How To Prevent A Home Invasion, According To The Movies

A step-by-step guide to remaining the master of your domain.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Home: it’s the place where you’re most comfortable and, as such, the place where you’re most vulnerable. Which is why personal domiciles have made terrifying settings for dozens of movies over the years, including Adam Wingard’s upcoming You’re Next, in which a long overdue family reunion at a posh country estate is rudely interrupted by a gang of animal mask-wearing interlopers intent on spoiling the civility.

An instant favorite at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it premiered in the Midnight Madness section in 2011, You’re Next is getting ready to scare up a whole new bunch of moviegoers when it hits theaters on August 23. While we can’t promise that you won’t jump, flinch, or scream your way through its 96-minute running time, we can help you prepare for any battle that might arise on your home turf with this step-by-step guide.

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10. Keep a bear trap handy.

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9. Always do a background check on your contractors.

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8. Level the playing field.

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7. Always keep a fully charged cell phone, and keep it within your sight lines.

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6. Don’t trust a pretty face.

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5. Embrace the panic room.

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4. Buddy up.

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3. Invest in caller ID.

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2. In a pinch, turn an everyday household item into a weapon.

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1. Assume the worst if the intruders are unmasked, and react accordingly.

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