Out this coming week on DVD is the independent horror film, “The House of the Devil”, written, directed and edited by Ti West, who, by the looks of it, is as avid a fan of the horror genre as one can get. Before I get into my review any further, here’s the synopsis of the film:
Sam (Donahue) is a pretty college sophomore, so desperate to earn some cash for a deposit on an apartment that she accepts a babysitting job even after she finds out there is no baby. Mr. and Mrs. Ulman (cult actors Noonan and Woronov) are the older couple who lure Sam out to their creaky Victorian mansion deep in the woods, just in time for a total lunar eclipse. Megan (Gerwig) is Sam’s best friend, who gives her a ride out to the house, and reluctantly leaves her there despite suspecting that something is amiss. Victor (Bowen) at first seems like just a creepy guy lurking around the house, but quickly makes it clear that Sam will end this night in a bloody fight for her life…
and the “>trailer…
Now, before I saw this DVD roll into the BSR offices, all I knew about it was from the trailer I saw a few months ago. Unfortunately, the movie came and went without my knowledge, and I missed the chance to see it in the theater…I am an idiot. And hopefully, with this DVD review, my sin will be forgiven and my soul will not be damned to the darkness of a James Wanian abyss; but rather, allowed to ascend into the celluloid heavens without blemish. Truly, I am upset that I missed “The House of the Devil” in theaters, and if I weren’t reviewing this DVD for Big Shiny Robot, I may have missed it altogether. And with a horror movie of this caliber, that would have been a shame. Have I made myself clear? Am I being sufficiently blunt?
“The House of the Devil” is a beautifully crafted film with the characters, plot, tension and dialogue you don’t normally see in a Horror film of this era. That is not to say I haven’t enjoyed any of the recent outings of the horror genre. But writer/director, Ti West has made a film that perfectly embodies the phrase, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” And let me tell you, the journey was fucking terrifying. West knows that true horror doesn’t come from filling every frame with slashing daggers, or haunting shadows of mystery assailants; and I wasn’t bombarded by slamming doors or cats jumping out from darkened corners. Instead, West relies on foreboding dialog, a charmingly naive female lead, and the ability of the human mind to concoct any number of horrifying scenarios that could occur in a house so creepy, so off the beaten path and occupied by the creepiest nice people ever…you know the type.
As I watched this film, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the storytelling techniques Hitchcock used to define character and build tension. The tension, oh, the tension in this movie was palpable! Ti West teases the audience with every music cue, line of dialogue, editing and lighting choice to build a level of tension so great and drawn out that one is almost driven to the point of insanity themselves. “The House of the Devil” is a must see movie for those who love the horror genre and cinema as a whole. Seriously, buy it, netflix it, enjoy it. “The House of the Devil” is worthy of your precious DVD shelf space.