You’re Next – Film Review
In the UK you can’t get free postage on an Amazon purchase unless it’s £10 or over. I already had two DVDs in my basket but they only equated to £8 – I needed something else.
I saw You’re Next for a fair price in my favourite section – the horror section and that’s basically how I came to watch it – an add-on item so I could get free postage. Though finding out it was made by Adam Wingard who made the BRILLIANT The Guest (2014) (my review here) did give me high hopes.
You’re Next is a horror with a plot somewhat reminiscent of films seen before but that’s not necessarily a bad thing as it’s one that generally works pretty well. This particular story centres on a big family reunion in a beautiful (ISOLATED!) country house belonging to the Davison family. The Davison’s consists of two parents, four adult kids and all their partners. Everything is going as well as can be expected with some fun bickering and sibling rivalry until masked madmen storm the property and start trying to kill them.
That old chestnut. But guess what, things aren’t that simple. The killers aren’t counting on someone fighting back and they certainly aren’t counting on that person being cute little Erin, the new girlfriend of son Crispian (one of them is called Felix for fuck’s sake) who is a kick arse hard bitch and refuses to go down without a fight.
So is it any good?
Yes definitely an entertaining watch. I even enjoyed the first twenty minutes of setting up the movie, which – apart from a shocking opener scene YAY – was all about introducing the characters and relationship dynamics.
And obviously it’s nice to see a female lead in a horror film that has more to do than just take her bra off. Erin the Warrior was a cool chick and the only likable person in the whole film (to be frank).
I liked the vibe of the film which – though mainly fairly serious, had some great tongue-in-cheek moments and reminded me of the glourious, GLOURIOUS The Guest. Plus there were a few surprises at the end of the movie I admit I didn’t entirely see coming – which was cool. It was nice to have some revelations which I didn’t second guess.
My only negative really it that it is fairly forgettable. Don’t get me wrong, it was enjoyable but nothing I hadn’t really seen before. God I sound like a bitch. But I found the killers a bit irritating in their big old scary animal masks and I just wanted to say “oi who do you think you are buster” and bash them over the head with a blunt instrument. Maybe I’m an Erin in the making? Yeah right…if something like this happened please find me underneath the nearest blanket curled up in a ball.
I also expected more gore but that might be my inner freak coming out. There were some pretty gross scenes that made me wince a tiny, weeny bit but for an 18 rated film I don’t remember anything too outrageous. It felt more on the ‘thriller’ side of the horror/thriller spectrum. Having said that the razor wire was pretty icky.
Still, a good effort and an enjoyable film. I won’t be rushing too hard to watch it again but, especially when compared to many recent horrors, I felt the writers made an effort with the story and it was fun to watch. Go Erin! And you could do so better than that cock Crispian.
emmakwall (explains it all) 
Good review Emma. This movie is enjoyable in places but kind of forgettable too. The family bickering was cool though haha. Overall, The Guest worked a lot better for me. 😀
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Thank you so much! 🙂
Yeah I did enjoy it, I hope that came across. But at the same time nothing hugely ground breaking. Just a bit of fun!
Haha I love bickering families, have you seen Dead End? That’s great for bickering families!
Yes I loved The Guest, that had much more impact for me. Really, really good film. Look forward to Wingard (and Co) next film!!
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For sure, you’re enjoyment of the movie came across! Haha, I’ll have to add Dead End to my watch list, I actually have never heard of it before . Very cool to see that Wingard is building up a fan base, I’m looking forward to his next film too. 😀
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Good! 🙂
Yeah Dead End is a pretty good film, it’s weirder than You’re Next and has supernatural elements. But boy….do that family bicker! Haha.
Yeah definitely!! It’s nice to follow someone new(ish) and watch them grow and make more movies 🙂
I definitely love The Guest the most so far!!
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I haven’t seen this yet but at first glance it reminds me of The Strangers with a bit of The Purge thrown in.
Crispian? Really?
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Don’t!!! There was a Felix, Crispian, Drake and Zee. AHHH!
Yeah it reminded me of The Strangers too! It was less ‘nasty’ than The Strangers though, not just the humour but the killers themselves. Don’t get me wrong – they were nasty! But not so psychopathic.
Hope you’re well! 🙂
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I LOVED this movie! It creeped me out but made me laugh. It’s a horror comedy but it sounds like that didn’t totally come across in your viewing, just a tad though? I am a big fan of a few of the actors/directors in the movie and I love seeing them pop up in each other’s work(Ti West, Joe Swanberg). I thought this one did a good job of taking the familiar premise and twisting it and adding in the silly stuff. I’m glad you watched but I wish you loved it more! Oh well, onto the next=)!
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Thanks for the comment Susan!!! 🙂
I did enjoy this a lot (promise!) on the grand scale of film enjoyment it was definitely high up! Yeah I thought they were all friends haha, they all pop up in the same movies don’t they! Even the writer does some acting doesn’t he? I like that sort of thing. They almost feel like YOUR friends in the end! (or is that just me?!)
I loved the fact it was a family (made it more interesting) and it was a pretty clever ending that I didn’t entirely see coming. As far as ‘home invasion’ thriller films go I’ve seen a few and this didn’t break any new ground for me but I’ll definitely watch it again at some point 🙂
As far as Wingard films go though….I’m all about The Guest!
Speaking of which, I did enjoy the humour in this! I didn’t find it ‘hilarious’ throughout but picked up on funny lines (and deaths!! By blender?!!!)
