The House on Pine Street

This is not a film for the impatient, or those whom need everything tied up in a neat bow. If this is horror at all, and it is hard to say it is, it psychological horror only, I would call this an intense psychological drama rather. I originally watched this about a year ago, but it stuck with me, and I felt the desire to watch it again. This is rare for me, as I do not re-watch a great number of films. What brought me back to this film was it's sense of hopelessness, and the main characters lack of control. These are two things the film hits smack on the head, and it creates a sense of dread, as long, as like most spooky films, you can suspend your disbelief.

Tonally, this film is along the lines of "Rosemary's Baby", I am not comparing it in quality, which is inferior to RB, but rather it's storytelling approach. I will never understand someone using old fashioned as an insult, we enjoy many old fashioned things such as "old fashioned sodas", "old fashioned fudge" or "old fashioned taffy", etc, but when it doesn't jibe with what we think or agree, we think Old Fashioned is an insult. This film certainly has old fashioned sensibilities and storytelling, and as such, not everyone will like it.

The only terror in this film, is a lack of control. The lead character feels as though everything is out of control. She wasn't allowed to make a life altering choice, and as such, was forced by those who love her to leave the town she loves and has friends in. She is forced to move to a place she clearly hates, and this is her only means of control, hate and fear. This, in a sense scares her, but gives her power. The very things she fears, in the end come to be, and ultimately, give her what she wants. When you think about the ending in this regard, it makes the lead a fairly diabolical woman. Then ending, which I will not reveal, is not head scratcher, if you pay attention, and try to understand the themes of the film, which I believe I conveyed fairly well above. The ending is both heartbreaking, infuriating, and a relief.

This is an underrated psychological film with a great deal of subtext, and it really requires two viewings to catch what is truly going on here, it isn't as simple as it seems on the surface. The reason people don't enjoy this film is because they want something straight-forward where you take everything at face value, this is a slow-paced subtext heavy film, if that is not your cup of tea, avoid it please.

God Bless ~Amy

So I can view this film differently than last night when watching it. The film is scary and I had to put the light on. Now I'm puzzled. The film has so many unanswered questions. Besides this, the characters were unrealistic and painful to watch. The pregnant main character was experiencing strange things going on. By the way everyone at the party was simply staring at her, if felt as though something darker was going on. Her constant outbursts was grating, especially when she was yelling at a toddler. Her aggression towards her guest was over the top. The way she yelled at the girls next door made her less sympathetic. And her uncaring husband was extremely dull and annoying. He also experienced weird things going on in the house but chose to say nothing. It seems to be a trend in American films lately to have so many plot holes and with unlikeable main characters.

The House on Pine street should be shown to any horror movie director as an example on how to make a good movie.

It's also an example of how a good story and good direction can take a movie with a low budget and make it excellent. You don't need a lot of special effects if the story is done right.

The scares are very subtle and don't even tip you off with scary music. I love movies like that, you actually have to pay attention. The acting was well done and the story left a lot for the viewer to interpret.

If you are a person that doesn't enjoy a movie where you may have to draw your own conclusions, this movie may not be for you. If you enjoy a movie that keeps you on your toes and makes you think about it, give this one a chance.

Eerie, atmospheric and at times genuinely unsettling, its a respectable addition to the haunted house genre. The movie is probably a little too long at just under two hours, but the viewers patience during the slow build up is rewarded with some chilling scenes, added to greatly by the movies creepy sound effects which are utilized extremely craftily. The lead actress, Emily Goss, does a fine job of portraying a tortured individual, akin to the mother in The Babadook, a very different type of haunted house flick. The film makers seem to have made the most of an obviously limited budget and for the most part avoid the usual clichés/tropes movies of a similar nature often surrender to.

I swear, some day I'm going to write a script for a horror movie where the significant other actually believes, listens to, and respects the person who is clearly being terrified by something. This movie is exhausting and frustrating.