House (2008) - Not a bad rental

Posted by Movie_Maven

April 24, 2009 |

After never even hearing of this film, Mr_Movie_Maven and I rented it because I am a huge horror fan (DUH) who happens to like Michael Madsen. Based on a novel by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti and adapted for the screen by Peretti and Rob Green, the film is directed by Robbie Henson. To be perfectly honest, I have never heard of any of these guys, but would like to read the book as I’m sure it adds to the psychological thrillerness (yes, I know that’s not a word) of the movie.

Along with Madsen, some Rob Zombie favorites such as Bill Moseley and Leslie Easterbrook were cast among a group of virtual yet good looking unknowns.

While the story itself was intriguing, much like Stephen King films, it didn’t translate well to the big (or in this case TV) screen. Well we do have a 32″ one, but I digress.

The story started out interesting and ended quite well, but there was a lot of unnecessary and unexplained filler in the middle which neither lent anything to the plot nor the character development. In a nutshell, a car accident strands two couples in a house with some strange residents and a “Tin Man” who mandates a dead body be delivered to him before dawn for no apparent reason. Maybe he was a hungry redneck cannibal, but that wasn’t really explained well in the movie.

The house itself was pretty cool. I would live there if it wasn’t for the creepiness within.

There is gore. Gore is good. I like gore, but gore alone is not enough. Even the gory-ridden “Hostel” films had a story. This movie isn’t terrible, it is a decent rental.

Apparently the book is much better. I will let you know.