Things take a turn for the worst when someone Betty calls the Tin Man shows up. He drops a can down the chimney that lays out the rules. These rules amount to "kill one of your own or I will kill all of you."
At this point it would appear that the movie is taking a turn towards the survival horror or slasher sub-genres, but the presence of a darker evil appears in the form of black smoke (a Lost reference? Nah...) bringing that supernatural feel.
This is where the film begins to turn inward while continuing to have a little outward flash. The story concerns redemption as it forces each person trapped in this house to confront something from their past. Of course, they have to do this while avoiding the Tin Man, the creepy family, and each other.
You know, I like the ideas here. I just wish that it was presented in a fashion that at least seemed a bit fresher. The Saw films are based on Jigsaw's desire to give his victims a deeper respect for life; in House those inside are forced to confront their pasts in an effort of getting beyond that in the hopes of moving on with their lives.
Unfortunately, House fails to really tie its tale together in a cohesive manner. It is a film that begs the audience to put the pieces together but does not give enough of the pieces to finish the puzzle. When the end finally arrives, the light goes on and I got what they were doing but was left shaking my head and wondering how much greater the impact could have been had the story made a little more sense. Too much is left on the audience to figure out how everything goes with everything else.
Bottomline. Easterbrook and Moseley are excellent in their roles, the same cannot be said for most everyone else. It is fine if you are looking for a movie with a few shocks but it is one that will be quickly forgotten and not likely to inspire sequels as the earlier House did.
Mildly Recommended.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - moviechickt
I totally agree with your review. I too was left with a feeling of " this couldve been soo much better" and that there were not enough 'bridges' in the movie. Oh well...I guess these 'quick thrill' types of movies are a very lucrative business right now.
2 - Christopher Rose
For a moment there I thought somebody had made a movie of the TV show without telling anybody. Doh!
3 - stacie
i havent seen the movie just yet. i really want to but i know that movies like these tend to be really cheezy( like the movie Three by dekker). anyways i read the book though and it was awesome. i didnt want to put it down.
4 - becca
awe thats sucks that the movie issint as good as the book! when i read it, and hurd there was going to be a movie i got soo excited! but to keep hearing it wasint that good kind of make me wonder if i want to watch it now...i guess ill just havet to imagine how the movie would be..lol
oh well
5 - Jocelyn
I want to know when is that movie going to come out? I haven't seen it anywhere in theaters, do you think its going to be in any Christian supply store?
6 - Kelsi
I have read this book about 2 times. The movie is exactly how I pictured it in my mind when i read the book. I am so excited to see the movie!
7 - mj
Maybe if you read the book first, then u would understand the movie more. The goal is not to scare.
8 - Chris Beaumont
If you have to read the book to understand it, it is a failure as an adaptation.
9 - as
I have read book, book is amzing. Going to watch the film, hope it`s good as the book
10 - ATcY JAc
Well I enjoye dthis movie. I rarely watch horror movies and the ending certainly gave me a big surprise!
I do admit the first half wasnt that good but I thought the 2nd half was GREAT! I guess thats just me huh?
Or maybe its because I dont watch horro movies that ofthen?
11 - confused
Can someone please explain the. ending to me?
12 - mark
it's just like Dead People 2
13 - Pat
The movie just utterly confused me. The poster said it was based on a true story and compared itself to Amityville Horror. Guess what? I haven't met a man who was 100% evil so that contradicts the first claim and Amityville has a plot. So there.
My major complaint is that it is neither a psycho serial killer antagonist nor a supernatural antagonist. It's kind of both but neither is executed well enough to sustain the plot.
And.. nothing is explained, not even in an obvious they're-just-inserting-this-scene-to-explain-what-just-happened scenario.
It just makes me frustrated.
14 - Mike
I really was looking forward to this movie, yes and if anyone is lookin to get this movie its at Koorong (a christian store). I was gonna watch this movie with my cuz now i aint sure if its to cliched, wat do u guys think, give me some answers and fast!! and wow there is a book about it, i hope the book is worth reading