The House of the Devil

If you're into eighties style horror films, then you need to check this film out. I wasn't entirely sure myself, but
I also wasn't entirely sure this was in the eighties style. My co-worker told me to take a look whenever I had the chance, and as it turns out, the moon was in the right phase and I was able to do just that. And I was seriously impressed.

It can take a lot for me - sometimes - to watch a horror film by myself, so I reverted to my horror movie bunker: a bright, sunny Sunday afternoon on the couch, tablet in hand to distract me from the scary moments.

But I didn't need the second screen.

Something about the film grabbed me from the beginning. Perhaps it's the way the movie was shot. According to IMDB it was filmed in 16mm, just like many horror movies of the past. To say it felt retro may be an understatement. I really couldn't figure out throughout the film if this was a modern film made up to look old or it really was just an old film. I never did consult my tablet throughout to find out: I didn't want the mystery to be ruined, nor did it matter. The film grabbed me.

We follow the beautiful college student Samantha through her peril of living with a terrible roommate and not being able to afford a place of her own. It drives her to look for work and take whatever she can: a basic ad for a babysitter catches her eye and we immediately know it's bad news. She knows too, but keeps pushing into the unknown.

The slow pacing of the film is ideal and a welcome change from the fast edits and action of any modern horror film. It builds up tension, which is something that could very well be missing in modern film making, but also understandably frustrates some viewers. You can get confused: there is our main protagonist, who takes center stage at all times. She has a friend - briefly - but in the back of your mind (or at least, mine) I couldn't help but think that a modern film would load up the screen with your generic horror stereotypes, to ensure that we can have a solid murder every fifteen to twenty minutes. And somebody always survives, right? So what happens when there is only one?

Another thing I found great about this film was the brief yet completely unexplained supernatural elements. I certainly don't want to spoil anything for you here so I won't go into any detail. Of course. Especially near the end of the film, where we see some odd behaviour in both people and nature that defies all logic, but we let it go. As the viewer, you're in on it and don't mind.

Anyway, that may not do the movie justice. Just know that this was the perfect Sunday afternoon movie, and a perhaps a great experience from your own horror movie bunker.