Starring Rebecca Hall, Sarah Goldberg, Evan Jonigkeit, Stacy Martin, Vondie Curtis-Hall

Directed by David Bruckner

Searchlight Pictures, in cinemas now

 

A widow discovers a dark secret…

Arguably the most enduring horror films of recent years aren’t predicated on CGI or jump-scares, rather the fears they explore are rooted in the inner mental turmoil of the central protagonist. The Babadook, Relic, His House, The Orphanage resonate with audiences because they truthfully dramatise the inner pain of depression, dementia, survivor guilt and grief respectively. The Night House clearly sees itself as a fellow traveller, as Rebecca Hall’s Beth wrestles with paralysing shock and loss following the sudden suicide of her husband Owen.

Wearing its influences proudly on its sleeve, The Night House so very nearly earns itself a place at that top table.

Back in the days when movies came on giant spools of celluloid, there used to be an expression for a film that started well but was ultimately a disappointment. ‘It fell apart in the final reel’ we’d say shaking our heads pitifully.  Despite the lack of such mechanical bits and pieces in a modern cinema, there is no more fitting description for The Night House. This film gets off to an assured start. The script is expertly crafted, with truthful, cliché free dialogue. The second act complication is beautifully placed. Rebecca Hall is absolutely terrific. The midpoint keeps you thoroughly engrossed. It’s genuinely scary in places, also moving, and there are some truly spine tingling moments. The fourth act had me on the edge of my seat, with my hands over my eyes…

…and then it clunked into its final reel as it literally lost its own plot, with a conclusion that died on its cinematic backside in every respect, and a laughable climax reminiscent of the end of an episode of Lassie.

Verdict: To be fair, 80% of a really, really good film is a better indication of quality than many movies I see, but to throw it away on the final furlong somehow negates all the excellent work that went before, and left this reviewer leaving the cinema feeling cheated. 6/10

Martin Jameson