the capable shoulders of its leading lady, played by Sharni Vinson. In a Die Hard-like twist, Vinson’s character turns out to be the one the killers take for granted. With her survival colony upbringing and killer instincts, she more than holds her own against the fauna-faced assassins. Jean-Luc Godard once said, “All you need for a movie is a girl and a gun.” Well, You’re Next has me seriously wondering if a meat tenderizer might not be just as good. In any case, Vinson is one to watch for, and the best reason to recommend this movie.