BLOOD WORK: THE HORROR HARVEST: NIGHT HOUSE (2021)

NIGHT HOUSE (2021)

***note: this post was supposed to have been published back in September of 2021***

Going to the theater to see new movies has been more rare nowadays, not nearly as common as it was in 2019. And strangely something has happened to us that we never thought would: our interest in horror has begun to wane! It's not that our love for horror has dried up, but rather that the world has changed in recent years and we find ourselves yearning for a different kind of escape. We are excited for HALLOWEEN KILLS (how could we not be?) and we still love the horror films of the past. Despite a few interesting looking movies here and there, we have lost much enthusiasm for current Hollywood projects. That's just where we are personally.

But we have been to the movies recently for a double feature. On a super bargain Tuesday, we went to both NIGHT HOUSE followed by MALIGNANT. Both were good and both were very different in terms of approach and tone. It actually made for a compelling double feature and had us pondering the science of a double feature and what makes the perfect double feature.

Anyway, we're just going to focus on Night House in this post. We enjoyed the movie quite a bit!

THE PLOT

When Beth's husband commits suicide out of the blue, Beth is left grieving and wondering why he would do such a thing. While boxing up his personal effects, Beth comes across one of his architectural design books, finding rather strange and bizarre sketches inside. At night Beth starts experiencing some difficult to explain phenomena. She starts thinking that her husband is still with her. But as she goes through more and more of his things, she discovers some unsettling truths about him. And the phenomena begins growing in frequency and intensity. Otherworldly forces begin moving upon her, challenging everything she thought she knew about her husband and herself.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

Rebecca Hall stars as Beth and carries the movie solely on her shoulders. Her performance is fantastic and there are numerous sequences where her acting talents shine. Having enjoyed her performance earlier this year in GODZILLA VS KONG, we were already fans of hers coming into this movie. Beyond her though, there aren't too many other actors in this film that really stand out. It was cool seeing Vondie Curtis-Hall again though (we instantly recognized him from his bit roles in films like COMING TO AMERICA, DIE HARD 2, and the Netflix DAREDEVIL series).

The movie is a slow burn, focusing on grief and how one manages it. There are genuine human moments that really strike you and stand out in the film. All the while a mystery unravels. There are many quiet moments in the film where the tension climbs and the camera displays unique shots and disquieting imagery. It's subtle but effective (and hard to explain in words). The strangeness grows as Beth digs into her husband's hidden past and hints of murder and the supernatural seep in.

The mystery and intrigue deepen but the filmmakers always seem to be holding back. The imagery, even when delving into the supernatural aspects, is always grounded, which is great if you prefer more dramatic films versus the sensational.

The above statement hits to the core of it. As a personal preference, we prefer sensationalism in our horror, especially if we're going to ever be tempted to rewatch it. Night House is as grounded as its title, only hinting at something greater, but never giving its audience something more. The filmmakers could've gone there if they had wanted to, but instead chose minimalist imagery and depictions of its supernatural elements. Choosing to stay minimal keeps the film centered on its exploration of grief, which is likely what the filmmaker wanted.

THE VERDICT

For us personally, we wanted a little more, especially in the ending. The film is really good on all fronts, but the slow build and minimalist payoff at the end was a letdown for us. All this is to say that the movie was good for a watch but we don't see ourselves rewatching it anytime in the future. So, we'll say this, there are some fine films out there that are most often one and done viewings. Night House, for us at the moment, feels like such a film. But that might be different for others. Still, a one and done film doesn't mean it's a bad film, not at all.

Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10

Nude-O-Meter: 2 out of 10