31 Days, 31 Screams: A New Beginning- Day 19 (The House Of The Devil)

Well, fuck. Back to the movies again. A thing I'd never heard of before setting up for this year, but it was a pick that seemed interesting. In these brave and bold times of wistful nostalgia ruling all, it's at least a little interesting to go with a stylistic homage rather than one reminding the viewer of an IP or spooky monster or what have you. To that end, The House Of The Devil is a 2009 movie that absolutely looks and feels like a low-budget horror film from 25 years prior. I'm no cinema expert, but it's one of those cases where I know it when I see it. The filming and cinematographic choices made in this movie make it feel like a horror movie from 1985. The fact that it's set in the 80's also helps, with payphones and Walkmans and Thomas Dolby. Oh, and Satanic Panic. The movie opens with a title card about that, and it's called House Of The Devil, so you know what you're in for. They delay that for as long as possible though. 75 of 95 minutes, to be precise. What in the holy hell do they spend the rest of their time on with this movie?

Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. This movie is absolutely setting a mood, with tension unlike any I've seen in a while. Actually, that's getting ahead. Nothing scary actually happens until 37 minutes in. The rest of the movie is a very quiet affair, as we mostly watch our protagonist Samantha walking from place to place. Walking the hallways of college dorms, walking the campus, walking back to the dorm. The fall colors and Samantha being bundled up in warm winter clothes really make this movie absolutely perfect to watch at this time of year. It wouldn't work as an October 1st movie, things are still green. October 19th, though? When the trees and grass are really dying and you can feel that chill in the air? Absolutely. The plot itself is simple enough for those 37 minutes. Samantha needs money, she accepts a babysitting ad, it's out in the middle of nowhere and is actually for an old lady but her son-in-law is willing to pay 400 bucks for Sam's services. As a viewer one's obviously suspicious, but Sam's pal Megan drops her off and drives off. It's when she stops for a smoke and meets up with some other guy that you get a little spooked, but things are going okay. Then, 37 minutes in, he shoots Megan in the fucking head. Dear reader, I yelped loud enough to worry people. Just out of fucking nowhere shit got real. Oh fuck. This situation is fucked up. What's going to happen now?

Nothing. That's the fucked up part. It settles right back into that nervous tension, the next 40 minutes being Samantha in the house. Ordering pizza, watching TV for a bit, exploring her new surroundings and eventually playing pool while listening to tapes on her Walkman. It sounds like a dull nothing of a movie, but when you're actually sitting there watching it and don't know these things, you're just holding your breath. There are some jumpscares like a ringing doorbell for the pizza guy (who's the same fucker who shot Megan in the head), and they hit even harder than usual because you've been so tense for this whole quiet movie. Even Sam is getting more and more paranoid at the sounds and the weird inconsistencies of this place, and every time you think you've found a big spook that'll relieve the tension, it doesn't come. That is, of course, until 75 minutes in. The pizza was drugged and Sam passes out. I neglected to mention this is the night of a total lunar eclipse. That becomes important because of the how and why of the next 20 minutes. This was all a Satanic ritual, and Sam is bound at an altar and forced to imbibe Satanic blood. She breaks out, killing a few of the cultists, but something's clearly infected her. It is an absolutely fucked up 20 minutes, and it ends with the clear implication that Sam has somehow been impregnated with what I can only assume is the Antichrist or something. That's the movie. Fuck. I cannot remember the last movie I watched that scared me so much. The sheer tension on display is masterful for a movie with about four scares over 75 minutes and an admittedly horrific climax. I'm kind of impressed, still a little on edge, and generally happy I got to experience such a specific spooky experience for this year. On to the next one!