Customer Reviews

House

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

This movie wasn't half bad. I enjoyed it. I have pretty sound nerves but I actually jumped a couple of times. Although, I figured out the mystery to the story long before it revealed itself, I followed it to the very end. I think I would watch it again. It's not gorey and it's void of the usual sex scenes, if you like that kind of thing. It's just a creepy, twisted little tale that reminds me a bit of some of Clive Barker's work.It's worth the watch.

"House" begins with a tragic murder scene that still is able to give you chills, while leaving it all to your imagination. That dreary scene then cuts to Jack and Stephanie driving down a road, supposedly on their way to a marriage counseling session. After losing their daughter several years ago, Jack and Stephanie are now at a near-divorce, and when they talk, if ever, is usually only to blame the other for something random. When a car accident leaves them stranded with no transporation and no cellphone service, they make their way on foot to the ultra-creepy "Wayside Inn." Meeting another couple there, Randy and Leslie, who were in the same predicament as they were, they begin to sense something wrong.

As you can probably guess, "The Wayside Inn" contains more than meets the eye. Sooner than later, a crazy and demented killer named the Tin Man is trying to get them to kill one of the four of them, as to satisfy their "guilt." The house itself is also not as normal as it seems, confronting each person in the house with their past sins and guilts, and how it ultimately leads to life or death.

Although the book based off of this movie was written by Christian authors, don't expect anything preachy. In fact, don't expect anything close to preachy. Although you might be able to see some Christian parallels contained in the film (especially towards the end), nothing is ever blatantly obvious in the movie. Is that a good thing? Hard to say. On one hand, many Christians may be disappointd with the film's lack of clear Christian morality and the very controversial "R" rating (a PG-13 would've sufficed.) On the other hand, Christians who are hoping that this film may lead others to Christ, may worth looking into. It'd be a great choice to take your non-believer friend to, and discuss with afterwards. "House," at the least, is most certainly thought-provoking. For any one else out there who really doesn't care whether or not it's Christian... give it a whirl and see what you think of it. It sure is one heck of a ride.

The acting also stuck out to me. Looking back on last year's film, "Thr3e," also based on a Ted Dekker novel, I was shocked at the wooden acting and dialogue that the actors engaged in. Fortunately, this time around, the actors were well-cast and the dialogue not as stiff, and the budget was definetely higher than "Thr3e..." the special effects pretty good for a lower-budget film than, per say, "The Dark Knight" or "Quantam of Solace."

In conclusion, although "House" is most definetely better in book format, the movie is definetely worth seeing. As well as being a good, two-hour thrill ride, it also contains a message, no matter how subtle or vague... of light ALWAYS conquering the darkness. Amen to that. Even a non-believer has to agree with that statement. Solid acting, solid storyline (despite its occasional tendency to stray from the book's path), andsome good thrills (and chills) make this "House" one to enter.

--Anthony B.

*Find this review on my movie review website: ambreviews.webs.com

I love the book House By Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker and I was hoping that since they made a movie of the book it would follow it at least somewhat. Needless to say, I was very disappointed; but I should have known because most movies don't. It is still a fairly decent film with some pretty good actors for the parts, if you haven't read the book or like to compare books with movies it's still a great buy.

Many don't like this film, but I don't see quite why. Sure, it wasn't perfect, and the book is definietely better, but I'm so glad that my favorite book was turned into a movie!! It's spooky at parts, and very suspenseful. It should NOT have been rated R however. Overall, it was just a really good movie that I would recommend to any horror or thriller fans!

I read House about a year ago and liked it. It wasn't as great as other similar books by Ted Dekker or Frank Peretti, but it was still pretty good. So when I saw that they came out with a movie based on the book, I was pretty stoked. After watching the movie, here are my thoughts.

I was first struck by how nice the movie looked and how good the cinematography was, considering it didn't have a huge budget. And sadly, the next thing I was struck by was the weak acting. The couple in the car at the beginning just seemed to me to be quoting lines. It didn't feel like they believed what they were saying. For me, that problem permeated throughout the rest of the movie; I just didn't believe them. The rest of the actors and actresses were pretty good, and the creepy house-dwellers were appropriately creepy.

I also loved the special effects! A lot of times, the special effects are an afterthought in a low budget film, but they paid a lot of attention to detail, and it paid off. Except for the scene where the camera peered through a window to the girl in the snow outside; it looked terribly cheap.

And lastly, the story just wasn't built up enough and didn't seem very interesting to me, even after having read the book. I wasn't really on edge at all through the movie but was just sort of dragged along through the plot. But overall, I'm still glad I watched it and would recommend it to others who enjoy suspense flicks. Ted Dekker books are way better than these movies, so make sure to read them!

There is a new genre of horror film growing that I recently read about in the pages of Rue Morgue Magazine. The genre is Christian horror films. Though it may sound like an unlikely combination, it is here and on the rise as well.

You could go back as far as THE OMEN of THE EXORCIST to find the beginnings of the genre, but even recently we have seen movies like THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE take off and become a blockbuster film. Now we have a new movie to add to the mix, a bit more subtle in some ways and not in others.

