The House of the Devil (2009)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ti West

Writer:

Ti West (screenplay)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Talk on the phone. Finish your homework. Watch T.V. DIE!

Plot:

In the 1980s, college student Samantha Hughes takes a strange babysitting job that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. She slowly realizes her clients harbor a terrifying secret; they plan to use her in a satanic ritual. |

Plot Keywords:

College Student | 1980s | College | Satanic Ritual | Secret

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Jocelin Donahue	...	Samantha
Tom Noonan	...	Mr. Ulman
Mary Woronov	...	Mrs. Ulman
Greta Gerwig	...	Megan
AJ Bowen	...	Victor Ulman
Dee Wallace	...	Landlady
Heather Robb	...	Heather
Darryl Nau	...	Random Guy
Brenda Cooney	...	Nurse
Danielle Noe	...	Mother
Mary B. McCann	...	Elaine Cross
John Speredakos	...	Ted Stephen
Lena Dunham	...	911 Operator
Christina Sciongay	...	Student
Kamen Velkovsky	...	Demon

MPAA:

Rated R for some bloody violence.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45576)

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

MPI Media Group

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Samantha is holding the knife near the bottom of the stairs, she says, "Mrs. Ulman?" referring to Mr. Ulman's mother-in-law. Her last name would most likely not be the same as her son-in-law's last name.

Classic suspense horror for true fans of the genre

I heard some good things about this film before viewing, and then on this site heard some bad things. I've come to believe that listening to others doesn't always help. It's all about opinion and experience, and in my opinion, this experience was worth it.

I won't get into too many details of the plot as the reviews and trailers tell it straight forward, but as far as tension, cinematography, atmosphere, music and style goes, this film really has it all. It's a classic story of your ordinary girl next door being put into an extraordinary situation. It's a situation that she tries to avoid, the people around her try to avoid, and you as a viewer knows she should avoid but can't help and stay to see what transpires.

If you're looking for a run of the mill slasher flick, a psychological thriller, or an action packed gore fest, I'm sorry but this isn't for you. However, if you're into the types of horror movies that take a simple, almost predictable concept and turns it on its' head in an unrelenting fashion, then look no further. This movie will stay with you for a few days for different reasons, but my biggest turn on was the feeling throughout the film, an homage to earlier times, and an evil that knows no bounds.