PopHorror Let's Get Scared
When dealing with minimalist horror films, it takes an overwhelmingly strong cast and location to carry the story and make up for the missing elements that bigger budgets can bring. Such is the case with House of Screaming Glass, a psychological independent horror film that relies on ambiance and its lead actor to build the tension throughout. Let’s look at House of Screaming Glass and examine the terror inside of the doors.
House of Screaming Glass is written by Costanza Bongiorni (Silver Lining 2016), Tom Jolliffe (Cinderella’s Revenge 2024), and David R. Williams (Rust Belt Driller 2021) and directed by Williams. It stars Lani Call (Movie Theater Massacre 2023) as Elizabeth, a woman who inherits her grandmother’s old schoolhouse on the day her mother dies. Elizabeth goes to explore this schoolhouse, and she uncovers a world of visceral secrets that sends her careening into a descent of madness.
The true strength in House of Screaming Glass lies in its technical prowess. Everything is shot sharply, the coloring is used beautifully to shift the time period, and the editing seamlessly blends shot transitions in a way that most indies can’t. This movie uses long static shots as a way for the audience to read Elizabeth’s face and build the tension in their minds as their eyes creep into the background.
As mentioned above, acting and location can really make or break minimalist horror. Lani Call does a wonderful job with a giant task list here, not just as the only principal actress and consistent voiceover artist, but also as a piano player. Much like The Shining (read our retro review here), we follow Elizabeth into her psychological breakdown throughout this cavernous schoolhouse, which begins to include aesthetic props and flashbacks into witchcraft.
The pacing won’t connect with everyone, as it is a one character slow-burn with lingering camera work. Not everything is spelled out, answered, or linear. But the most genuinely cringe-inducing horror (in a good way) comes from the special effects. A body-horror component starts to morph Elizabeth as she uncovers secrets, and the detail and endurance of these effects are incredibly unsettling. If you like character studies that dive into the dark recesses of the psyche, this film may be for you.
House of Screaming Glass is available on VOD and DVD as of Tuesday, May 21.
