Post a Comment On: Horrorthon

(2013) ***1/2
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A most uncomfortable family reunion is interrupted by crossbow wielding psychopaths wearing Wicker Man masks in this wholly satisfying home invasion film. Director Adam Wingard is no stranger to horror. He directed A Horrible Way to Die as well as a segment in both V/H/S films. In You're Next he does a damn find job of establishing the characters before sending them off scrambling for their lives. After the first twenty minutes I felt like I really knew the family and genuinely wanted to see them make it out alive (except for Drake and his wife, whom I couldn't wait to see get stuffed.) The setting is a mansion and the potential victims consist of wealthy parents celebrating their anniversary, their four children and their wives/significant others. The eldest brother Drake is a ball-buster who takes every opportunity to embarrass or humiliate his siblings. Crispian reminded me of a young Gabe Kaplan so obviously I liked him immediately.  His wife Erin is the unexpected heroine who handles the ambush with a clear mind and deadly survivalist instincts. The Pipe in the Ass factor ranks pretty high, I'm not gonna lie. 


The animal masks are visually compelling and add to the creep out factor but I can't help but think that it would have been more potent had not the freakin' WWE beat them to the punch by utilizing a lamb mask for scares. [Image] The guy on the right is named Erick Rowan, whom I
believe was named after Rowan from The Wicker Man. 

Nevertheless, I recommend this one and if you don't watch it I'll be mad at you. It's streaming on Netflix right now so what the hell are you waiting for? JPX deemed it the best American horror movie in years but he says that about every movie he watches.