The Night House was my third movie at Cineworld Broughton yesterday and although I had heard many mixed feelings about the movie, my interest in The Night House was sparked by knowing that it was directed by David Bruckner who brought us The Ritual, a film I really enjoyed.
After the loss of her husband to suicide, Beth (Rebecca Hall) tries to continue her life in the house that her husband Owen (Evan Jonigkeit) built together, but one night while Beth is asleep she hears several bangs on the door downstairs and after investigating finds nothing.
Things start to get creepier as the movie slowly movies along with Beth finding information about another house, but a mirrored version of the one they built together, not only that she discovers other women that look like her. Beth is also suffering from nightmares that feel real including Owen standing on the lake knacked.
We later find that there is so much more to the simple reason that Owen committed suicide and we are taken on a supernatural journey in this spooky thriller as there is a presence that is clinging on to Beth due to a moment in her past when she died and something tagged on to her to ride back from the other side.
Now with most “horrors” these days the use of loud bangs etc is used to very good effect in The Night House from the knocking on the door that has a loud bass element to send the bang through you thanks to the cinemas sound system to the moments of loud music blasting out as Beth is awoken from her sleep. But you know it’s coming in the movie, but still, it works well with the content material.
There is some great cinematography throughout The Night House such as the lovely looking shots across the lake, some nice overhead shots as we travel about the woods and roads, but what stands out for me is the darker scenes at night in the house, the lighting works very well to just set your nerves on end to wonder if you actually saw anything in the shadows.
In the later act of the movie, there are some great visual effects with columns having the shape of someone standing in the shadows and these work very well to give you the feeling that not everything is right with the house and something is trying to come through.
I have to say that towards the end I did have a feeling of the movie The Entity with a scene that harkens back to the poltergeist that has its way with its victim, but the scene has a great moment when Beth realises what’s happening.
The Night House isn’t as scary and jumpy as I hoped it would be, but it’s more of a supernatural thriller than horror and if you go in to watch it like that then you won’t be disappointed.
A Spooky Supranational Thriller
Movie title: The Night House
Movie description: A widow begins to uncover her recently deceased husband's disturbing secrets.
Date published: September 7, 2021
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 47min
Director(s): David Bruckner
Actor(s): Rebecca Hall, Sarah Goldberg, Vondie Curtis-Hall
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