HOUSE is based on the book of the same name by famed authors Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. The story begins innocently enough (as they always do) with a couple on the road getting lost in the boonies. This particular couple, Jack and Stephanie Singleton (Reynaldo Rosales and Heidi Dippold), are on their way to Montgomery to visit and marriage counselor.

Along the way they are re-routed by a helpful policeman (Michael Madsen) and take a short cut only to end with two flat tires and what looks like another possible couple in the same boat. Following the road they come to the Wayside Inn where they find no help but they do find the other couple, Randy (J, P, Davis) and Leslie (Julie Ann Emery). The power goes out, they find lanterns and then they find the caretakers as well, an oddball backwoods pair who seem to have come out of the past. They inform them that on a rainy night like this no tow truck will be able to help them and that they'll have to spend the night.

Betty (Leslie Easterbrook) appears to be in charge and she's all about manners and trying to make things fine for the two couples. Pete (Lew Temple) is definitely a few fries short of a fun meal and more interested in Leslie than anything else. As dinner is about to be served, the last house member shows up. Stewart (Bill Moseley) is a roughneck with no holding for sinners.

As odd things happen (like they haven't already) Stephanie panics and heads for the front door to get out only to find someone standing in the yard, flashlight in one hand, shotgun in the other. Betty blames them from bringing "him" back...the Tin Man. The Tin Man tosses in a can with his rules. Rule 1, this is his house. Rule 2, anyone who enters his house he will kill. Rule 3, kill one person before sunrise and he'll forget rule 2.

Angered at their supposed bringing the Tin Man back. Betty and her clan set about containing the four "guests". As they attempt to lock them in the freezer, the two couples escape and head out in different directions.

While Stephanie disappears as does Leslie, Jack and Randy search for a way out. What they discover in the basement is more worrisome though, Satanic symbols on the walls, draped over images and tunnels that go every which way. And as they are separated and continue to search, they come across a ghost or two as well.

The biggest twist to the house is not the people running it. The twist is that the house knows its guests. It knows what eats at them. It knows what they did in their pasts. It knows what haunts them. And it will use this information to manipulate them all.

What we have is neither a simple ghost story nor a tale of satanic rites being enacted on innocents. There are no truly innocent members in this group. One killed a father, one an uncle and two are suffering from the accidental death of their child. What the house offers them is a chance at redemption. But in what form? Will it be delivered to them if they take the life of one or if they sacrifice their own lives willingly? Or is there another alternative?

The movie offers some creepy moments but at the same time relies too heavily on the tried and true worn down appearance of the house and beaten down look of Betty and her group. Anyone who couldn't tell this bunch was off in 5 seconds deserves what comes to them.

But it's not the actors or their roles that draw the attention. It's the story that brings about that sense of loss and search for hope in the midst of something so terrible that carries the film. No, this is not GONE WITH THE WIND. It is not the grandest horror film ever made. But it is well made and suitable for younger, though not too young, viewers with its lack of gore and blood.

If you're looking for a solid horror film with more story and blood, give this one a try. If you're looking for something with a little hope to it, try it as well. Just know that the expected doesn't always happen in films like this, Christian horror or not.

An okay scarey movie, but the story could be better. What I like about the movie is that it has almost no cussing, and only one minor word at that. I don't like the low cut dress they give the one lady. Like why do that in a movie like this? This is not a blood and guts type of attempt at horror, which is good for those of us who don't want to be looking at lots of gore. Whats scarey about blood and guts anyway? For those who want an okay scarey movie without sex and cussing, this is a good pick.

I have been a Frank Peretti fan since I first read "This Present Darkness." "House" continues in the same vein with a horror story about the unseen spiritual world. Wars between angels and demons battling for the souls of men. As with most books-to-movies, the books was more detailed and better. The movie had to leave too many things out. But overall, it was a good movie.

I loved this movie. Some of the early previews interested me and made me want to see it, but the most recent ones had me wondering if it was too graphic. I read the book years ago and just couldnt wait to see it. The movie was great and was done so well. Whilst watching i started remembering how the book went that i had read many years before. Its a great movie for the christian and non christian. Its not to graphic and too scary but enough to keep you intrigued until the end.

Having never read the novel by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, I didn't quite know what to expect from House, but the end result for me found the film ending up being a confusing flick. The film follows two couples who get stranded in a creepy house in rural Alabama, and terrorized by a maniac called the Tin Man. As the film goes on, we learn the dark secrets of the two couples, as the house conjures them up into fruition. As said before, I never read the novel House is based upon (or am a fan of either author), but apparently from what I've read, the film leaves out a number of plot points that only fans of the novel will pick up in the film. That being said, the film ends up being confusing, predictable, and hardly scary in the least. What House has going for it however is the fact that the house itself is creepy and there's plenty of creepy atmosphere to be found as well. Michael Madsen is here hamming it up, and horror stalwarts Bill Moseley and Leslie Easterbrook are here as well; both of whom ham it up pretty much as well. All in all, judging by the other reviews here, if you're a fan of the novel by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, you'll probably enjoy House in some form, but if you're unfamiliar with the authors or the novel, you'll end up being pretty overly bored with the film.