Girlhouse

"Girl House" has been called a slasher film for the digital age. The theme was done to death before the turn of the Millennium, though here there is a new twist, a couple of dudes are watching the carnage live on-line but are unable to warn the victims as one by one they are done to death by a disgruntled weirdo who has been driven into a frenzy by a cruel joke. Actually, it wasn't that cruel, but stranger things have happened in real life. In March 2014, a woman was given a 12 year sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court after throwing acid in the face of a former friend. Mary Konye went to incredible lengths, disguising herself as an Orthodox Moslem woman, totally veiled, tailed her victim from the Underground station, and then attacked her. The motive was a throwaway remark that most people would have forgotten within a day or two if not an hour or two. Here it is not a remark but a caption on a photograph that unhinges a guy who although clearly highly intelligent is not exactly good looking, and is somewhat lacking in social skills, not to mention short tempered.

Okay, this dude is not just mad, he's insane because there are better things to do with a houseful of nubile young things than murder them, but if this tale has a moral it is never be unkind to anyone, even by accident. Or alternatively, once you knock the bad guy down with a golf club or a hockey stick, hit him again, and again, and again, and again...

Patience is a virtue not often found in slasher flicks. Usually it's rare to go ten minutes without someone meeting an unfortunate fate at the hands of a mass murdering psychopath. 'Girl House' breaks the mold in this instance. It has a rather unique structure to it where the story and characters are introduced to us for an extended period of time with little else happening. This might sound like a negative but it really wasn't. All the mayhem is saved for the final quarter of the film (barring the open scene - which was very well done) and it's a fun ride.

The characters, particularly the main one Kylie, are a lot more likable than you usually get in this type of film. The extra time given to the viewer to get to know them really pays off in this way. The sexuality of the film is always apparent but never overbearing and it certainly never becomes anything you could refer to as an "erotic-horror". The killer was intimidating enough to warrant a few decent scares and overall the movie is of a good quality. An impressive little entry into the genre that you will enjoy if this sort of thing is for you.

A young girl gets a job as a web cam performer at a house. When an unstable client is humiliated by them, he seeks his own sort of justice.

I can't say I had much hope for this film and it was only in desperation that I turned it on. However it proved to be a pleasant surprise. It's well filmed, gory, very tense and quite scary which I find is a relative rarity these days.

Although the script is pretty standard, where Girl House succeeds is that it makes you care for the central characters. Rather than some empty headed bimbo the lead character Kylie ( played well by Ali Cobrin) comes across as intelligent and likable as does her boyfriend Ben ( a good performance from Adam DiMarco) who is not the stereotypical jerk. You find out pretty early who the killer is and also why he does it. He is suitably scary and again it's another good performance, this time by Slaine.

I found this pretty entertaining modern day slasher. Although not in any way groundbreaking this is a decent addition to the genre and worth checking out.

As a slasher fan, I quite enjoyed this directorial debut. The first time director Trevor Matthews shows promise and delivers a satisfying horror movie that ticks all the boxes one comes to expect from a slasher film. It's fun, bloody, gratuitous and inventive.

The setting of a house that broadcasts x rated content online works perfectly for horror, much like the Sorority House Slasher movies from the 80s but with a modern twist.

The film is nicely setup and allows you to get to know the characters quite well before they are dispatched! (and they are all quite likable and not annoying!) And it must be said; the dialogue and acting from everyone is quite good. Especially from the main actress Ali Cobrin. Therefore the film never drags....

The kills and makeup were also quite good, with one kill in particular being quite amusing..

The only problem I'd have with the movie is that it was a little tame for my standards, probably cause I'm used to seeing crazy films from the French Extreme Horror movement like Martyrs and Inside! But for me it just wasn't all that scary.

Overall opinion: Satisfying horror movie and a promising debut.

May not be the most exciting slasher flick in history but it may possibly have the highest production values.

Even the script is solid. Not mesmerizing. But solid.

Star Ali Cobrin has one of those odd faces -- she looks familiar to the viewer as if a composite of 4 or 5 well known female stars had been squeezed into one.

The biggest problem with the film ironically is how little sex, nudity or even slashing there actually is. In effect, this is a "cheat" in that viewer expectations are raised and there is no payoff.

But gosh-darn is this is a well made little film.