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The House of the Devil (Ti West, 2009) + Cult Rating:
Looking back, this is a highly-influential film in the evolution of the 2010's horror film. For anybody who likes old school horror films along the lines of the original Black Christmas, this film should really be seen by you. It tells the story of a pretty college student (Jocelin Donohue) who agrees to take a job babysitting out in the middle of nowhere although things certainly do not turn out the way she hoped when she agreed to take the job for some big bucks. The first 75 minutes are a slow buildup of tension with plenty of quiet scenes designed to keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out just why exactly this place is "the house of the devil". During these 75 minutes, she hears strange noises, makes phone calls which lead nowhere and attempts to explore the huge house she's in although the overall creepiness makes it difficult for her to fully investigate. Now, the final 15 minutes presents the actual reason why she's been "brought" to the house, and although they're well-done, they almost seem anti-climactic compared to the pitch-perfect set-up. Whatever you think of the climax, I still think you'll enjoy the movie, especially when you witness the film's actual coda which once again takes it to another level entirely. This ultra-low-budget flick uses all its limitations to its advantage, and for me at least, it's one of those horror films where running upstairs actually isn't an idiotic action by a character in jeopardy. The film pretty much defies modern horror film conventions and is just so much better for it.
Looking back, this is a highly-influential film in the evolution of the 2010's horror film. For anybody who likes old school horror films along the lines of the original Black Christmas, this film should really be seen by you. It tells the story of a pretty college student (Jocelin Donohue) who agrees to take a job babysitting out in the middle of nowhere although things certainly do not turn out the way she hoped when she agreed to take the job for some big bucks. The first 75 minutes are a slow buildup of tension with plenty of quiet scenes designed to keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out just why exactly this place is "the house of the devil". During these 75 minutes, she hears strange noises, makes phone calls which lead nowhere and attempts to explore the huge house she's in although the overall creepiness makes it difficult for her to fully investigate. Now, the final 15 minutes presents the actual reason why she's been "brought" to the house, and although they're well-done, they almost seem anti-climactic compared to the pitch-perfect set-up. Whatever you think of the climax, I still think you'll enjoy the movie, especially when you witness the film's actual coda which once again takes it to another level entirely. This ultra-low-budget flick uses all its limitations to its advantage, and for me at least, it's one of those horror films where running upstairs actually isn't an idiotic action by a character in jeopardy. The film pretty much defies modern horror film conventions and is just so much better for it.