Get Away Is A Welcomed Vacation Destination for Horror Fans
Nick Frost is proving to be the jack of all trades with his new horror Get Away. Frost has long established his mark within the comedy genre, mainly for his prominent comedic roles in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy of, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, and The World’s End. Deviating from a genre he’s known best for, Frost lent his evident multifaceted talents to write the screenplay of a vacation gone wrong in Get Away.
Get Away follows the Smith family as they head on vacation to the remote Swedish island of Svalta. Having not even stepped foot on the island for a minute, their trip takes a dark turn as the townspeople prepare for a mysterious local festival that celebrates a dark history. Unsettled by the unfriendly locals and strange rituals, they try to make the best of their trip, stubbornly enjoying the island’s isolation and natural beauty. However, as the festival looms closer, the family realizes something far more sinister is unfolding — especially when they discover that a serial killer is on the loose.
Get Away demonstrates a fast pace, allowing the audience to understand the family dynamic swiftly. Frost achieves this with creating an environment and dialogue that’s all too relatable to viewers — the sibling bickering, the kids rolling their eyes at their parents (and vice versa), and the overarching stress of it all that is vacationing with your family. Unlike other horror films in the genre, Get Away presents the underlying eeriness as a background character. We never get to know anyone’s true motivations until the very end.
Frost himself emulates comedy naturally and it’s a hidden force to be reckoned with in the horror genre. Frost’s heavy hand in the creation of the film was felt in this way, as there was comedy sprinkled throughout the film in ingenious ways. It wasn’t forced and provided levity to the film, as a way to throw off the audience for what was to come. It certainly worked on me. With all of this being said, it’s a hard task to divert attention away from Frost, but Aisling Bea did just that. The duo are an on-screen match made in heaven. Bea’s performance blew me away and her presence alone in scenes demanded that all eyes be on her. Yet, she wasn’t the only leading lady to take my breath away, Maisie Ayres was spellbinding. I was shocked that I hadn’t seen her before in anything else. Much to my surprise, I saw that she’s a comparably newer actress, with only two other acting credits. Given the fact that this film wouldn’t be what it is without Ayres, I am begging filmmakers to put her in more horror films. Her wit was a perfect balancing act for Frost and Bea to work with and her subtle expressions made me gravitate toward her every time. Dare I say, next scream queen?
If I had to compare the film to another, it shares similarities with the likes of Midsommar, though much less gory in nature as Get Away has an overall fun aura. That said, the entire film tees up the audience for a twist that M. Night Shyamalan himself would be envious of. Although my amusement of said twist quickly faded as it felt like a joke that went on for too long. Nevertheless, if you take this film at face value for what it is — a comedic folk horror film that pokes fun at itself while offering all the blood one could want — you’ll unquestionably have an amusing viewing experience. I truly think Get Away is a welcomed vacation destination for all horror fans.
Get Away hits theaters December 6 before streaming on Shudder in early 2025.
