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You're Next
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Bloody home invasion movie is more hype than content.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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You're Next
Community Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Entertaining, well made, mildy surprising.
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What's the Story?
After a couple down the road is slain, YOU'RE NEXT moves onto the next house, where Paul (Rob Moran) and Aubrey Davison (Barbara Crampton) are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary, with their grown children -- and significant others -- in attendance. Writer Crispian (AJ Bowen) comes with his Australian girlfriend, Erin (Sharni Vinson). Two more brothers and a sister, plus partners, also arrive, making the party 10 in total. The family sits down to dinner, starts arguing, and finds their arguing interrupted by intruders in animal masks. They start killing the family members one by one -- but then one woman starts fighting back, throwing a serious monkey wrench in their plans. Much bloody carnage later, who will be left standing?
Is It Any Good?
Storytelling clearly isn't Wingard's primary focus; it's possible the movie was meant to be funny, but he's a chronic camera-shaker, and the movie's amateurish look makes it hard to tell. Also, the story's red herrings stick out just a bit too far, calling attention to themselves. Ultimately, many of You're Next's ideas just don't make sense. The one high point is Vinson, who nearly makes up for it all.
The reason that You're Next has generated such buzz in horror circles is that director Adam Wingard is clearly a fan, which isn't always the case in a genre that often inspires lazy, disdainful copies. Many of the cast members are either genre filmmakers (Larry Fessenden, Joe Swanberg, Ti West), or horror icons (Crampton, from Re-Animator). But outside of this assembling of like minds, not many actual ideas are generated, except for the concept of the female warrior; often, women are victimized in "home invasion" movies like this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Your Next's gory violence. How much is shown? How over the top is it? Is it effective? Could the movie have gotten away with less?
Is the movie scary? What makes a good horror movie? What's the appeal of the horror genre in general? Why are these filmmakers such fans?
Is the main character a role model? What are her strong points? Weak points? Is she someone you'd want to emulate?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 23, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: January 14, 2014
- Cast: AJ Bowen , Joe Swanberg , Sharni Vinson , Wendy Glenn
- Director: Adam Wingard
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
- Last updated: May 18, 2023
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