You’re Next – Review 2

Reviewer: Liam Griffiths

Director: Adam Wingard

Stars: Sharni Vinson, AJ Bowen, Wendy Glenn

Released:  28th August 2013 (UK)

You’re Next is a stylish film that has moments of blood-drenched glory, but it’s largely derivative and meandering where it matters most. Adam Wingard’s home invasion thriller sees a wealthy, dysfunctional family come under attack by a group of vicious killers wearing the guises of various woodland creatures.

Home invasion thrillers seem to be very much in vogue these days, but not many manage to encapsulate the intense horror of Inside, or the surrealist madness of Funny Games. Most end up as frustratingly plodding ‘how not to defend your home’ tutorials, and You’re Next could have been the film to sidestep the sub-genre’s shallow pool of  innovation.

Unfortunately, bags and bags of retro style can’t make up for the lack of inventive kills, or the frankly uninspiring plot ‘twists’ as the nature of the invasion comes to light. Sharni Vinson, in a potentially iconic role as the spunky survivor who knows a thing or two about fighting back, isn’t given enough to do or say, and her fleeting moments of badassery are often coupled with unusually drab dialogue or boring special effects work.

It’s a shame too. You’re Next has some genuinely beautiful imagery just waiting to be capitalised on, but the wonky acting and run-of-the-mill slaying never quite lifts it high enough above the crowd.