GET AWAY
(director: Steffan Haars; screenwriter: Nick Frost; cinematographer: Jeris Kerbosch; editor: Brian Ent; music: Hybrid; cast: Sebastian Croft (Sam), Aisling Bea (Susan), Nick Frost (Richard Smith), Jessie (Maisie Ayers), Anitta Suikkari (Klara), Eero Milonof (Mats); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Lee Kim, Jim Hegeman, Nick Frost, Nick Spicer, Maxime Cotttray, Aram Terkzakian; Shudder/XYZ Films; 2024-UK)
“A goofy, comical and violent ride.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Dutch filmmaker Steffan Haars (“Krazy House”/”Bro’s Before Ho’s”) is director of this offbeat folk horror tale and comedy, that spoofs the genre. Nick Frost is screenwriter and star.
The English Smith Family–the corny patriarch Richard (Nick Frost), the pushy matriarch Susan (Aisling Bea), the sassy sister Jessie (Maisie Ayers) and brother Sam (Sebastian Croft), are spending their holiday on Svälta, a fictional Swedish island with a dark history. Despite warnings from everyone not to go there, especially during their sacred celebration of the Karantan festival (relating to the quarantining of Svälta, which led to starvation and cannibalism when the island was exploited by the English), the Smiths go there by ferry anyway and are greeted with hostility, especially from the nasty town elder Klara (Anitta Suikkari), who is directing a play for their annual Karantan festival. Upon arriving at their AirBnb, that has no WiFi or cell phone signal, the Smith family is greeted by the owner Mats (Eero Milonof). His mother was beheaded ten years ago. The locals show their hostility to the visitors by dumping in front of their cabin dead animals.
That night the family starts to notice strange occurrences happening on the island, such as coffins being loaded onto boats at the harbor. It seems a serial killer might have hidden on the same ferry the Smiths were on.
When not swimming, the teen siblings horse around and provide some laughs with their cheeky commentary.
It all builds to a bloody third act.
The result is a goofy, comical and violent ride, wonderfully played-out by this captivating family.
It played at the Fantastic Fest.
REVIEWED ON 12/7/2024 GRADE: B
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