House of Temptation

In House of Temptation, which was filmed in Bodega Bay in Northern California, Director Doc Zee uses the device of a teenager filming his family with his new video camera to bring the audience into the story and it the audience connected and engaged throughout.

The actors are given a wonderful vehicle in which to shine. Newcomer Julian Larach, who plays Johnnie, is a natural and the camera loves him. He is real find. Totally natural, totally relaxed, and totally believable.

Jena Hunt as the sexy lead is a gorgeous and talented actress. I look forward to seeing more of her work.

The suspense builds gradually and is sustained. One of the ghosts is a young boy who is clothed only in his underwear. It is odd, unseemly, and the result is that the audience starts to get very uncomfortable but doesn't really know why. And the action builds from there.

The movie is more of a suspense film than horror film. There are no jumping "boos" waiting in the corner to "get you". With that said, the story and plot are well written. The film is thought provoking. Overall the movie is well done. It was fun to watch. The writing is well though out. The movie is the perfect length and there is not one scene that is not necessary to the plot. The film is well edited and flows smoothly. The actors are good. I enjoyed the son's acting and thought that his performance is very good and realistic. The father's role is well acted. The evil temptress has a wonderful evil laugh, is pleasing to the eye and is perfect for the role. The other actors are good. I enjoyed everyone's performance. I enjoyed the camera work. I liked how the effects are real, not overdone and not over-the-top. I enjoyed the "message" of the film and how it is interwoven into the plot. I recommend this movie. Enjoy . . .

House of Temptation is not what it at first appears. This film is actually full of fun surprises. With some particularly strong performances from Jena Hunt as Maya, and Julian Larach as Johnnie, House of Temptation takes its characters on a mysterious journey that is much more personal and poignant than one would expect from an ordinary horror flick. Director, Hassan Zee, is not one to let camp get in the way of a human story. Rather than going for cheap scares, Zee focuses on the breakdown of a family in a surprisingly intimate way through the eyes of their teenage son. I wish more big budget Hollywood films could be this personal. Looking forward to seeing what Doc Zee does next!

I had the opportunity to meet the director (unknowing prior) who invited me to see the film. I through a series of conversations and sharing that horror is not really my genre of movies..was invited an opportunity to see. I found the movie to have a very heart felt piece to creating it. It felt very small scale (which is a perspective I enjoy) . The values and plot have depth in speaking about cult and supernatural and religious values and how they can shape our every day lives whether we realize or not. It had elements of suspense and references of other horror movies (found out later in Q/A and am aware horror movie buffs like that kind of aspect of homage being paid to other pieces). I will say the there was an interesting choice in character names as the family was devout Christian (though progressive) and Maya ( a Hindu reference ). I am also not easily surprised or pleasantly surprised. The way the camera was returned towards the end made me smile and left me hopeful.

A masterfully produced independent film that depicts the extreme polarities and dualities of life through a spiritual lens, exposing us to contrasting yet insightful experiences that can ultimately bring us together or keep us apart. The psychological thriller uses the elements of mystery, suspense and religion to tell a complex story about the blind spots of lust and power. The characterizations and the script are well thought out, however, the diverse themes limit character dimensionality.

The costumes, special effects including lighting and camera work are impressive and used in creative ways to depict mysticism that allows viewers to see certain scenes from the third eye of a medium. Overall, I really good independent film to view and add to your library.