You're Next

This has been on the shelf for a couple of years and, though it has its faults, it’s surprising it’s taken so long for a mainstream release as Adam Wingard’s film is perfect Friday night fodder. A wealthy couple invite their children and significant others to their secluded holiday home for a weekend and before long they find themselves under attack from a gang of masked assailants. The opening 20 minutes of the film are creepily effective but, as with most horror films, this loses its edge once the reveal has occurred. If you like your grue though you’re well served as there’s plenty of close ups of smashed skulls, cut throats and the search for this year’s winner of best use of a blender in a film award ends here. On the downside the comic moments fall very flat, most of the scares / deaths are telegraphed and the killers go from efficient practitioners of their art to bumbling buffoons. However, this still falls on the right side of the line as it doesn’t take itself too seriously and Sharni Vinson is good as the spunky Aussie heroine who (of course) just happens to be an expert in survival due to her upbringing in a camp in the outback. Rating: 7/10.