Nick Frost is back in the horror genre with this watchable folk comedy slasher….

Once you’ve starred in such an iconic horror classic like Shaun of the Dead, anytime you decide to return to the genre, the comparisons have started even before you’ve glimpsed a scene of the new film. The shadow of that zombie masterpiece may haunt Nick Frost, but that doesn’t stop him from returning to any gore fest material and while you hope that GET AWAY has just a hint of the same quality, you sort of know beforehand that it won’t and a feeling of disappointment is already created.

GET AWAY is many notches down on having a pint in The Winchester and won’t be entering any “best of” lists anytime soon, but there is enough on show to warrant a watch even though with Frost’s Richard and comedian Aisling Bea as his wife Susan, you do expect more laughs that it actually offers.

With shades of Midsommar and The Wicker Man dripping from each frame, with a burst of Cliff Richard on the soundtrack, Richard and Susan along with their teenage kids, Jessie (Maisie Ayres), and Sam (Sebastian Croft). head off to the land of Sweden, towards a remote island called Svälta to witness their traditional Karantan celebrations, obviously having never watched films where you clearly would not do this, especially with the hostile warnings before they even step foot onto that boat.

With the residents creepy costumes to go alongside their chants and a sense of impending dread, the family for no known reason, decide to dig their heels in and stay, even with a strange rental owner adding to the danger signs that is clearly flashing in front of them.

Just when you think you’ve seen all this unfold so many times before, Iron Maiden bellows out their “Run to the Hills” anthem and the plot switches to utter carnage and bloodshed. For an experienced horror fan, it won’t come as a huge shock at the sudden turn, but if you are lucky enough to actually be surprised, then the film may all of a sudden elevate on its quality and with the added bonus of its crazy kill-fest, there is enough gore on show to likely appease both camps for the rest of its running time.

GET AWAY is no Eden Lake, but its pretty servable fare, held together as always with the charm of Frost and while you may have hoped for more “bite”, its one holiday trip you be glad to have visited once, but most likely, not again.

Rating: ★★½☆☆