Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett professed, maybe a bit tongue in cheek, last night at its North American premiere that their intent with You’re Next was to make a tight little genre thrill ride that mashed together the opening scene of the original Scream with the slapstick of Home Alone. An unlikely combination to be sure, but it all comes together in such an entertaining package that by the yardstick of either comedic pratfall or a bloody deconstruction of horror tropes, has to be labelled a success. Reuniting the principle cast from Wingard’s previous film, A Horrible Way To Die, Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen and Amy Seimetz are three of the Ten little Indians on an evening of bloody murder.
When Audrey and Rob invite their four children, and their significant others, to a remote mansion in the countryside for a family re-union slash 35th wedding anniversary, they are delighted everyone shows up, if apprehensive of the usual family bickering and posturing for a slice or a handout from Rob’s rather large estate. Little do they expect for a crew of Wicker Man animal mask wearing thugs to start shooting up the place with crossbows and stalking the family with machetes and axes. You’re Next, a title veiled in vague promises and threats, according to IMDB has used six times since 1916. I can all but guarantee this is the only one featuring several graphic deaths by multipurpose kitchen appliances and various other household tools. Upending the usual conventions of both the siege film and the slasher (but also paying tribute with a John Carpenter inspired score that kicks in to mighty effect at several opportune moments), You’re Next has one of the best ‘final girls’ since Alexandre Aja’s High Tension. Like A Horrible Way To Die, it also has some well executed plot twists in the mix that feel logical and considered, if morally reprehensible. Considering the rapid turnaround for this project to come together and yield a complete film – that would be under a year – there is no reason for the director to have the screen writer graphically killed on screen. It’s a fun script that walks the tightrope between horror and splatstick comedy without ever short changing its large cast of characters.
Best to save all the twists and turns and visual surprises of the film but suffice it to say, this is film should get Wingard noticed outside of the festival circuit, it is a great calling card and a promise: You’re Next.
sorry to possibly hijack the thread. wanted to draw attention to a first class asshole. I am not as into TIFF as a lot of people, but I would never say the kind of things the douche in this anti-TIFF article said
http://t.co/uQK0vb4
“if you’re a movie fan, TIFF isn’t for you.. for the plain old movie aficionado, it really sucks.”
“I’ll wait to see the movies at decent prices in real theatres where they start on time. The starfuckers can keep their festival.”
TIFF used to have a history of being late for almost every screening, a few late starts is nothing unusual. So yea, the guy in the article has not been to many festivals. They all have the quirks and SNAFUs, it is just part of the process.
If you’re willing to overpay for a movie and stand in line for hours to see it, it is you who are the asshole douchebag.
That’s ridiculous. The lines are part of it, because the lines are where you get time to hang out with and chat with other film lovers. Or time to write up your next review. I actually LIKE the lines.
But he also seems only focused on the big premieres and films that will be out soon. That’s like 2% of what you can see at festivals. I wouldn’t pay those prices for movies I can see for 1/3 as much in two weeks, either, but that’s not why I go to festivals.
Of course, there are lots of lines to stand in for regular LA theatres, so maybe I’m just used to it. (Opening weekend of a major film almost always involves line-standing, as do the rep cinemas, if you want a good seat.)
I couldn’t resist commenting on that preposterous article. Here’s hoping I helped out your case Goon.
what sucks is waiting two hours in a line to have a movie cancelled, what happened to me with The Descendants, and then the next showing I was ready for was cancelled, and Shame today, five from the front of the rush line and did not get in. Having a run of bad luck. Oh well. I am going to try for my third attempt to see Descendants tomorrow.
This douche’s twitter response to saying “…you cant see these movies anywhere else” says “maybe you haven’t heard of torrents!”
Last time I checked, I couldn’t see torrents in theatres with full audiences. Even leaving aside all the other issues with torrents.
Goon: nice to see that anyone who doesn’t agree with your point of view is a douche. Stay classy.
Well, in the article Peter pretty much says that those of us who like going to film festivals aren’t real film fans, but are only there to see stars, so…
“nice to see that anyone who doesn’t agree with your point of view is a douche.”
In this thread you said anyone who pays more to see a movie and stand in line for it is a douchebag, so as far as I’m concerned you can fuck off along with that other asshole.
The whole “why would you pay ___ when ___” thing is generally a lame attack on other people in general. I mean yeah, I’m not gonna pay $40 bucks for a gala, find it silly, but some people care that much about having that experience, even if its just about being in a crowded theater for a director who normally would not pack any multiplex theater.
You can apply this crappy logic to anything anyways. “Why would you pay $60 to see Louis CK when you can just listen to the album? Same jokes” – I suppose some of these same people are the guys who go to “Pay what you can” events and don’t drop anything down?
I did the Gala thing this year, I have only did it one other time over ten years ago… I think it is kind of crock, to be honest, at least the Roy Thomson gala, the sound is muted in the balcony, and the higher up you are you are looking WAY down to see the screen (they don’t give floor seats for gala price they are reserved for industry, so let another rip off)… that said, my gala experience this year was my BEST experience at the festival in spite of all this. The movie clicked with me, and it could have clicked with me had it been different circumstances perhaps, but that seems beside the point… it clicked AT THIS MOMENT and my experience of the film (TAKE THIS WALTZ) justifies the cost.
review slowly forthcoming
Also I am paying extra to see it earlier, I realize that. Likewise if you buy the dvd first week it comes out it is more expensive than if you wait 6 months, the price usually drops… but being cheaper you are still losing something, the experience of the movie NOW.
That dude’s either too old to stand the hassle of public events, or not quite the film fan he thinks he is.
Bragging about stealing movies on torrents is not the work of a film lover. It’s what greedy, lazy, arrogant fucktards do. Way to not support art and then brag about being an aficionado.
So… what did everyone think of Kurt’s “Your Next” review
OK, you people almost made me click that guy’s link…Then I took a breath and decided not to do that to myself. Really tired of people making sweeping generalizations just to make themselves feel better. That’s why I avoid politics…
As for Kurt’s “Your Next” review, I’ll read it after I see it on Friday. I can’t keep up with the guy’s output…B-) He’ll probbaly get to ALPS before I do – so let me say that it was a very satisfying black comedy about the roles we act. And yes, there’s more “odd dancing” (I can’t believe someone asked about that in the Q&A…).