PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Much like zombie films, paranormal movies have been run into the ground with the same old story over and over again. However, when I saw the trailer for IFC Midnight’s new film, Our House, it peeked my interested. The story looked intriguing an I’m huge fan of Thomas Mann.
Did it deliver more than your average run of the mill ghost story? Find out!
Official Synopsis for Our House:
A machine that can bring back dead loved ones seems like a great idea… until you unleash the wrong spirits. When his parents are killed in a car accident, science wiz Ethan (Mann) must leave behind college and his girlfriend (Peltz) to care for his younger brother and sister. By day, he juggles the responsibilities of raising two kids; by night, he tinkers in the garage on an invention he hopes will change the world: a machine that can generate wireless electricity.
He gets more than he bargained for, however, when the device awakens the dead souls that haunt the house. As Ethan and his siblings attempt to make contact with their parents, a horrifying realization sets in: not all the spirits in their midst may be friendly. This hair-raising science-fiction ghost story is a nightmare journey into a past that refuses to stay dead and buried.
Our House blew me away and is, hands down, not only one of the best films I’ve seen this year thus far, but is also one of the best paranormal films I’ve ever seen, period. It delivers a unique and creative story with strong character performances and a heart-wrenching spooky atmosphere.
Beyond the trailer, I hadn’t looked much into this film, so it pulled at my heart strings straight away and shook me up. I could feel the pain that each character was going through. It was raw and realistic, and most of all powerful. Loss is something we can all relate to in one way or another. What happens next is something I also didn’t foresee happening, and I thought it was pretty neat. A unattended creation allows them to interact with the paranormal, but of course, with the good comes the bad.
As I previously mentioned all of the character performances were outstanding. Thomas Mann was brilliant as always, but I will say the two actors (Percy Hynes White, Kate Moyer) who play his younger siblings were equally as great. Both have so much potential and gave emotionally driven performances that were courageous, hopeful, and strong.
I think the reason why Our House stands above other films is because it’s a story that serves a purpose. It’s about misery, loss, and trying to move on. It’s not about a doll that’s possessed and out for revenge. It’s about a family looking for closure and going through fucking hell to get there. There are several spooky scenes that will take your breath away and make the hairs on your arm stand up straight.
Final Thoughts on Our House:
I know that many people are like me and are sick and tired of paranormal films, but trust me on this one… Our House is different. It tells a story worthy of your time and money that will shock in all the right ways. It just had it’s premiere at the Fantasia International Film Fest and will be opening in select Theaters and Digital Platforms on July 27!
