The House Of The Devil
West's film doesn't just give knowing nods to its audience, it genuinely feels like a long lost horror treasure that's been unearthed.
You know when you sometimes wonder how you survived without mobile phones and internet? Well, The House Of The Devil takes us back to the Eighties for a classic woman-in-peril horror homage.
Writer, director and editor Ti West's fourth genre flick reveals his passion and incredible eye for detail. Jocelin Donahue is bright and carefree college student Samantha rooming with a slutty slob, and struggling to raise the money for her own apartment (cue a cameo by ET's Dee Wallace as the prospective landlady). She sees a flyer for a babysitter's job posted on the campus, and gives it a ring. The ominous tones of incredible Manhunter star Tom Noonan answer, and you know you're in trouble. If you've seen the original Hannibal Lecter film, any subsequent sighting of serial killer Francis Dolarhyde instills fear immediately.
So the chipper Samantha agrees to head over to the Ulmans' residence to babysit, naturally in the middle of nowhere, while the couple head out to watch the lunar eclipse. Samantha's gregarious best friend Megan (a completely era-convincing Greta Gerwig) drives her, and offers to stay. However, the imposing Mr Ulman requests to speak to Samantha alone, where he reveals their only son is grown-up, and the babysitting is actually for his elderly mother-in-law. Samantha is rightly creeped out, but remains when offered enough money for her deposit and promised that she won't hear a peep from mother all night. An angry Megan is frustrated at Samantha's willingness to put herself in an uncomfortable situation and leaves her to it, with the promise to pick her up at midnight. As with all creepy movies, it's better to not know what happens, but as our cute heroine skips around the house eating pizza and dancing to her cassette Walkman, we are teased for an eternity before the horrific events unfold. The climax is shot with such flair, any hint of Satanic hokeyness is negated - the moment where Samantha awakens to find out her fate is simply stunning.
West's film doesn't just give knowing nods to its audience, it genuinely feels like a long lost horror treasure that's been unearthed. Grainy, with opening credits that mimic the period perfectly, House Of The Devil doesn't need cheap shocks for its effectiveness. While you feel like you've seen it all before story-wise, the joy is in reliving a period where horror films were original and classy, despite the inevitable gore. Donahue is utterly natural as the sweet girl you desperately want to survive, and cult actress Mary Woronov is masterful as the fur-draped Mrs Ulman - their exchange before the couple leave for the night is chilling. A huge treat for both Eighties lovers and horror fans.
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