Not even 10 years ago, all horror movie critics were full of praise for the so-called "splat-pack"; a bunch of young and talented new arrival directors in the horror genre. Right now in 2013, we don't hear much anymore about most of this unofficial pack (including Neil Marshall, Greg McLean, Darren Lynn Bousman and others), but they seem to have been replaced with a new army of horror prodigies. Lately, all we hear about are Ti West, Adam Wingard, Joe Swanberg and Simon Barrett. Moreover they seem to be close friends, appear as actors in each other's movies and the type of films they make even received its very own subgenre name. Mumblegore, whatever the hell the characteristics may be. Do they really deserve this honor? Not quite. Ti West made a few worthwhile movies ("The Roost", "House of the Devil"), but their previous group project "V/H/S" was lamentable and this effort – released with a delay of nearly two years – is only just slightly above average.
"You're Next" opens very promising and traditional, with a mixture of good old 80's slasher setting and a post-2000 brutal home invasion concept. The wealthy and loving Davison parents host their four children and their partners at their remote countryside mansion to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. The family dinner unfolds as normal, quarreling siblings included, but the party gets rudely interrupted when three masked and maniacal perpetrators attack the house. The sudden attack as well as the first four or five killings are extremely tense and provide the film with a uniquely mortifying atmosphere. Wingard manages to hold the suspense for a strong half hour, but then awkwardly reveals all the main plot twists and compensates the suspense with far-fetched character developments and grotesque black humor. The film remains somewhat enjoyable, thanks to the apt performance of lead actress (and kick-ass lady) Sharni Vinson and inventive (gruesome) death traps. What I appreciated most about this film was that they cast the wondrous Barbara Crampton as the mother. The horror diva of "Re-Animator" and "From Beyond" is well past 50 years of age, but she still looks fabulous!
"You're Next" opens very promising and traditional, with a mixture of good old 80's slasher setting and a post-2000 brutal home invasion concept. The wealthy and loving Davison parents host their four children and their partners at their remote countryside mansion to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. The family dinner unfolds as normal, quarreling siblings included, but the party gets rudely interrupted when three masked and maniacal perpetrators attack the house. The sudden attack as well as the first four or five killings are extremely tense and provide the film with a uniquely mortifying atmosphere. Wingard manages to hold the suspense for a strong half hour, but then awkwardly reveals all the main plot twists and compensates the suspense with far-fetched character developments and grotesque black humor. The film remains somewhat enjoyable, thanks to the apt performance of lead actress (and kick-ass lady) Sharni Vinson and inventive (gruesome) death traps. What I appreciated most about this film was that they cast the wondrous Barbara Crampton as the mother. The horror diva of "Re-Animator" and "From Beyond" is well past 50 years of age, but she still looks fabulous!