I consider myself a pretty avid fan of the horror genre. In order to be successful in genres like drama and suspense, directors and screenwriters have to build a good plot, create top-notch dialogue and elicit good performances from their actors.

Sure, all those things are important in a good horror movie. But horrors are often judged on a slightly easier scale, and often on one element alone: did it scare you silly?

The answer to that question for “You’re Next” is quite simple: no, no it does not. But it certainly gets points for trying a different approach to horror.

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“Next” features a little-known cast beyond its final girl, Erin, played by Sharni Vinson (“Step Up 3”). Erin ventures to her boyfriend’s parents’ desolate country home for a weekend celebrating the aforementioned parents’ anniversary. But desolate house and big family = death. Killers dressed in animal masks descend upon the home and break in, leaving the family to fight for survival.

What sets “Next” apart is the other genre it tackles: the family drama. These family members clearly hate each other, and even when the blood starts flying instead of trying to help one another they keep bickering. The unknown actors’ performances are pretty bad; however, the way the movie is structured, I have a sneaking suspicion that’s exactly how the director wanted it.

The film features the usual gauntlet of jump scenes — doors close and the killer appears behind it, someone looks under the bed and the killer pops out. If you’re looking for anything that will update the horror genre, you’re in the wrong place. The film borrows heavily from not only a bevy of other horror films, but also “Home Alone.” Yep, “Home Alone.” You’ll never look at your blender the same way.

Director Adam Wingard is clearly aiming for an early ’80s horror feel, supported by an electronic soundtrack. The minimal use of gore does help the suspense stand out, but unlike in “The Strangers,” this attack is not random. And when the plot starts into its first of two or three twists, it loses the tension it did have.

“You’re Next” is interesting enough, and it’s refreshing to see a horror movie where the horror isn’t solely focused on exorcisms and demons. It’s not as clever as it wants to be, but it gets close.