October 21st, 2012: The House of the Devil

"The film may provide an introduction for some audience members to the Hitchcock eon definition of suspense: It's the anticipation, not the happening, that's the fun." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

Ti West is slowly becoming one of my favorite filmmakers right now.  I say slowly because the majority of his movies that I have seen, I watched without knowing he directed them (e.g. V/H/S, The Innkeepers, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever).  West certainly has a style that you either get or you don't.  In my experience with his films, they start out with a slow pace but the dialogue is just as important as the action.  After an hour, shit hits the fan and there's no going back.

The House of the Devil is phenomenal and will please anyone who is a fan of late '70s and early '80s horror.  West does an amazing job of making you feel like you're watching an actual movie from 1983 (the year the film is set in).  Everything from the makeup, the clothes, hairstyles, and even paper Coke cups, has '80s written all over it. West even used similar technology and filming techniques that were used around that time.

The plot begins with college student Samantha Hughes looking for work.  She is short on cash and desperately wants to move out of her dorm room she shares with her best friend Megan.  Sam finds an ad posted for someone in need of a babysitter.  She calls the number and leaves a message.  After she hangs up the phone immediately rings and the man offering the babysitting position asks to meet for an interview in which he stands her up.

Samantha gets frustrated after waiting and meets up with Megan who tells her that the man had called and left a message.  She returns the call and the man introduces himself as Mr. Ulman.  He apologizes for not showing for their meeting and says he originally found someone else but they ended being completely unreliable.  He says he's in need of a babysitter right away and offers Samantha $200, doubling his original offer, for the night.

She goes to the house and finds out that the babysitter position isn't for a child. Mr. Ulman explains it's hard to find someone who will care an elderly person and asks if she will watch his mother-in-law.  Samantha feels uncomfortable and turns down the position.  Ulman tells her he will pay her $400 for four hours of work and assures all she'll be doing is sitting around.  Samantha accepts the offer and has no idea what she's gotten herself into.

ROTTEN TOMATOES RATING: 86%

This is a great Halloween movie.  In fact, you can find it in the Halloween Favorites and Horror categories on Netflix.  When I started watching it I thought to myself, "This will be a good one to recommend to those who don't like bloody horror movies!" I ended up being completely wrong but you can always just cover your eyes :)

-Colby.