HOUSE OF THE DEVIL
US, 2009, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Waranov, Greta Gerwig, A.J. Bowen, Dee Wallace.
Directed by Ty West.
The title is very straight forward, so no surprises. This is a small-budget that is more than a bit like those British horror films of the 1970s which surface on television.
We are told instantly that in the 1980s, 70% of Americans believed that there were Satanist groups active in the country while 30% believed that the government was covering up these activities. They don't give a statistic for the complete sceptics!
So, the 1980s is re-created well here and we are back in scream territory, though not for the first half hour or so.
The first third of the film establishes the characters, a young student (Jocelyn Donohue engaging the audience at once) who is moving into a better apartment but needs the money for the rent and accepts a mysterious babysitting job from a well-mannered gentleman who wants here to be in his house with his mother while he and his dominating wife go out. Tom Noonan from Manhunter and The Last Action Hero and Mary Woronov, a star for Warhol and in exploitation films, are just right as the couple.
The second third has the girl wandering around what is a very large and creepy house. This creates an even creepier atmosphere as well. We, however, have been warned, as the girl's best friend (Greta Gerwig) is suddenly killed.
Before you can say Boris Karloff or Christopher Lee, we are in Satanist territory, curse of the crimson altar and that sort of thing – but this third third goes so fast that we are left breathless and the film is suddenly over. You can't help admiring the film-makers for the courage of their convictions and so the film is a (half?) guilty pleasure for horror fans.
1. A satisfying horror film? Atmosphere? Sinister house? Religious fanaticism, Satanists?
2. A homage to the horror films of the past, especially the films of the 80s?
3. The film set in the 80s, its style? The background of the lunar eclipse? Life in a college town? The house?
4. The film divided into three sections, is pace, the introduction to college life and to Samantha, the introduction to the house and its sinister aspects, the hurried ending with the rituals?
5. Samantha, introduction, student, interested in renting the house, the discussions with the landlady? Money difficulties, finding the flyer, the situation and her application?
6. Samantha and Megan, chatting, sharing, the detail of student life in the town? Megan as flirtatious?
7. The job, the flyer, the phone call, getting cut off from Mr Ulman? Samantha’s reaction, the next phone call, offering double the money, her accepting the job?
8. Megan and Samantha, driving in the night out to the house, the eerie setting and atmosphere, the lunar eclipse, Megan and her promise to return, the Ulmans’ son, sinister, questioning her, suddenly killing her? The transferring of the body to the house?
9. The Ulmans, the stars of previous horror films? The preparation to go out, the talk about the mother, their manners? Their characters, impression on Samantha, on the audience?
10. Samantha and her wandering the house, the creeks, the mother, the stairs, the attic? The growing sinister aspects and scares?
11. The pizza man, the drugged pizza? Samantha waking, the pentagram, the Satanists?
12. The rituals, their being hurriedly presented? Samantha’s escape, the deaths of the Satanists? The cemetery, Mr Ulman? Samantha finding herself in hospital? The Rosemary’s Baby theme and her being pregnant?
13. A horror concoction – but utilising well the traditions and styles of the past?
