So I was watching the movie You’re Next.

One thing that always bothers me in horror movies is there is never anyone who thinks like me in them. In the first main scene, the antagonist is firing flechettes through the windows at people.

Of course they go into a panic. But the best thing to do in such a situation is to immediately conduct quick reconnaissance and then attack. The beginning of an attack is when things are most unknown and chaotic also for your attacker. There is no better time to disrupt plans than at the start of them before your opponent has consolidated control and power.

You know what sort of weapon he has. You know his distance and direction of fire and thus his location (as flechettes are very short-distance weapons). Best thing one or more of them could have done would’ve been to run out the door opposite his firing position, flank him then shank him. That’s exactly what I would’ve done, and it would’ve been a very short movie I guess in that case.

Not trying to be some tough guy on the internet. Just military training and common sense. If under attack in most cases the best time to do something about it is right away. Waiting and seeing gives your opponent more power and you ever less as time goes on. Especially when their intentions are very clear, you’ll never get a better chance.

Note that this only applies to in-person situations. I’m not making statements about nations or similar.

In that situation, an attack is the last thing he’d be expecting and thus the best time to catch him by surprise.