By 2013, slasher movies had been out of fashion for some time, torture horror was loosening its grip on the genre, and haunted house possession movies were all the rage. So how did a weird little gem featuring the DNA of a home invasion slasher, the black comedy of a meta Wes Craven film, and one of the most underratedly badass final girls in horror history manage to find its place as a crowd-pleasing fan favorite? How did a crew of up-and-coming, mostly unproven filmmakers pull off a slick-looking film on a budget of just $1 million while convincing a scream queen to come out of retirement? And what was the story behind the never-made action-oriented sequel that would have seen our heroine fighting her way through a booby-trapped meth lab?

Grab your animal masks and get your finger paints ready. Because you’re next! This is What Happened to… You’re Next!

Conception

While writer Simon Barrett and director Adam Wingard are well-known entities in the horror genre and beyond at this point, having worked on everything from Blair Witch to blockbuster Godzilla sequels, such was not the case in 2010. Hell, their V/H/S segments didn’t even exist at the time. Though Barrett did work on a TV movie called Frankenfish. So there’s that.

Which makes the feat of You’re Next all that more impressive. It started with Barrett telling Wingard that he wanted to make a home invasion movie because it was really the only horror subgenre that still scared him. But they didn’t want to simply repeat The Strangers.

Barrett wrote a script that would feature many subgenres, from an Agatha Christie-style mystery, which he has said was a particular inspiration, to slasher horror and cynical black comedy. Wingard would later say their goal was to make a movie that riffed on horror and all of its subgenres while still being entertaining to the masses. It’s a tough tightrope to walk, but that makes total sense once you watch the movie.

You’re Next keeps you on your toes, wondering what kind of movie it is while delivering entertaining sequences rooted in several different horror subgenres.

So, let’s take a walk through the film itself before we tell the story of how it was made. Warning: spoilers ahead.

The Movie

We open with horror stalwart Larry Fessenden clearly not doing a particularly excellent job of pleasing a lady. But that doesn’t stop her from throwing on a banger of a song and making a screwdriver. Alright, maybe she’s just not pleased by anything. Or maybe that’s just her face.

Well, now she’s dead, and they’ve written “You’re Next” on the glass in her blood. Hey, at least they don’t know what they did last summer.

We quickly get our second of two off-screen deaths, and we’re off. Kinda weird to have your first two deaths be so lackluster, but there was copious nudity, alcohol, sex, and a GREAT song. All in the first five minutes.

Meet the Family

As things calm down before inevitably ramping up again, we meet our presumed leads: the couple Crispian, played by AJ Bowen, and Erin, played by Sharni Vinson. The couple, who met when Erin was Crispian’s student in college, are headed to meet his super-rich family for the first time at a remote vacation home that most of us would trade our actual homes for in a heartbeat. Which just so happens to be next door to where the brutal murders just took place.

At the head of the family are the handsome and beautiful pairing of Paul, played by Rob Moran, and Aubrey, played by horror royalty Barbara Crampton.

As the family and all their respective dates settle into the house, we learn the inner relationships of the siblings through conversations and dirty looks. Erin is clearly in for a long weekend as she seems to be the only earnest and heartfelt person there. Naturally, everyone kind of hates her for not being as cynical and wealthy as the rest of them.

We’re laying clear and obvious final-girl groundwork here. Or are we?

The Animal Masks Arrive

Finally, the funeral is about to begin. I mean dinner. Or both. What starts off with some pretty funny family infighting, including one brother saying that the other looks like the Elephant Man, leads to the pontificating “serious” documentary filmmaker Tariq, played by famed horror director Ti West, becoming the first to die. He stares out of a window after noticing something and gets an arrow through said window and into his forehead.

Next, atypical a-hole older brother Drake, played by the underrated actor and Drinking Buddies director Joe Swanberg, takes one in the upper back. But he survives. For now. And he’s such a pretentious dick that even as he’s writhing on the ground in pain, he calls his brother Felix, played by the late Nicolas Tucci, a “f*ckin’ low life” because Felix wonders if the killers are using a cell phone jammer that you could get “for like 30 bucks.” It’s hilarious.

This continues as they try to decide who the fastest one in the group is and should run to the vehicles to get help. That just ends with Aimee, played by Amy Seimetz, complaining that no one ever believes in her and Drake calling Crispian fat. Aimee makes a run for it, and in one of the most ingenious and mean moments of the film, her dad opens the doors for her to run directly into a taut wire booby trap that rips her throat open.

