Seeing a smaller release last year, the slasher flick He's Out There is now available for instant bloodshed on Netflix. Calling back to an earlier era of classic slasher genre fare, this little gem is horror in its purest form, with no tricks or convoluted plot twists.
Centered on a family that's headed for vacation at their lakefront retreat, things get nasty when a masked killer stalks his prey. Using old school themes about a nondescript madman with a taste for blood and suffering, He's Out There uses its tiny cast and its simple plot to full effect. If you're a fan of '80s hack and slash horror, this is a pure thematic tribute to the films that defined a generation. With barely any setup and very little character development, we're instantly thrown into survivalist plot about a mom that must protect her daughters from a madman on the loose. Quickly, their peaceful world is torn apart as their wooded haven becomes a playground of evil.
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| Hi. I brought treats!!! |
Since the last couple months have been rather disappointing with new horror fare on Netflix, He's Out There was a total surprise. Much like Hush, this one gets to the point and sticks the landing repeatedly. Sometimes, repeat tropes don't work if the director doesn't really understand where they're going with their movie. Luckily enough for viewers, the killer here is interesting enough, even if he's barely around. Mixing elements of the home invasion sub-genre with the weapon wielding characteristics of a Jason Voorhees like slasher, He's Out There never turns this into some sensual affair about murdering teens having sex. Nope. This time, the antagonist has no real aim other than to stalk, terrorize, and hack to death with an ax. This movie gets straight back to basics and doesn't bore us with some sad sack story about the murderer.
Starring Yvonne Strahovski and a duo of talented young girls, He's Out There should be terrifying for anyone with young children. Much like Funny Games (but obviously not as good) this one strikes a chord that will definitely have parents thinking about how they'd protect their kids in such a predicament. It also plays to creating a focus on the empowerment of females against their would be attacker. This has obviously been a consistent thing in horror films for decades and is continued here but never becomes repetitious or boring.
If you're looking for a decent slasher flick to watch, this should satiate your desire for something to watch.
-Chris George
