Carl Roberts 
Get ready for a killer holiday with Nick Frost, Aisling Bea, Maisie Ayres and Sebastian Croft in the horror comedy, Get Away.
Get Away is a horror-comedy featuring Nick Frost, Aisling Bea, Maisie Ayres and Sebastian Croft as the Smith family. They journey to a remote island in Finland for a much-needed holiday. The trouble is, they are not that welcome on the island by the inhabitants who are preparing to celebrate an awful event in their history. Also, there’s a serial killer on the island which could ruin the Smiths’ holiday. Over the course of the film, there are comedic moments alongside some pretty grisly and gory events. But has Nick Frost, who also writes the screenplay for the film, hit comedic gold? Or should the film be abandoned on the island on which it is set?
PREMISE
A family’s vacation to a remote getaway takes an unexpected turn when they discover the island they’re on is inhabited by a serial killer.
THOUGHTS
Anyone expecting high art here, look away now. For the rest of us, what we have been given is an often hilarious, laugh-out-loud movie. It features an abundance of violence and gore. To say the film is entertaining would be doing it an injustice. At times, we find ourselves howling with laughter at some things we really shouldn’t. For the first third of the film, we see things that are amusing with some superb dialogue that has us in stitches. For the final third, we are witness to some nasty violence and gore that while making us feel uneasy, also has us laughing.
With some superb comedic acting, especially from Aisling Bea, who we wouldn’t expect to see in a film like this, the film moves at a nice pace throughout. The banter between the family from the start is winning, with some cutting dialogue that has us chuckling along. Once the family reach the island, things take a sinister turn but the humour keeps coming. One scene that has us laughing has a sinister edge to it concerning voyeurism and masturbation. But the humour begins to take on a darker turn, becoming more like black comedy. But the enjoyment levels never dip.
NICK FROST AND AISLING BEA
The pairing of Nick Frost and Aisling Bea is a winning one from the start. Both play off each other to comedic perfection, making the pairing a highly enjoyable one. Frost plays Richard who, alongside Aisling Bea’s Susan, are struggling to communicate with their adult children. At times when the kids swear, Richard and Susan reprimand them, despite them being way past the age of being called out for it. But deep down, the family are a strong unit, always playfully ribbing each other and handing out sarcastic comments. Frost and Aisling Bea excel in their roles, bringing the pair to life in such an enjoyable way, that we don’t want to see anything bad happen to them.
MAISIE AYRES AND SEBASTIAN CROFTÂ
The pairing of Masie Ayres and Sebastian Croft as the adult children, Jessie and Sam respectively are the standout performances of the entire cast. Together, both of them breathe life into their characters, making them so believable, we can’t help but love them. Both characters are the typical teenager fare we are used to seeing, despite both characters being adults. Both verbally abuse each other, sometimes playfully physically abuse each other but it’s all done with love. They also show they are close siblings, both ready to defend the other against everyone and everything. When the violence begins, we can’t help but follow their every step, laughing along as they battle the island’s inhabitants. Both Maisie Ayres and Sebastian Croft are lovable in the roles.
THE WRITING
Nick Frost has written something that is completely enjoyable from the off. Dealing with the typical family dynamics, he has crafted a horror-comedy tale that sticks the landing throughout. With some biting satire, some comments that we find ourselves laughing at for a variety of reasons and with the violence and gore of the third act, Frost proves himself to be a terrific writer. He has sat on this idea for a number of years before finally making the film but it doesn’t show. The writing is fresh, vibrant and winning. And it all works wonderfully. Frost has experience with this kind of film, after his brilliant appearance in Shaun Of The Dead and it shows. It doesn’t come as a surprise to see the film work so well with a script that nails almost everything.
VERDICT
Get Away is a welcome and enjoyable start to the movie year of 2025. Its mix of comedy, horror, violence and gore may not be to everyone’s taste. But for the majority of the audience, they will find it highly agreeable. With Steffen Haars’ great direction, some superb production design, and some beautiful shots of the island and its surrounding lake and area, the film is a winner. Horror fans will get their fix while laughing out loud while the remainder of the audience will have a blast with what the film contains.
With exceptional performances from the four main cast members, brilliant supporting performances from the rest of the actors and actresses and a huge sense of fun, the film is the perfect adult entertainment for when the kids are in bed. It isn’t for the squeamish, thanks to the blood and gore on display here. But for the most part, the film is an enjoyable tale that people can’t fail to enjoy. This could yet be the ultimate slay-cation. Will there be a sequel or a prequel? Only time will tell but I’m up for another round with the Smith family. Rather than wanting to Get Away from the film, we find ourselves gravitating towards it. Don’t pack your bags. Just sit back, turn the lights off and enjoy.
Get Away premieres on Sky Cinema and NOW TV on Friday in the UK. And it will premiere on Shudder in other territories.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
