Rental: House of the Devil
Release Date: (DVD) February 2, 2010
Rating: R – bloody violence & disturbing images
Starring: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, AJ Bowen and Greta Gerwig
Writer/Director: Ti West
Official Website: The House of the Devil.com
Watching this movie I really felt like I had accidentally rented a 70s or 80s horror film that got put in the wrong place or re-released but of course that is just how director/writer Ti West intended it to be. From the slightly grainy picture, freeze-frame opening credits, 80s clothes and the art-house style of film making; the whole movie was a perfect emulation of classic retro horror. I loved it and really felt it was a breath of fresh (or possibly devilish) air into the ever increasingly monotonous horror industry. It’s strange how such a throw-back to less technology-savvy times of special effects and CGI can really remind me how much I love the horror genre.
As I said before, the film is set in the 80s and the detail at which it keeps to really is impressive. The lead role played by Jocelin Donahue (who reminded me a lot of Margot Kidder in The Amityville Horror) is that of Samantha who is a young college student struggling to get out on her own and especially out of her dorm room. She gets a great deal on a one bedroom apartment of her own but is having trouble coming up with the money for first months rent. So when she happens across a baby-sitting ad on the college bulletin board she calls and lands the job. Unfortunately for her (and everyone else) the job isn’t quite what she had expected. She arrives at this massive but beautiful house and gets an awkward surprise at meeting the strange and eerie Mr Ulman played by Tom Noonan.
From there the movie takes a steady pace towards the horrifically twisted ending managing to not give too much away and still stay intense. I found myself on edge more than a few times in the house when Samantha is exploring it’s strange sounds and spaces not to mention there were a few big nightmarish twists that took me by surprise. Strange how I sort of knew what I was getting into when I started watching it but it didn’t bore or drag on like you would think. The special features weren’t a whole lot to speak of although it was interesting to see the interview with Ti West and hear about his vision for the movie first hand.
Every aspect of this movie was enjoyable and intensely sharp so of course I would recommend it to any discerning horror fan. Especially those who enjoy a good classic nail-biter. I don’t really have any criticisms other than the fact that I didn’t want it to end. I really wanted to see what happened next but either there will be a sequel or the rest of the story will just have to play out in my imagination. Either way, it’s well worth the rental.
Bottom Line: A TRUE THROW-BACK TO CLASSIC HORROR – EXCELLENT
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