In rural Alabama, two couples find themselves in a fight for survival. Running from a maniac (The Tin Man) bent on killing them, they flee deep into the woods and seek refuge in a house.In rural Alabama, two couples find themselves in a fight for survival. Running from a maniac (The Tin Man) bent on killing them, they flee deep into the woods and seek refuge in a house.In rural Alabama, two couples find themselves in a fight for survival. Running from a maniac (The Tin Man) bent on killing them, they flee deep into the woods and seek refuge in a house.
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- Susan
- (as Alana Bale)
- Deputy
- (as Jeffrey DeGraft-Johnson)
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The acting isn't very good. In most scenes where something intense is supposed to be happening, the actors just seem to overreact. In other cases they don't seem freaked out at all by what's going on. But the worst part about the acting is that the 'evil ones' mostly just make you laugh. It's like watching a comedy that spoofs horror films.
The sound effects also contribute to a negative part of this film. The voices you hear in the background are just too typical. For example, I could swear I had heard the 'laughing child' voice in at least 20 other horror movies.
I really hoped that this film would stand out. Unfourtunately, the story is the only part that's unique. I haven't read the novel but I think it's safe to say that this story is much better imagined than watched on the screen.
3/10 stars. Sadly, it's not worth the watch.
And it was alright. Nothing special about this film, really. It's kinda like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre without any gore. People stuck in a house, people running around scared. A bogeyman, the occupants are weirdos etc. So you have seen this before if you're a horror fan. And even if you're not you still seen this before. I have to admit that I did not miss the gore, so the movie delivers somewhat without the gore.
What comes to the actors, it was a mixed mess. Some scenes were good and then some were so silly or so out of this world that you just had to cringe. I have to admit that I only stumbled to this movie because of Michael Madsen. And well, he is always gooood. At acting I mean.
All in all, this is nothing new. If it is a rainy day, you could rent this. But if you really dig horror you might as well rent something better. Like old-school classic "The Haunting" which is really a HORROR movie. This movie here is horror only for those who don't watch horror regularly. Oh, and if someone thinks that the ending is something special or it has some deeper meaning, well haha to you sir. It has been done several times in horror movie history. But maybe it's new to YOU.
Five stars because it's not a bad movie, but it's nothing special either. And the R rating is misleading.
Based on the book by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, House was given a limited theatrical release in November 2008. It opened in my area (we're just down the road from The 700 Club), but I didn't go see it. I kind of wish I had as R-rated horror film aimed at Christian audiences isn't likely to happen that often. Director Robby Henson does a good job creating atmosphere (the SAW films were obviously a huge influence) and the production does well masking Poland for rural Alabama. The script is a bit simplistic ("Light destroys darkness" says the angel surrogate character) and the story steals a big page from Carnival of Souls (1962). The supporting cast is good as the crazy family and reads like the line up at a horror convention. To solidify that fact, Michael Madsen also shows up as a cop.
The juxtaposition of the term 'Christian Horror' has always struck me as somewhat peculiar as someone who grew up in the 1980's where a good many of the horror offerings had slightly religious morality: you had premarital sex, you died, you did drugs, you died, etcetera, etc. But I digress, this had something most of the self-monikered 'christian' films lacked, good production values. Making it only doubly sad that the film's saddled with such a cliché story, poor characterization, trite dialog, and mediocre acting. I've heard the book is better, as is often the case, but i'm not reviewing the book. And as a film, this ultimately fails.
My Grade: D+
DVD Extras: Trailers for Bella, & The Spirit. That's all, some director's commentary would've been nice but alas no
The movie lacked intensity, fear or surprise. The acting was subpar and the editing left many holes in the story leading to a confusing and preachy movie. The characters don't develop during the movie and you are left with a cardboard taste.
Most of the original story line was destroyed and viewers are left with a watered down version of an intense story. The preachy added in parts just took away.
Did you know
- TriviaLeslie Easterbrook and Bill Moseley played "mother and son" once before, in The Devil's Rejects (2005).
- GoofsThe map of Alabama shown during the second scene is actually Florida. The word Alabama was placed over the Choctawhatchee National Forest (Also Egland Airforce Base). This is just south of Alabama, you can even see the Alabama border.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Officer Lawdale: Ssh. It's going to be okay.
Mrs. Lawdale: It's going to be okay? You really mean, it's going to be okay for us?
Officer Lawdale: Not us.
Mrs. Lawdale: Sweet heart?
Officer Lawdale: It's going to be okay, for me...
- ConnectionsReferenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: House (1977) (2016)
- SoundtracksThe Unwinding Cable Car
Written by Stephen Christian, Joseph Milligan, Deon Rexroat, Nathan Young and Nathan Strayer
Performed by Anberlin
- How long is House?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $575,048
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $327,445
- Nov 9, 2008
- Gross worldwide
- $1,141,018
- Runtime
- 1h 28m(88 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1