*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*
“Once upon a time…”
House of Darkness released on Hulu on January 7th 2023. The supernatural horror film stars Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Gia Crovatin, and Lucy Walters. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-eight minutes.
After meeting a mysterious woman at a bar, Hap agrees to drive her home, which turns out to be an extravagant mansion in the middle of nowhere. After she invites him inside for drinks and conversation, things take a sinister turn.
Here is the trailer:
House of Darkness has a great cast and a killer premise, but does this slow burn film pay off in the end? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
Great cast.
Justin Long is no stranger to horror films so I was super excited about him starring in this one. Kate Bosworth was fantastic as always and I thought she played her part very well. Even the supporting characters did a great job with what they were given. The performances were the best part of this film and I’m not sure that I would have kept watching this one without this cast.
Enjoyable scenery.
Even though the film was primarily shot in just a few rooms in the mansion, they had such a Gothic feel. The use of dim lighting, the fireplace, and even the furniture created a vibe that accompanied this film very well. There was very little background noise or music in this film, allowing me to concentrate on a lot of other details while the plot unfolded.
The Cons:
Serious pacing issues…
This film was just under 90 minutes long, but it felt like I was watching it FOREVER at one point. I’m all for a good slow burn, but this one desperately needed something to happen. The dialogue was awkward and excruciating at times and if it weren’t for Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, I would have turned off the movie.
Don’t get me wrong, something finally happened in the end, but I’m not sure that the payoff was that rewarding. It was predictable and could have happened much sooner…
So am I in or out?
I’m 50/50 on this one…
I’m in for Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, but this film fell flat, leaving me wanting so much more, which was really disappointing.
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on House of Darkness in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
DON’T TAKE THE JOB…
It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.
My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!
Girl Number Thirteen is available here!
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