Get Away, a new horror comedy directed by Steffen Haars (Krazy House) and written/starring Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), is being described as a send-up of folk horror. I’m going to be 100% transparent, I didn’t even know there was enough folk horror to warrant a sub-genre. Then I started thinking about it…every film with some sort of pagan ritual, anything with a rural religious tinge, really anything from the original The Wicker Man to Midsommar can fall into that category, which tells me two things. First, I’m an idiot. Second, given the depth of the genre it’s amazing this hasn’t been done before!
Richard Smith(Nick Frost) is a sort of sad sack, British, everyman. He’s pushed around by his wife, Susan (Aisling Bea) and either ignored or made fun of by his teenage kids Sam (Sebastian Croft) and Jessie (Maisie Ayers). That doesn’t stop him from wanting that wholesome family experience so after an especially taxing period of time and in a very Griswoldian way, Smith decides the family needs a proper get away (Title!). With all of Europe a train ride away the Smith’s make the absolute worst decision at their disposal and choose to visit the Swedish Island of Svalta. The family made the decision after learning about Karantan, a yearly play put on by the town which depicts a moment in their history where they were quarantined by the British, which lead to starvation and eventually to the townspeople cannibalizing their British captors. Disney quality family fun if you ask me! From nearly the moment they arrive things appear off, the townspeople are standoffish to the point of being ominous. You would think the Smith’s would have considered the subject matter of the play, wherein four British people were cannibalized by these townspeople, and would have second guessed going…being that they are 4 British people and all.
Comparisons to Shaun of the Dead are not without merit, I’m sure I’ll make a few myself in this writing, but they are incomplete. Get Away, is a comparison to the Cornetto trilogy must be made, is more like an amalgamation of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz with the clear horror elements of the former and the town gone mad elements of the latter. Seeing as how this is Frost’s first major writing project I suppose it makes sense that the influence of his training ground shines through. I don’t want to take away from the film and cheapen it by making those comparisons though, while there are similarities this film would still succeed as fun horrortainment even if the Cornetto films never existed. Honestly, this film may even benefit from a world like that since it’s extremely hard not to feel the missing presence of the Abbot to Frost’s Costello, Simon Pegg. While the cast all excels at what they’re shooting for it will never be enough while being reminded of one of the greatest pop culture duo’s of all time.
I do believe the story itself, and therefore Frost’s writing, deserves the credit for most of the worldbuilding we get but I’d be remiss if I didn’t applaud Steffen Haars for his direction. Coming off of Krazy House (also with Frost) Haars direction helps to create a believable world with unbelievable people. He has an inane ability to lull you into a sense of calm at exactly the wrong (or right depending on the viewer) moment before adding a heaping helping of insanity. It’s Haars direction, establishing what feels like very separate pieces of the story before masterfully melding them into one legitimately surprising twist ending.
I think I’ve already spelled it out but in case not, this was one I fully enjoyed. It won’t rest amongst the pantheon of the legends from which it draws inspiration but it will be remembered as a completely rewatchable, bloody fun time that very few genre fans will not find worthwhile. Nick Frost is simply the type of guy you want to see succeed and while it’s been a long road establishing himself apart from Pegg this last year has really shown he has what it takes. Acting in roles like Black Cab and now delivering a thoroughly funny, engaging and genuinely surprising screenplay for Get Away it seems that Frost’s story has really just started.
