MovieChat Forums > The House of the Devil (2009) Discussion > Point missed...for many.

Point missed...for many.

posted 10 years ago by chrisszaroleta
36 replies | jump to latest

For the second time, I just watched House of the Devil. I decided to venture out to the IMDB message boards to see what others thought of the film. Unfortunately, so many who have seen this movie score it down because, in their eyes, the build up took too long and it ended with no payoff. I see things much differently...

The movie I just watched accomplished EXACTLY what the writer/director intended for it to. He was able to match the look, tone and overall feel of an 80's era occult movie. The tension was beautiful, yet necessary. He supplemented modern audience's need for gore, with strong first and second acts - minimalism at its best.

The final act, which is where the majority of complaints are made, is textbook 80's horror. Every shot, the score, and even the last second, perfectly accomplished what so many films of the era were able to.

If you were disappointed by this movie, it's because you either didn't get the intent,or you did and you just don't like a truly good horror flick.

[–] hulda_494 9 years ago

however it can't be denied that this should have been a short film.
I felt I was waiting for that pizza with her in real time like damn

[–] lazarillo 9 years ago

The movie is what you called deliberately paced. But it works for me, especially given that first murder that comes out of nowhere. I generally think "pacing" is overrated. Most horror movies are paced like rollercoasters--thrilling, perhaps sometimes, but you can see everything coming because it's all cliched and telegraphed. And all too often it is accomplished simply with an overbearing musical score and/or countless false jump scares.

This movie has ATMOSPHERE. It does a really good job of capturing the 80's in small Midwestern college town, and then it does a good job of creating a truly creepy isolated setting that I don't think people who were born after cellphones would even relate to (it reminds me of the excellent first half hour of "When a Stranger Calls"). The satanic stuff doesn't work as well, but just because the fantastic build-up doesn't lead to a great payoff doesn't take away from the build-up.

"Let be be finale of seem/ The only emperor is the Emperor of Ice Cream"

[–] rich-hayden 9 years ago

'If you dont get this movie then clearly you arent as clever or as witty as I think I am'

This movie sucked, the fact that 'so many' didnt get it doesnt mean it missed its mark, it means this director dont know how to make a good horror movie.

You acting like an elititst wont change all those people's minds

[–] antonekh 9 years ago

Exactly how many '' occult movies '' were out in the 80's? Slashers dominated the market till 83-85. All I recall is Poltergeist.

Using film stock is appreciated ( they still *beep* because the used 16mm instead of the at the time widely used 35mm ) but the overall tone of the movie was nothing like the 80's. They had an giallo-like zoom during the opening credits but that's from the previous decade and not an homage to american horror. Come to think of it, the credits aren't even 80's. Looks like an blaxploitation film from 1974.

Gore was an important part of 80's american horror cinema. Have you seen Madman, The Mutilator or Blood Rage ( 1983/87 )? It really isn't something new and gore isn't even a big part of todays horror movies...

No suspense and no good story. Terrible, terrible movie, at least in my opinion. No surprise that Ti West made Cabin Fever 2 and V/H/S...

[–] prplayer 9 years ago

you forgot to say: go watch [insert CGI gore fest horror movie here] instead

so many movies, so little time