Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep together-but then the dreams come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house call to her, beckoning with a ghostly allure. But the harsh light of day washes away any proof of a haunting. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into his belongings, yearning for answers.
Director: David Bruckner
Cast: Rebecca Hall, Sarah Goldberg, Evan Jonigkeit, Stacy Martin, Vondie Curtis-Hall
Rated R for some violence/disturbing images, and language including some sexual references
Release Date:
Genres: Horror, Thriller
Runtime: 1h 48min
Review:
David Bruckner's The Night House is the best type of psychological horror because it works both as a straightforward horror film and on a deep more emotional level. Bruckner's film is visually impressive and impactful throughout as he builds an unsettling atmospheric tension which only lets up with well time dark humor. He sets the stage wonderfully to showcase the endless talents of Rebecca Hall. Hall is a master of playing damaged women, see the criminally underseen 2016 film Christine, dealing with trauma. This film gives her a perfect showcase to display her acting prowess. She has an incredible ability to subtly move her emotions from mournful to a simmer rage without breaking a sweat. The film's heady script is bendy but a serious approach on how we deal with the trauma of loss. It's an adults horror film that doesn't rely on cheap scares instead it uses atmosphere and tension to great effect. The plot isn't straightforward and it may leave some people scratching their head especially those expecting a paint by the numbers ghost story. This is the type of film that will stay with you after you leave the theater much like the other great horror film of 2021 Saint Maude.
A-