The Family Starts Falling Apart

While Aubrey is in bed mourning her daughter, the Fox Mask crawls out from beneath the bed and machetes her to death off screen. That’s three off-screen deaths if you’re keeping count. But he does leave a machete in her head and does some arts and crafts writing “You’re Next” on the wall in her blood.

Why did no one concern themselves with the killer still being in the room?

Kelly ends up getting chased out of the house like a maniac, and a plan is made for Crispian to use the pandemonium to reach a vehicle and get help. Meanwhile, the Lamb chases Kelly down quite easily when she tries to reach the neighbor’s house Laurie Strode style. But you can’t answer the door if you’re dead.

Now THAT’S how you stretch out your music budget in a film as Dwight Twilley Band’s “Looking for the Magic” continues to play on repeat. We don’t mind.

The Lamb proves to be the most sadistic of them all so far which is done on purpose. More on that later. He plays croquet using his axe as a mallet and her head as a ball. He really got up in there.

Erin Reveals Her True Nature

Tiger Man breaks into the house using Kelly’s corpse only to have Erin continue her Australian Sidney Prescott impression when she proceeds to kill him with a meat beater. Probably a better name for that kitchen utensil but as of now it escapes me.

Meanwhile Papa goes upstairs to look for his wife’s killer and realizes one of them has been hiding inside for days pissing in water bottles. Oh no don’t walk backward into that room. And he’s dead.

To this point we haven’t seen much screen time go to his emo son and his new girlfriend Felix and Zee played by Wendy Glenn. To be fair they seemed too obvious to be in on it but when his reaction to his dad’s throat being cut is “ooh gross don’t touch me” it’s kinda dead giveaway. And we were right they were in on it AF.

Meanwhile we learn Erin is such a badass because she grew up on a survivalist compound in Outback with her dad. Definitely wrong person to try putting in corner in Die Hard situation.

Felix then stabs Drake like lot like lot lot with handful weaponry while whining this is really hard for him too.

And just like that jig is up when Erin finds dad’s body after couple had lied told her he was sleeping.

Erin has escape through window but gets chunk glass lodged in leg as reward.

Erin Goes on Offensive

But it is now we have come top mountain completely utterly messed up as Zee tells Felix she wants him sleep with her bed next dead mom’s corpse so apparently it not just Hot Topic infatuation she quite unwholesome deep down.

While others deal with Erin’s Home Alone-style booby traps we learn Felix offered pay off trio animal-mask men inheritance if they killed off family so he could acquire said inheritance.

Erin stabs Lamb Man face gets hero shot as becomes clear she isn’t trapped this house them they trapped here with her.

The booby traps will continue until morale improves backing sweet synth soundtrack likely crafted Adam Wingard himself John Carpenter style.

Erin uses savvy camera trick get Wolf Mask guy down proceeds beat him death log wood.

Afterward Felix believes shot her crossbow Zee very turned on but not turned on Felix turns out when Erin turns powered blender skull all-time horror kill right before taking out Zee knife head Under Siege-style seriously I don’t think talked about horror enough what badass final girl Erin is.

The Twist

All done here except… Wait second Where hell Crispian? Did he stop Taco Bell fourth meal? No.

Crispian calls now-very-dead Felix cell phone after jammer turned off moments earlier learn he been on whole time son bitch explains had leave because “he’s pacifist” of course just another great line movie full smart dark humor.

Crispian pleads case but Erin had enough stabs him eye before cop shoots shoulder from window I’m sure all this can explained But first… Remember giant axe booby trap door? We aren’t going let this movie end without seeing those fireworks now are we?

The cop tries enter house despite Erin trying stop him biggity bam axe comes down title card comes up “Looking for Magic” rages one more time night.

Casting

Though feels like they nailed today Wingard Barrett had rather tough time casting You’re Next. They were mostly unproven outside indie circuit many actors read script saw low-budget slasher movie being shot Missouri which apparently wasn’t something many people wanted do I don’t know what hell their problem with Missouri.

Anyway as screened their 2010 film A Horrible Way Die at Fantastic Fest Re-Animatorwriters Stuart Gordon Jeffrey Combs came up them told enjoyed duo thought could use connection recruit Barbara Crampton And they right well kind of.

