You're Next (Film Review)

2011 Lionsgate
Directed by: Adam Windgard; Written by: Simon Barrett
Starring: Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, Wendy Glenn, A. J. Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Barbara Crampton, and Rob Moran
Running Time: 94 Minutes; MPAA Rating: R
The Nicsperiment Score: 8/10

You're Next starts out like plenty of other low-budget horror films: shaky, handheld camera, B-grade acting performances, and your standard situations. A family has convened at a secluded house in the woods for a get together, significant others and friends in tow. Of course, these are all cannon fodder. After some classic familial arguments, crossbow shafts starts flying through the windows, and someone wearing a scary animal mask starts slashing people up inside the house. Masks have been done before, but these are, if not downright terrifying, at least fun. Crossbows have been done less often, but aren't unheard of.
You're Next sets itself apart, though, when it rather early on declares who will not be next. You're Next takes the "final girl" trope--the one where everyone dies but one last female protagonist, who has to somehow defeat the killer--and pumps it full of steroids. One of the family's son's girlfriends, Erin, played with magnificent gusto by Aussie, Sharni Vinson, grew up on a survivalist compound. While the other characters are doing all of the idiotic things horror movie cannon fodder do ("Let's run outside toward the people shooting crossbows at us!"), she's kicking ass and taking names. Thankfully, the film isn't stingy, doesn't keep its Erin card behind its back until the last few minutes. Instead, quite rapturously, You're Next unleashes Vinson about halfway through the film to Kevin McCallister and Chuck Norris her way through her foes. There's twists and turns aplenty, and a rollicking gory good time to be had.
While it's no fault of the film, I wish You're Next had a bigger budget to work with. Watching Vinson wreak havoc on a high-grade film stock through the vantage of well-planned, suspense-inducing angles would have pushed You're Next into classic territory. As it is, You're Next is low-budget, schlocky fun, with one hell of a heroine.