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The Open House is a horror thriller centered on a son (Logan) and mother (Naomi), whom after a family tragedy, move into an open house that all kinds of potential buyers come to check out during business hours. The realtor is trying to sell it but having a difficult time acquiring a purchase.

The film sets up an interesting premise, in a fancy house with a dark and eerie basement that becomes a main focus in this feature. Logan and his mother Naomi are trying to cope amidst hard times, while becoming increasingly suspicious of foul play transpiring.

The tale weaves decently; however, the longer the reel rolls, the more you realize this flick has no direction, a severe lack of storytelling and fleshed out explanations. You can't expect an audience to be satisfied if you're not revealing or elaborating why what is happening is happening. Sure there are few subtle hints sprinkled but ultimately this one falls disappointingly flat at its conclusion.

Wasted potential? Very much so. You have serviceable acting, a strong premise, a promising-looking film and all that is washed away with a lazy, incoherent script that goes off the rails by the climax. Netflix, you better watch what you buy and recommend.

4/10.

Little Boy is a film I had briefly heard about garnering acclaim for some time and so, I decided to place myself in front of a home screening of it. What I experienced as a viewer was nothing I was prepared for because the beginning made me unsure if I should have continued, but by the end I realized I had just viewed a family movie gem.

We're taken back to the past around the period of World War II in a small town in California with a conspicuous mountain at the end of it. After bonding greatly with his father James Busbee, Pepper  (Little Boy) has to watch his dad leave for the military in place of his ineligible older brother London. From here the biggest question looms over the Busbee family regarding whether if and when James would return from his service, causing internal family issues.

The acting in this film is solid and remarkably brings forth the emotions out of you as you watch and relate to the depicted situations. Jakob Salvati in the lead truly takes the ball and runs with it, amazing the audience with his presence and charm playing the bullied outcast boy with a strong interest in magic and wonder.

Faith, will and rising above discrimination are focuses that are at the helm of this movie. It explores good deeds and how its karma can result in a higher power granting us favors in return. It shows that if you want to accomplish anything, all you have to do is believe and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It teaches viewers the feeling of being discriminated against and how right it is for us to just love one another equally no matter what race we are from. This entire motion picture is a heavy and effective inspirational dose altogether.

Other aspects of the film I love is the firm direction and smooth cinematography.   The whole production came off heartwarming and charming at times before being tension-filled and emotional.

Little Boy turned out to be a fantastic movie that I'll definitely be watching more than once. It's the kind of movie that leaves you thinking while it leaves you inspired by what you've seen. If there is one movie to recommend this year, I'd say go watch Little Boy right away.

Rating: 9/10