Better Watch Out (2016)
*** (out of 4)
Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) is about to leave town but before doing that she agrees to babysit Luke (Levi Miller), which is something she has done for many years. After his parents leave the two sit down for pizza and horror movies but then someone breaks into the house and the terror begins.
BETTER WATCH OUT is Christmas themed horror film that is getting quite a bit of attention. The film has some calling it a great film while others are calling it one of the worst films of the year. It's funny that the film is getting such a wide responce but I think both sides could agree that the film made their blood boil. I say that because there's a twist that happens in the story and it goes in a direction that was quite brave and I'm sure even Hitchcock would have tipped his hat.
The problem with this twist is that if you're going to try something like it you had better know what to do with it and how to handle it. Director Chris Peckover also co-wrote the screenplay with Zack Kahn and I give both men credit for trying to do something different. Sure, the film's first quarter borrows from some other horror movies but I must give them credit for keeping me off guard as I was never quite sure where the film was going to go or how it was going to play out.
I don't think the second half of the film is nearly as good as the beginning but at the same time it kept me glued to what was going on. I've got to avoid spoilers but I will say that my blood was boiling at one of the characters and how things were being played out and perhaps this is why so many people are hating the film. It is a bit mean-spirited and it is a cruel. I think a lot of people are hating the film because of the emotions that it is making them feel and I completely understand that. Even I got angry at the movie but when it was over I couldn't help but feel that a good movie should make you feel these things.
I really thought DeJonge was exceptionally good in the lead role. Her character goes through a lot of different things throughout the picture and the actress nailed all of them flawlessly. Miller and Ed Oxenbould were both extremely good as well and you've also got Virginia Madsen in a small role as the mom. Technically speaking the film is quite impressive and there was some nice tension built up during the opening scenes.
BETTER WATCH OUT is a film that I'm going to recommend because I think it succeeds at what it attempted to do. It's not flawless by any stretch of the imagination but I give it a lot of credit for trying to do something different.
