Whenever an actor steps behind the camera, I’m always fascinated to see what they choose that first directorial project to be. Especially when they’re writing as well as directing, there’s a big-time curiosity factor about what kind of a movie they opt to craft. In the case of Dave Franco, a well-known actor, mostly for comedic work, he’s opted to make a gnarly bit of horror for his first time out. It may seem like an odd mixture, but boy is he up to the task. Thoroughly confident and wildly effective, this is the sort of unsettling fright flick that a veteran of the genre would have crafted. Kudos to Franco for pulling it off, and later on this week, you’ll be able to see for yourself when IFC puts it out on VOD. It’s one not to miss. The film is a horror offering, as you might imagine. The premise is deceptively simple, and intentionally so, following a pair of couples who rent an extravagant vacation home for what should be a celebratory weekend of fun. Of course, being genre fare, nothing is as simple as that. Charlie (Dan Stevens) and Mina (Sheila Vand) are co-workers planning to take their significant others on a weekend get-away. Charlie’s married to Michelle (Alison Brie), while his brother Josh (Jeremy Allen White) is dating Mina. The quartet plans to relax at a rental home for the weekend, though as soon as they arrive, Mina is unsettled by the racist leanings of Taylor (Toby Huss), who hands them the keys and takes care of the home for his brother. As more disturbing things reveal themselves, the group begins to suspect Taylor of more nefarious predilections. Then, it gets dark. Franco directs a screenplay he co-wrote with Joe Swanberg, based on a story the two came up with alongside Mike Demski. Connie Wellman rounds out the cast, with Christian Sprenger providing the cinematography. Composing the score is the duo of Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans. Dave Franco not just handles the writing and directing well, but he cast the flick impeccably. Spouse Alison Brie is reliably strong, while Dan Stevens, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White are rock-solid as well. Brie has perhaps the most conventional role in the quartet, but she’s such a talented actress, she breathes unique life into it and makes this a character you’re always interested in seeing more of. […]