Contrary to what you might expect, the latest film from the mind that brought us Madison County, Roadside, and Contracted isn’t a horror film at all. At this point, I’m certain that a few of you are wondering why we’re even reviewing such a title, and the answer is simple: because it’s really good. Writer/director Eric England trades in his pig masks and decomposing bodies for witty story telling and black humor. And while Get the Girl definitely marks a departure for the ever-evolving filmmaker, that doesn’t mean that he abandons his horror roots entirely.

England trades in his pig masks and decomposing bodies for witty story telling and black humor.

At its core, Get the Girl is a tale of unrequited love, but this is no ordinary “boy meets girl”. Upon meeting the girl of his dreams at a local bar, Clarence enlists the help of a notorious womanizer to help seal the deal with the target of his affection. Of course, things get complicated when a plan is quickly hatched to stage a kidnapping in order for Clarence to swoop in and save the day. He’ll look like the hero, and the girl will have no choice but to fall in love with him then, right? As you can imagine, things fall apart almost instantly, and once a member of the crew is killed, all hell breaks loose.

Get the Girl is every bit as violent as it is charming.

There’s a sense of mystery present throughout the film that becomes larger and larger as the story progresses. You begin to doubt everyone and everything, and what starts off as a Young Adult romance turns into a goddamn bloodbath by the time it’s all said and done. Get the Girl is every bit as violent as it is charming, and that’s an impressive juxtaposition to pull off. England’s previous works felt right at home in the indie horror space, but this feels like something much larger and much more capable. While it’s a bit of a bummer to watch “one of our own” begin to drift away from horror, we can rest easy knowing that he’s still making kick-ass movies. His work as a writer or director has never been more impressive than it is here.

…a strange combination that works on nearly every level.

Genre fans will be able to point out some familiar faces in the cast as well. Noah Segan (Deadgirl, Starry Eyes, The Mind’s Eye) and Scout Taylor Compton (Halloween, Flight 7500) deliver excellent performances while more unfamiliar names like Justin Dobies and Elizabeth Whitson shine just as bright in their leading roles. And don’t get me started on scene-stealer, Adi Shankar.

Get the Girl is a heartfelt, mysterious, and bloody crime thriller that’s shot like an indie drama. It’s a strange combination that works on nearly every level. It may not be horror, but I feel like the MH audience will love it all the same.

Get the Girl will be in limited theaters and VOD platforms on January 27th.