You're Next

Year: 2013
Genre: Horror
Director: Adam Wingard


Plot: A family reunion turns bloody when three masked men attack and maim them during dinner. But they didn't count on one of the victims having the ability to turn the tables on them.


The gist: While the home invasion horror genre is nothing new, You're Next successfully milks it for all it's worth and even throws in a few laughs while they're at it.

Director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett (who also doubles as one of the invaders) cleverly marries blood and gore with some deadpan humour, thereby easing some of the tension that comes with the genre. The story is reminiscent of The Strangers, except with more violence and less seriousness.

Speaking of violence, there are some really cool kills here, my favorite being the one involving a blender. We also have arrows, axes, knives, glass and some nails. Bloody good.


The good: Australian actress Sharni Vinson is a revelation here as Erin, the victim who collects the courage to fight back and organise every resource around her. Kudos to Wingard and Barrett for throwing in some unexpected laughter when the family start arguing on how to save themselves. 

The bad: There are some scenes that defy logic, though I don't know if it was intentional. For example, why send a distraught victim to rest in her room alone when there are killers lurking around? The twist at the end was good, but I saw it coming.


Verdict: It's not as innovative as say, The Cabin In The Woods, but You're Next is really fun to watch overall. A solid entry into the home invasion horror genre. (3.5/5)