529. Better Watch Out; movie review

BETTER WATCH OUT
Cert 15
89 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong violence, threat, sex references, very strong language

I have never been much of a fan of black Christmas comedies but I understand that they float the boat of some cinema goers.
However, I struggle to see why Chris Peckover's Funny Games-style countdown to the festive season would prompt a giggle.
In my opinion, Better Watch Out is just plain nasty. Give me It's A Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street any time.
It stars Olivia De Jonge as Ashley - a babysitter of a 12-year-old (Levi Miller) who has a giant crush on her.
He and his pal (Ed Oxenbould) discuss ways in which he can get her to fall for him despite their six-year age gap but, just as he is trying to enact plan A, the house comes under attack.
Regular readers will know that horror films rarely float my boat - largely because I find them dismally predictable.

However, that doesn’t apply to them all - indeed, the last time I saw De Jorge and Oxenbould together  was in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit which I very much enjoyed.
Sadly, Better Watch Out, despite unusual nuances, doesn’t have the same punch (I didn’t jump once).
True, I was a bit disturbed by some of its tangents but they didn't provide enough of an appeal for me to consider it a Christmas treat.

Reasons to watch: if you have never seen a horror film before
Reasons to avoid: not funny, nor tense - just plain nasty

Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 4/10

Star tweet

Garry McConnachie‏ @TheGMcConnachie Dec 7

Go see Better Watch Out this weekend, Britain! It's like Michael Haneke made a Christmas movie for the multiplex crowd. Funny, twisted & Levi Miller is brilliantly unsettling

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