The House of the Devil

From the moment the film's title appears on the screen I knew this movie was for me, but it definitely isn't for everyone. I can understand how some think it's boring and it moves too slow. It does indeed take it's time, but that's one of things I love so much about it. It's that quiet, deliberately sluggish, haunting pace that helps to build up the tension and suspense. And when the shit hits the fan, it has a much deeper impact that these pathetic jump-scare gimmick driven "horror" movies their churning out by the dozens these days.

Director Ti West crafted the retro style and atmosphere so impressively, both in front of the camera and quite literally inside the camera, using 16mm film. It's the little things like the camera angles and the freeze frames in the opening and closing credits that West incorporates that captures the era so perfectly. And it's not that we're given anything necessarily new to the genre, it just takes it back to the roots and reminds us of why we too love the genre as much as West.

Love love LOVE the cast. Not only is Jocelin Donahue one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen but she obviously has some talent in her, and her likeness to Margot Kidder again helps to establish that old school feel that I admire so much about the movie. Tom Noonan is his usual creepy self, reminiscent of the Tooth Fairy (Manhunter). Dee Wallace makes an appearance at the beginning, which I more than appreciated. And then of course Mary Woronov who I just love to death and I am always delighted to see her on screen.

BOTTOM LINE: I love this movie. Ti West did a fantastic job presenting a beautiful homage to my favorite era of horror movies, accomplished brilliantly through everything from the technical detailing to the perfect casting. It puts all these shitty modern day horror movies to shame and reintroduces that ability that film has to produce genuine fear. I highly recommend this to true fans of horror.