A truly memorable viewing experience at Telluride Horror Show was Get Away. This film was written by Nick Frost (Paul, Truth Seekers), who also stars in the film, and directed by Steffen Haars (New Kids Turbo, Krazy House). Get Away follows a family going on vacation to a remote Swedish island. Once there, the outsiders are met with hostility from the local inhabitants, building to a violent, bloody final act.

As Get Away begins, audiences are sure to be drawn in by the quirky comedy and the folk horror tropes reminiscent of Midsommar and The Wicker Man. The film allows time to get to know the family of four as they venture to their vacation spot. They’re a slightly odd, but mostly typical family visiting a foreign country. The island they’re going to is about to celebrate a special tradition that spans many decades, and the name of this tradition translates to the word “quarantine.” To honor this time in their history when the shipping lanes were shut down, quarantining the island and leading to starvation and death, the island cuts off all communication and travel for 3 days, culminating in a reenactment of those events. Given that this tragedy was in part caused by British soldiers, and the family is from England and Ireland, it’s no wonder the locals don’t want the family on the island for this sacred tradition. The filmmakers excel at injecting humor into the most uncomfortable situations, balancing social politeness with absurdity. It allows for plenty of laughs, even as the suspense continues to rise. Despite all the folk horror tropes, Get Away also works hard to subvert those expectations, leading to interesting conversations related to colonialism and foreigners venturing where they aren’t wanted. The third act does lead to some lingering questions, which can’t really be discussed without getting into spoilers, but not enough to take away from the overall enjoyment of the film. With some delightful surprises, plenty of humor, and a healthy amount of violence, there is a little of something for everyone.

No matter how small the role, every cast member of Get Away gives it their all. Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) stars as Richard. Richard is a bit of a doormat, overly polite and often letting others walk all over him. Frost is wonderfully hilarious in this role as the character tries to keep a smile on his face, even in the face of unfriendly locals. It makes the moments when he lets loose a bit all the more fun and memorable. Two absolute scene stealers are the women in the family, Aisling Bea (This Way Up, Swede Caroline) as mother Susan, and Maisie Ayres making her feature-film debut as daughter Jessie. Individually, these two women are hilarious, but it’s when they’re together poking fun at Richard that they really light up the screen with their mother-daughter chemistry. Other great performances come from Sebastian Croft (Heartstopper), Eero Milonoff (Border), and Anitta Suikkari (The Tundra Within Me).

The artistry of the film is part of what makes Get Away such a fun watch. Everything from the sets to the characters is a caricature. This is shown in the production design and the wardrobe. The island location, with it’s somewhat rundown village, is the perfect backdrop. It immediately matches what one might imagine of an isolated Swedish island. The wardrobe has a similar effect. The villagers all dress more traditionally and look a bit worse for the wear. The family dresses more vibrantly, yet each character has an outfit that fits their personality, especially Frost’s character who dresses in that over-prepared way dad’s dress to be in the outdoors. The final act features plenty of carnage and gore, some of it looking a bit silly, but that’s in keeping with the tone of this horror comedy. It’s bloody and outlandish in the best way, making for a memorable end to a hilarious film.

Get Away is a blend of folk horror, comedy, and violent thrills that takes audiences on a goofy, bloody trip. Frost and Haars prove to be a great filmmaking team, bridging different cultures as well as different genres. It takes something familiar and turns it on its head with the help of a brilliant cast, scenic locations, and plenty of graphic practical effects. There are certain elements of the plot audiences will wish to better understand, but perhaps those can be answered in a sequel. You can catch Get Away in theaters on December 6th, 2024 before it hits Shudder in 2025.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10