Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2013

While not really a horror fan, I do appreciate the occasional frightener that provides its thrills through cleverness, character and creativity rather than gratuitous gore. This deliciously twisted, darkly humorous creeper adeptly crosses the old home-invasion shtick with a dysfunctional family dramedy. You’ll squirm and laugh at the same time. A big reason for its success is Sharni Vinson in the “Last Girl Standing” role, whose character turns out to be less defenseless and way more resourceful than the invaders counted on. Still not for the queasy, but there’s more here than mere splatter. Japanese title: Surprise. (96 min)