Behind You – Movie Review (2/5)

BEHIND YOU is a horror movie by Andrew Mecham and Matthew Whedon. The plot features a demon in a mirror that can be summoned by saying something out loud several times. Yes, it sounds familiar because it is. Read our full Behind You review here!

Behind You is a horror movie by writer-director duo Andrew Mecham and Matthew Whedon. And yes, the latter is the brother of Joss Whedon.

When this movie begins, it feels like a classic horror movie that could deliver on some decent entertainment. Unfortunately, it falls apart in too many ways towards the end. This movie has potential, but the final result just doesn’t work for me in most ways. Then again, if you love the “demon in a mirror”-plot, then you should still check it out.

Continue reading our Behind You review below.

Jan Broberg from Abducted in Plain Sight docu-series stars

Yes, the real-life victim from the truly crazy Abducted in Plain Sight documentary series on Netflix is the star of Behind You. Her name is Jan Broberg and she is really good. Honestly, whether you watch this movie or not, you simply have to check out the documentary. It’s at least as crazy as Tiger King which is saying something!

You’ll want to check this out: Our review of the docu-series Abducted in Plain Sight on Netflix >

Then again, this isn’t her first rodeo. She’s been acting for quite some time and Jan Broberg is definitely one of the best things about this horror movie. Jan Broberg was also in the horror movie remake Maniac from 2012 which starred Elijah Wood and Haunt (2014). She could easily have a big career as a horror icon… but not particularly thanks to Behind You.

Also in Behind You is the young Addy Miller who you might recognize from Dark Places (2015). She’s also been rather unrecognizable as a “walker” on The Walking Dead in both 2010 and 2017. She’s also in the upcoming horror-comedy The Devil’s Tree which is currently in post-production.

A familiar horror plot device

The plot of Behind You features a mirror as the gateway to releasing a ghost or demon of sorts. You just have to say something out loud a few times while looking into the mirror. Yes, pretty much exactly like Candyman or even the girls in Paranormal Activity 3 summoning Bloody Mary.

But hey, I have no problem watching a horror movie using a familiar plot device. As long as it’s done well… and that’s not the case with Behind You.

The problem with using this plot device in Behind You is how it’s executed. There are different rules and the surrounding just don’t work for me. I mean, how many times can you knock down the same door and have it jammed again minutes later?! There is a lot of doors being shut and people trying to get through them in this movie. It drives me crazy!

The Behind You ending

Don’t worry, I’m not giving away any spoilers for the ending of Behind You here. Then again, I don’t need to because you will probably guess most ahead of time.

With this movie, we’re getting nowhere for the longest time. Then, when you think the movie is over because it feels like it has already been more than long enough, it continues. However, not in any good way. And yes, an additional 10-15 minutes of intelligent plot twists could make a movie much better.

The ending of Behind You is definitely the worst part of it. Every single thing that happens is grotesquely predictable.

You can watch Behind You on VOD

As mentioned at the beginning, this movie was written and directed by the duo Andrew Mecham and Matthew Whedon. Of course, the name “Whedon” does carry some weight when it comes to genre productions. Joss Whedon wrote the horror movie The Cabin in the Woods (2011) with its director Drew Goddard. It’s a movie I love and consider terribly underrated.

Of course, most people will associate the Whedon name with TV series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. All of which he created. And actually, Joss Whedon was even nominated for a Best Writing Academy Award way back in 1996 for Toy Story (1995) along with six other men.

So, why am I talking so much about Joss Whedon? Well, because I’m afraid the name Whedon meant that Andrew Mecham and Matthew Whedon were given too much leeway. Someone should have helped to tighten up this story, screenplay, and final movie. Behind You could have been so much better if someone had looked at this product with more critical eyes.

Behind You is out On Demand from April 17, 2020.

Details

Writers & Directors: Andrew Mecham & Matthew Whedon
Stars: Addy Miller, Elizabeth Birkner, Philip Brodie, Jan Broberg