You're Next (2011)

The posters might be the best part

Director: Adam Wingard
Writer: Simon Barrett
Cinematographer: Andrew D. Palermo

by Susan Bartley

I started this film last year and didn’t make it past the intro. Then I made I made it past the intro and saw Joe Swanberg make his entrance and became interested. Then the murders started to happen and wow - if I could give an award out for most illogical actions by characters in any modern popular film this might take the prize. The picture is a shitty version of The Strangers, involving a family reunion that takes a turn when they’re suddenly under attack per the new horror sub-genre of Home Invasion stories (place The Purge, Funny Games, Knock, Knock, etc. in this category, as well).

However, rather than discussing anything of substance (since there isn’t much), I’ll instead list out each illogical character move. The problem is, I’m not sure if these developments were suppose to contribute to the film’s black humor, or were actually figured to be logical. Here we go:

1. Why would the killers leave the bodies on site at the previous house? Particularly, the man who they leave just sitting in the couch. Considering the mom instructs the Australian girl to go borrow some milk the whole plan risked disruption for a reason that’s never even mentioned (especially since the killers are possibly ex-military?) Isn't this a needless risk that only serves the purpose of creating additional tension for the current murders? 
2. With the sister’s neck sliced open (which was awesome), the family finally accepts they’re under attack. Although the mom heard someone upstairs upon first arriving, she agrees to be taken upstairs and left in a her room alone, crying her eyes out. This might take First Prize for most absurd and unrealistic move in a horror film. Come on, would any of the characters actually agree to this? Of course, she’s killed.
3. Rather than thinking that two people going outside to the cars might work better than one, they either a) stay in the house, or b) allow the one son to go off on his own. Spoiler: This guy was involved in the murders, so it’d make sense that he’d go off on his own, but why would anyone else agree?
4. The daughter-in-law, or girlfriend-of-brother - can’t remember - staying in the mom’s room, after the mom has been killed. This is like the shitty sequel to a bad idea that was point #2.
5. The entire “I grew up in a survivalist” camp might have been funny with a studio audience, in a very ironic, this-is-so-absurd-it’s-funny type of way, but it just didn’t work. It was far too easy.

Regardless, the movie did phenomenal at the box office and actually received pretty good reviews. Though how this movie gets  75% on Rotten Tomatoes and The Strangers only got a 45% is incredibly disheartening. It’s as though reviewers can only treat blood and guts horror films seriously if there’s a wink at the audience. The Strangers had everything this had, except with better characters and actual tension. And from what I remember, the funny moments The Strangers contained, while few, were monumentally more humorous than You’re Next.

BELOW: Even though numerous people have been killed, the family thought it was a great idea to leave the mom upstairs alone. The illogic is infuriating, serving little purpose other than offering another murder