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Yes they do kind of seem like friends of mine or maybe I’m weird and goofy (and you are too!!) because I see them pop up and think “the crew’s all here!” which is super lame of me. Who cares though I’m just excited to see creative people collaborating I guess right? That’s the coolest part of it. The Guest is a superb masterpiece!!
Death by blender is up there for sure…I also really enjoyed all of Joe Swanberg’s ridiculous asshole character lines like talking about how commercials are so great the dinner table to the independent documentary filmmaker and when he said he was the fastest runner in the group except he had an arrow stuck in his back. That guy!
And especially at the end when what’s his name said(oh cripe I’ve forgotten all the character’s names!) she was weird for being so good at killing.
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Haha yeah actually I liked that character! Well I liked him in the film because he was an arsehole and it was funny. He probably stuck out to me the most, second only to Erin (of course!) I forgot about that conversation about commercials and independent film making. What a tosser!!!!!! If I’d thought I would have written more in my review about it. He was so smug. I got the feeling they were trying to show them as a very ‘middle class’ family.
We are weird and goofy and I LOVE IT!!! I honestly do feel like I’m with a group of friends sometimes when I’m watching film or TV. And sometimes I want to watch something AGAIN just to see ‘the crew’ again!!!! I get lonely without them !!!
And I feel the same when I’m chatting to you 🙂
No not lonely! Lol. With a friend 🙂
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I’ll see if I can find that dinner table scene online because I want to view it again. It seemed like that conversation helped bring out the independent filmmakers’ frustrations when explaining their work to people in real life except we saw a slightly exaggerated version. Very funny!
The family seemed to be at least upper middle class if not wealthy judging by their home(their second home wasn’t it? too) and their clothing but when they spoke, like the commercial lover guy, they seemed smug and pretentious, at least that one character did. I thought they were almost a spoof of a wealthy American family especially with the medicated Mother and her anxiety.
I might have to watch that movie again!
I guess we sort of are blogger buddies now=)!
and I love talking about movies, so many interesting points, like you made here, come up that didn’t occur to me before. Love it!
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Definitely blogger buddies!!! I’d be devastated if you thought otherwise!!!
I meant to ask, any news with 28 Days Later CD?
Yes definitely!! I totally agree!!! They were a spoof ‘perfect’ American family. I kept thinking about their names as well – Felix? Crispian? POSH!!
I know it sounds silly but Erin never really came across like that, originally being from Oz, even before she turend all kick-arse you had the feeling she had a more working class background.
I was quite surprised at the ending too. Especially with Crispian…!
I actually feel like watching it again now lol 🙂
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My first born’s shall be Felix and Crispian! Actually I love name Felix, I would mind that one but next o Crispian, jeesh! I’ve never met a Crispian in my life, you?
Erin kicked so ass. She did seem working class, intelligent, clever, and ?HARDCORE. I think Australia as the base for her survivalist group she grew up in or whatever that backstory was is perfect. When I think Australia I just think of badassery all around!
Maybe I’m stereotyping:/
I’ll try to give it a watch soon and take some notes on how amazing that ridiculous dinner table scene is. =)
No news on 28 Days Later yet. I didn’t order it yet because I am cheap. As soon as I get my tax refund I have a short list of splurge-y things to get. I can’t wait to be driving around to that thing next October around Halloween.
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Tally Ho Emma! I’m glad this movie worked out. We have to do the same thing over here to get free shipping from Amazon. I’ve taken a chance on a few things and sometimes it’s worked out, and other times not so much. I can’t wait to hear about You Can’t Kill Stephen King 🙂
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Clam!!
WOOO HOOOOO! I LOVED this movie!! Good call!!
Love Pen
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Yay! Glad you love it Pen 🙂
Love Clam 🙂
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Clam!!
It’s true!!
#love
Love Pen
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Good review Emmy. I want more women in horror films to kick more ass in these types of films and if they can do it with less clothes on. Well that’s a win win for me. I’m all about equal oppertunities. I do agree that while it is fun. It is sort of forgetable. Althought I did think the gore level was just right. Curious to see what movies reaches your gore quota.
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Oh you know – screwdriver in the eye, super glue down the urethra – maybe a flame thrower?
Only kidding!!!! (kind of…)
Thanks Verny 🙂
Yes nice to see a girl kicking some arse in a movie! And totally understand the win win situation for you should she be less than dressed !
Yeah I have nothing against this film at all, it was really fun and enjoyable from start to finish. It was just nothing hugely new, though I do appreciate they added a few twists and turns not always seen in films like this.
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I thought it was quite a good little horror film. It was meant to be cliched, though there were a few surprises along the way. Good review. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
Yes I enjoyed it very much!
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Thanks Dazza! Well…..You Can’t Kill Stephen King which I will review soon (I pretty much thought the exact same as you!) and a British film called Made in Britain starring a very young (and racist) Tim Roth. I am going to watch that this week, maybe even tonight and will review soon!
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nice review, easily one of the best horrors of the year of release, but what were the other two DVDs?
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Not a massive horror fan but from your review it sounds more of a thriller so I might give it a go one day
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I have been known to underestimate the gore in movies. I lent my mum and my brother a film once that I saw as ‘a bit of laugh’ and they were both traumatised by it….!
I would say this is more of a thriller….. but I’ve seen so much gore I might have screwed up vision! Still if you ever watch it, hope you enjoy 🙂
Thanks for the comment!
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