Best described as Michael Haneke's Home Alone and Funny Games, the sadistic horror-comedy Safe Neighborhood is the kind of movie that's hard to categorize but easy to enjoy, especially if you like watching teenagers do some seriously twisted stuff for the season christmas.
Written and directed by Chris Peckover, whose found footage debut Undocumented was released by IFC Midnight in 2011, this polished and very '80s-esque retrospective of a gender bender pits a blonde babysitter, played by the star of The Visit, Olivia DeJonge, against a vicious killer who is much more cunning than one can imagine, and not necessarily who you think he is. After premiering at Austin's Fantastic Fest, with stops in Torino and Paris, the film should see more festival gigs followed by pickups at select B-movie outlets and VOD platforms.
Director: Joseph Jones
Writer: Joseph Jones
Stars: Hailee-Amanda Borja, Abbie-Therese Borja, Kaden Velasco
But things soon go awry when someone sneaks into the house and pulls off some Scream-style scares, leading the audience to believe that this will be another gory survival story pitting innocent children against a cold-blooded masked killer. . Think again. Exceeding expectations in more ways than one, Peckover's script throws in a lot of waste that makes it hard to fully believe what's happening on screen, though that doesn't make it any less fun, especially if you don't mind a little gore and guts. , or a paint can used as a lethal weapon.
DeJonge unevenly portrays a perfect American girl who, after planning a quiet night by the Christmas log, ends up beaten, groped, duct-taped, and much worse. She seems to be just as shocked by what's happening as we are, wondering if this is all some kind of silly childish prank or maybe the real thing. Miller is creepy but lovable enough to hang out with Luke despite his extremely questionable behavior, while Ed Oxenbould is memorable as a nerdy friend who stays home too long.
Set almost entirely indoors, the action is cleverly staged and makes good use of various household items, including the requisite flashlight, kitchen knife, and lawn mower. Peckover keeps the ketchup flowing long enough that gore fans don't feel ripped off, especially during the last act, though Brian Cachia's busy score hits what feels like too many upbeat notes. But maybe that's the point: Safe Neighborhood takes an evening of Christmas cheer and turns it into a spectacle of sick behavior. The Grinch finally has the movie he needs.
Watch Safe Neighborhood 2022 Movie Trailer
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