Do we really know everything our spouses? As director David Bruckner's The Night House opens, Beth is grieving after her husband Owen suddenly commits suicide. There seems to be no reason for his actions, and she's lost her moorings, drinking heavily, poring over pictures and going through his things, trying to find an explanation. Strange things begin to happen in the house they shared, which Owen built for them. Beth begins to suspect these events are supernatural in origin, and may be tied to a near death experience from her past.
Beth finds evidence that Owen may have had a secret life, and discovers an odd, reversed floor plan of their house among his things. Was Owen really the man she thought he was? As the layers of the story are unraveled, we learn things about both Beth and Owen which shed a different light on their relationship, and the haunting events that are plaguing Beth. Is Owen returning from beyond death to warn her about something, or are there other forces at work here? What is the real truth of Beth and Owen's relationship?
The Night House is a compelling thriller, written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. It's a thoughtful and intriguing look at the bond between couples, intertwined with an eerie tale of the supernatural. It's a powerful story that's as much about the intensity of the relationship between Beth and Owen as it is about deeply scary moments. The film mostly takes a more reserved approach than some modern horror fare, though there are some jump scares and a couple of frightening set pieces. The movie also has a great visual style, thanks to director Bruckner and cinematographer Elisha Christian.
The cast in The Night House is first-rate. Sarah Goldberg and Vondie Curtis Hall as Beth's friends and Evan Jonigkeit as Owen are excellent, but this film belongs to Rebecca Hall. Hall, who's been terrific in movies like The Town, is superb here, anchoring the film with her dedication to the central role. You can feel the intensity of every emotion that Beth feels, see it in her face and in the way she moves, and hear it in the way she speaks. It's a bravura performance, and if there was any justice, Hall would have won several trophies for it, though most awards shows don't give out accolades for genre films.
The Night House is an atmospheric thriller that's well worth seeking out for horror and suspense fans looking for something a bit different on movie night. Director David Bruckner also helmed the upcoming re-imagining of Clive Barker's Hellraiser, so if you want to see some of his earlier work, you can start here. If you enjoy movies like The Sixth Sense and The Others, or well-produced tales of ghostly happenings, eerie occurrences, complex relationships, and love after death, then seek out this film. The movie is currently streaming on HBO Max, and is also available on Blu-ray and DVD. Here's a link to the trailer for The Night House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tshycci2ZA.
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