Tuesday, October 01, 2013

You're Next


(2013) ****

The Davison family, including four siblings and their respective spouses, gather at the family’s rural mansion to celebrate their parents’ 35th wedding anniversary.  After a brief reunion filled with frosty hugs and snarky ribbing the Davison’s sit down for a sumptuous feast.  As the clan begins to dine a family member suddenly collapses and dies.  Closer inspection reveals an arrow in his forehead.  Soon a trio of goons donning (scary) animal masks and brandishing crossbows and axes begin to kill off the family one at a time.



The early ads for You’re Next looked so similar to ‘The Strangers’ that I was immediately put off.  It’s no secret that I didn’t like The Strangers due to its unremitting nihilism and complete lack of payoff.  I am happy to report that You’re Next is a twisty whodunit with a solid and satisfying ending.  A shocking prologue hints at what’s in store for the (mostly unlikable) Davison family.  The deaths are brutal and at times completely unexpected.  One sequence with a blender is particularly jarring.  Adding to the excellent script is a dark sense of humor that emerges at the most unlikely of times.  You’re Next is the best American horror film in the past few years. 

You’re Next has been called a “Mumblecore” film and I still don’t really understand what that means.  According to Wikipedia, “Mumblecore is a subgenre of American independent film characterized by low budget production values and amateur actors, heavily focused on naturalistic dialog…The term mumblegore has been used for films mixing mumblecore and horror gore.”  I officially hate the word “mumblecore”.

13 comments:

Trevor said...

"Closer inspection reveals an arrow in his forehead".

Review #1 and I'm already laughing. I have never heard the term "mumblecore" either. Of course, it took me years to catch on to what steam punk was too. Mumblegore? So, what movies would qualify as mumble gore?

AC said...

congrats on first blood, jpx! sounds like a quality film and a great way to kick off the thon.
hope you were able to go in to work late this am.

JPX said...

AC I'm dragging and I'm overbooked! Two patients showed up at the same time, arrrrrrg!

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Way to go JPX. I tried to justify starting a horror movie at 9:00 PM last night (it's midnight on the east coast was the argument) but Crystal prevented me. Then I tried to stay up until midnight but fell asleep around 11:45. So now I'm tired and I still haven't watched a horror movie!

That movie looks good!

JPX said...

I'm glad Crystal kept you in line! You have plenty of time to make up for it. I actually started another one that is really intriguing so far but I finally put myself to bed!

AC said...

echh on double booking! that really adds to the suckage of working when you're overtired. :(

Catfreeek said...

Congratulations for being first out of the gate. Sounds like a real winner, I was on the fence whether or not to watch this now I feel compelled.

Crystal Math said...

Congrats on the first review, JPX! Your dear brother tried cheating on the rules of Horrorthon but I'm glad I stopped him. You guys might have the head start but we West Coasters get the last hurrah.

When I think of mumblecore I think of people sheepishly speaking through their hands on their faces.

JPX said...

Thank you, Crystal - as you know, JSP is a sneaky one so keep an eye on him this Horrorthon!

That's exactly how I picture Mumblecore.

Octopunk said...

Total first blood score! And that arrow line cracked me up.

I managed to stay up but only got about halfway into my flick before I plotzed.

Landshark said...

Nice to find a winner for your kickoff flick, JP!

I've never gotten the "mumblecore" tag either. I've seen it used to reference a subgenre of indie music. I totally thought I understood it (those guys who seem to not so much sing as mumble towards their shoes), but then I saw it in some other context, and I realized I had no idea what it means.

DKC said...

I saw this review this morning but couldn't comment because my phone was being a jerk.

I have to say, I'm kind of shocked it's still the only one up here! (Bunch of slackers) But way to go JPX! Not only for first blood but for finding such a good flick to start off the month. Sounds really intriguing.

Yay, Horrorthon!

50PageMcGee said...

the closer inspection line was a winner. like chief wiggum walked into the room to investigate and was like,

"maaah, well. cause of death: let's just see here."

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