You're Next

I feel I should start this post by saying I am a pretty big horror fan. I always have been and I probably always will be. I totally get why some people don't like it but I am just one of those weirdo's who do. I find them really interesting to analyse at times and I weirdly like being scared and repulsed. I draw the line at the likes of The Human Centipede and really awful torture porn like that but I love clever twists, original scares and some brutality. Since being depressed and what not, I seem to find myself watching more thriller and horror types and I think that is for two reasons: Firstly, I find that being scared and grossed out and all that are emotions that I still actually feel really strongly so I like that I can have powerful feelings from media like I used to be able to without crying. (Emotional cry-y films are the only other ones that really really get to me). I also have a slightly odd tendency to enjoy watching something portray horrible and frightening things in front of my eyes because it is almost a projection of how dismal I'm feeling inside. Now, I'm not saying I feel homicidal or anything like that, but watching traumatic and negative stuff makes me feel a little less lonely in bleak times. Probably not too healthy but oh well.
On to the film: I was pretty excited for this film because I read pretty good things about it online and in Empire; stating that it was clever and innovative in a genre of teen slashers and over the top torture porn. I aslo have a pretty big girl crush on Aussie actress Sharni Vinson so I was pretty excited to see her kick some ass. The film opens pretty dramatically and instantly makes the audience aware that this isn't gonna be a pleasant ride..It then returns to a normal pace, introducing us to Sharni's character Erin who is joining her boyfriend and the family's enormous house in the middle of nowhere to celebrate mum and dad's wedding anniversary. You are quickly brought up to speed on the fact that this family is not quite a happy contented bunch but little do you realise how dysfunctional they are. Resentment goes so deep that an argument at the dinner table is so heated, it takes the family way too long to notice the arrow sticking out of their sister's boyfriend's forehead. From this moment on, chaos reigns and there is no rest for the audience. You are constantly suspicious and on the edge of your seat; I came close to falling off mine I was that tense at one jumpy moment.
I don't want to spoil this for any fellow horror fans but you soon realise that sweet Erin is not quite as innocent as she first seems; taking the lead and fighting back in a situation where most of us would probably just scream and hide in a cupboard and you find yourself wondering why she is so calm. When you find out that this is all because of a paranoid father bringing her up on a 'survivalist camp' in Australia, it makes much more sense. For me, I enjoyed how this kinda linked in with some of the more brutal and tongue in cheek kills of the film as it almost seems like a zombie apocalypse situation of her against the 'baddies' and so any post apocalyptic fans will probably find something to enjoy here.
Overall, I was rather impressed with this one as I was not once bored or disappointed throughout the whole thing. I strongly agree with Empire that Director Adam Wingard is making a real name for himself in the genre.