Earlier this year, Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead 2004, Hot Fuzz 2007) starred in director Steffen Haars’ (New Kids Turbo 2010, New Kids Nitro 2011) film Krazy House. Now Frost has reunited with Haars for the Horror Comedy Get Away.
In theaters through IFC Films on December 6, 2024, and set for streaming via Shudder sometime in 2024, Get Away (also written and produced by Frost) follows a British family as they embark on a holiday to a remote Swedish island named Svalta. The family, which is comprised of patriarch Richard (Frost), matriarch Susan (Aisling Bea: Home Sweet Home Alone 2021, Love Wedding Repeat 2020), daughter Jessie (Maisie Ayres), and son Sam (Sebastian Croft: Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans 2019, How to Date Billy Walsh 2024), are making the trip especially to see the annual Karantan Festival.
The only problem is that everyone they come across warns them to stay away from the island and that the islanders do not care for outsiders. Sure enough, their arrival is met with outright hostility and suspicion. Soon the family finds that strange events are occurring in their Airbnb, but is it a result of the islanders? Or something even more sinister?
Frost is no stranger to comedic roles that also lean into Horror and so as can be expected he slots perfectly into playing Richard – who provides much of the comedic relief. However, as the writer of the film, Frost is less successful.
Frost, whose last solo writing feature was 2014’s Cuban Fury, plays with several interesting ideas. There is the idea of a clash of cultures between the Swedish islanders and the family, there are elements of Folk Horror and of course, there are the dynamics of the family. Unfortunately, none of these ideas are explored fully enough to completely satisfy. There is a lack of internal logic in Get Away and at times this is slightly frustrating. Many audiences will be left with more questions than answers, although this could be due to Frost setting up a potential sequel.
That being said, there is a lot of fun to be had with Get Away. The cast is great and special mention must be made to newcomer Ayres who gives Frost a run for his money with her excellent comedic timing. There is also a twist that, whilst many will see coming a mile off, regardless adds an extra element of fun. The film also culminates in a super violent and over-the-top third act that will likely more than satisfy those who enjoy their Horror with a serving of gore and Slasher fun.
Overall, Get Away has a promising premise and setup but it does not quite ever fully come to fruition. It is an entertaining enough watch, but it lacks some much-needed depth that would have elevated it to a great watch. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Get Away 3 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment