Horror films are at their best when they touch on sensitive nerves. Jaws isn’t scary because it’s about a big man-eating shark. No, it’s scary because it plays on our fears of not knowing what’s lurking beneath us in the water. Likewise, haunted house movies scare us because they strip away the security we believe exists in our home. And, as compared to home invasion movies, they also exploit our fears of exists beyond death. Unfortunately, haunted house movies aren’t in short supply. Case in point – a never-ending supply of sequels, prequels, and remakes followed The Amityville Horror. And that’s just one haunted house franchise. Now IFC Midnight’s Our House is hoping to haunt Netflix audiences after seeing a release some two years ago.
Synopsis
Ethan is a bright graduate student riding a big scholarship into MIT. Along with his girlfriend, Hannah, Ethan spends most of his time working on what he hopes will be the next big discovery – wireless electricity. After his parents die in a tragic accident, however, Ethan leaves school to take care of his younger siblings, Matthew and Becca. But he continues to stitch together his invention, piece by piece, in the family garage. Although a test runs look like a failure, Ethan slowly discovers that his invention may open doors to another dimension when his siblings reveal they have seen and talked to their dead parents. Is Ethan’s invention allowing his family to communicate with their lost parents? Or has he opened a door to something more sinister?
Our House Is Haunted by an Air of Familiarity
Nothing about Our House is incompetent or even poorly done. Director Anthony Scott Burns has assembled a very workmanlike movie that, at times, looks quite good. Some of the imagery captured on screen is actually quite stunning. Nevertheless, it never rises above any haunted house tropes most viewers have seen before in countless movies. There is a distinct air of familiarity that hangs over the proceedings.
The J-horror films of the 2000’s, most notably Pulse, had something to say about technology. Our House doesn’t seem to have much to say outside of spinning a haunted house yarn.
Too many scenes will remind viewers of much better haunted house films. In fact, you may catch yourself mentally checking off past movies that feel eerily similar. The hidden room in the basement – Ouija: Origin Of Evil did it better. Even the basic concept of technology opening doors to supernatural realms has been done much better. If you’re too young to remember The Legend of Hell House then maybe you’ve seen White Noise with Michael Keaton. Borrowing some ideas isn’t a problem in and of itself. But Burns doesn’t seem to have anything new to say. The J-horror films of the 2000’s, most notably Pulse, had something to say about technology. In contrast, Our House doesn’t seem to have much to say outside of spinning a haunted house yarn.
Our House is Horror-Lite For Non-Discerning Horror Fans
Sometimes derivative isn’t a bad thing. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Still a horror movie needs to be scary. Too bad Our House is horror-lite in terms of scares and suspense. Much of the first 30 minutes or so of the movie is devoted to its characters, which certainly helps build an emotional core for the audience. But the pacing is is a little sluggish. Given the movie’s generic plotting, we know what’s ultimately coming. But Burns fails to ratchet up the tension or create any sense of urgency. Even worse, Our House’s climax never deliver the payoff a slowburn requires.
…nothing in Our House even comes close to reaching the heights of fear achieved by recent haunted house films including The Conjuring, Insidious, or Ouija: Origin of Evil.
Once the supernatural elements enter the story, Our House also fails to deliver a ‘big moment’. There are a couple of scenes that may prompt some white-knuckling from younger horror fans. Seasoned horror veterans will be underwhelmed. Nothing comes close to the heights of fear achieved by recent haunted house movies including The Conjuring, Insidious, or Ouija: Origin of Evil. I wouldn’t call Our House boring, but it’s certainly a kind of ‘ Diet Horror’.
Strong Performances Can’t Elevate Run-of-the-Mill Haunting Story
Everything else about Our House is at least competent. This is not a low-budget amateurish horror movie. You’ll find some nice but unoriginal visuals. In addition, the performances from the cast are universally quite strong. Thomas Mann turns in a genuinely earnest performance as Ethan. The film’s screenplay certainly fails him; for a genius, Thomas doesn’t seem to know much about his own invention. Both Percy Haynes White and Kate Moyer, playing Ethan’s younger siblings, are excellent. If Our House has a strong suit, it’s the very believable interpersonal dynamics of the on-screen siblings. It’s this relationship that will keep most viewers strapped in for the entirety of the movie. Nicola Peltz (Bates Motel), who plays Ethan’s girlfriend, has top billing, but that’s misleading. Peltz has little screen time and is given little to do with her role.
Our House is Competent, But Largely Forgettable Effort
Our House isn’t a terrible film, but there’s not much to recommend Over the last several years, we’ve seen a lot of good supernatural-themed and/or haunted house movie released. Absolutely nothing here comes close to hitting the same notes as these movies. What’s worse is that Netflix has no shortage of similar supernatural thrillers for audiences to stream. Perhaps the best description of Our House is that it’s a bland, inoffensive, and unforgettable effort. You’re not likely to hate it or turn it off in disgust, but you’ll probably never watch it again.
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