The 70's callbacks stretch into the movie's posters as well.
You know what I’m always saying about over-hyped films?
Why the hell do people like this film so much? I mean, for the first hour, literally NOTHING happens. It’s not creepy, it’s not foreboding, there’s nothing really going on other than watching the babysitter run around the house. I appreciate the call backs to classic 70′s horror in the opening credits and the film’s score, but, seriously, Babysitter Wanted was a millions time better than this. And I like this film’s director, Ti West, quite a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m huge fan of the “slow burn” type of horror film. No one is as patient as me when it comes to that kind of stuff. But damn…this film wasn’t burning, it wasn’t even simmering – there was just nothing happening. And then, when something does happen, it’s so over-the-top, it doesn’t even feel like we’re watching the same movie.
I know it sounds like I’m being unfair on the film, but I was really looking forward to this. Like I said, I love director Ti West (his The Roost is not only a good film, it’s inspiring for amateur filmmakers), but this film just was not working for me.
In the film, Samantha is in dire need of money and ends up responding to an ad for a babysitting job. She shows up at the house, where a creepy old couple (Tom Noonan amd Mary Woronov) let her know that the babysitting job isn’t so much for a small child, as it is for an old woman. Still, Samantha needs the cash and decides to take the job, against her better judgement and that of her best friend. Then, the night takes a creepy turn as strange things happen in the house and the true motives of the couple are revealed.
But…will you care at that point? And, once the crazy sh*t does start happening, is the final “shocker” ending of the film really going to surprise anyone?
Slow, uneventful, and with not enough payoff to warrant the trip, The House of the Devil may not be horrible (the direction is competent), but it’s sure not interesting enough to recommend.
Paul’s Awesomeness Score – 4 out of 10!
2009 wasn’t the greatest year for movies. Highly anticipated flicks didn’t match expectations, and the hype engine managed to overhype a ton of mediocre flicks (I’m looking at you, Drag Me to Hell and Laid to Rest). Still, if you looked hard enough, you would definitely find some diamonds in the rough, and it’s a true testament to the quality of Hollywood when you’ll notice that half of my top 10 films of the year…were either not released in theaters at all, or were given a very limited release.