Crampton had been retired few years point but signed project immediately after reading script no Re-Animator-recruitment necessary This would jump-start career style she been back it ever since impressively busy horror resume.

The funny thing about Barbara Crampton is doesn’t age So much so had use makeup You’re Next-age look like could possibly matriarch family.

The previously mentioned many cast crew came from like-minded filmmakers collaborators throughout group’s career Which pretty cool not mention nice see genre favorites like Crampton Larry Fessenden great-looking theatrical release.

Behind Scenes

Why Animal Masks?

When came design masks themselves weren’t picked just because simple creepy Barrett says idea characters gradually revealed hidden aspects themselves also used metaphorically through masks.

For instance Lamb character Barrett himself plays actually much more ferocious than Tiger This metaphor Erin seeming like lamb turning out lion Maybe just didn’t have any lion masks five-and-dime?

Barrett also didn’t feel realistic have sadistic killers possess degree fashion design would allow them create intricate masks They wanted something killers could have just found painted white So went simple route Which works If good enough Michael Myers good enough you.

Making Mansion Work

Filming took four weeks night shoots from 7 PM 7 AM

The production found Missouri mansion where would film You’re Next, many changes had made location perfect keeping track many characters different weapons motives proved difficult They had rewrite script accommodate layout.

The mansion historic early-1900s home where had be incredibly careful not damage anything They filled house carpets protect floors covered walls fresh wallpaper protect them blood splatter crafted plexiglass plywood inserts shots crossbow arrows sticking them.

Wingard spent most those nights pain mystery tooth issue had constantly eating Tylenol throughout production Eventually pain became intense would take several leftover dog tranquilizers Barrett’s late dog amounted low-level morphine just able function go sleep Which reasonably hardcore.

Making $1 Million Movie Look Expensive

The two actually found idea working half-respectable budget more bug than feature Having come DIY background which often had only cheapest viable option fingertips found availability choices daunting They chose focus making movie audience perspective asking sixteen-year-old selves what would wanted see sitting theater This led plenty script’s crowd-pleasing shocker moments like line “F*ck me next dead mother” axe shockingly buried innocent man’s head end.

They also test-screened film both internally Hollywood make sure finely tuned audience satisfaction.

Creating Different Kind Final Girl

One many ways You’re Next-separates itself generic slasher movie homage its final girl Erin She purposefully written not someone just happens least sex therefore given gift moral luck She survivalist knows what doing But genius keeping secret half film That also keeps us terrible trope having character continuously tell audience how badass they In real life person kind skill mental fortitude often keep themselves rather flaunt it

If all women who auditioned role Sharni Vinson won because filmmakers felt seemed naturally badass without having try

Creating Kills

The death scenes found themselves sort sticky wicket They wanted film made mass audiences also didn’t want shy away fun horror kill They took inspiration Italian horror films such 1987’s White Eyewanted every kill feel something had never seen before

While there moments typical knife-to-face death scenes You’re Next, there equal amount well-fashioned surprising murder death kills throughout

Marketing Music

A movie explores several different moods subgenres music became increasingly difficult get right The production ended four different composers one whom director Adam Wingard While explains others did most work Wingard trying create placeholder composers work One them eventually asked if they license use music already there They didn’t know director made it

If hear moment particularly sounds straight out John Carpenter movie likely Wingard

The true centerpiece musical side You’re Next-comes Dwight Twilley Band’s 1977 classic “Looking for Magic” It been my Spotify rotation since first day saw You’re Next, it’s never skip track just…puts good mood

The initial script referenced song would play repeat but not known time would “Looking for Magic” Wingard always fan way Quentin Tarantino put lesser-known pop songs films wanted do something similar They knew wanted something from ’70s ’80s sounded like #1 hit always bit under radar whatever reason So employed composer Kyle McKinnon find right song came back brief list nine songs from which chose “Looking for Magic.”

Wingard says song weaved way very DNA film listened set often

The Cinematography

One thing separates You’re Next-low-budget slasher many thought would well-put-together genre mash-up see screen cinematography This film does look cost $1 million looks cost least $10 million

This part thanks perfect location but also thanks cinematographer Andrew Palermo who go work DP many other high-profile projects Marvel’s Thunderbolts.

Release

You’re Next debuted world rather Toronto September 2011 After premiere TIFF other festivals year rest world wouldn’t able see another two years Lionsgate acquired film immediately after successful screening TIFF planned distribute theaters But all change company bought Summit Entertainment