We Might Hurt Each Other delves into first-time slasher horror territory for its filmmakers’ home country of Lithuania. It recycles an all too familiar character and story arc template that doesn’t stray far from what has become a redundant slasher genre formula. 

 

The film has a simple premise: A group of teenagers graduating from high school are looking for a secluded venue to throw a crazy graduation party before they all go on their separate ways in life. Marius, a quiet loner, finds a mysterious cabin on the outskirts of Lithuania to host their big graduation blast when the original location falls through. When they arrive and start to unwind with rebellious festivities, they inadvertently destroy the beloved artwork (and makeshift wooden family) of an amateur wood carver, who also likes to carve people in his spare time. His resume is loaded. I bet he’s proficient in Microsoft Office as well. 

 

I can’t help but compare this wood carving killer to Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise. His facial deformities are covered by a wooden mask and he has a propensity for killing teenagers. He’s basically a Craftsman Hipster version of Jason V. 

 

Character development is lacking and while the efforts of the cast are admirable, they are not given much depth to work with in their hollow roles. Unfortunately this takes up more than the first half of the movie and loses interest before the slasher begins slashing in the final 3rd of the movie. 

 

When chaos starts to unfold late in the movie, there are only a few entertaining kills of note and we aren’t given much reason to fear for the lives of the characters, because we don’t feel attached or invested in their well-being. I give the movie credit for not falling into the ‘let’s split up to cover more ground’ cliché. Once the killer starts his rampage, he isn't sheepish. He’s a confident public slasher (no cue cards necessary).

 

If you can make it through the first 2/3rds of lackluster character background, there are a few worthwhile, fun moments, but overall the movie failed to hold my attention for the majority of the runtime. Although I had issues with the movie, I praise the filmmakers’ ambition for tackling a new genre for their country of Lithuania and hope it inspires more creativity and courage to venture outside of the ‘comfort zone’ of existing cultural expectations.