Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov

In the 1980s, college student Samantha Hughes takes a strange babysitting job that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. She slowly realizes her clients harbor a terrifying secret; they plan to use her...( read more  read more... ) in a satanic ritual.

Flixster Users

52% liked it

31,852 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

56 critics

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Ti West

Release Date: October 30, 2009

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DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010

Stats: 607 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (607)


  • November 8, 2009
    It's official, if Ti West makes it, I will see it. Who would have guessed that one of the most exciting directors in horror today would be a filmmaker who shows restraint. Sure, I'm certain lots of audience members will say his films are slow, but when did slow become something...( read more) negative? Isn't slowing down a story and creating characters, atmosphere, story, etc part of good storytelling? I can understand becoming disappointed if a monster truck show becomes slow, but movies should slow down at some point (only a few directors have managed to keep the "never slows down" film still good). I always here people say, "The film got slow at such and such a point" and I always wonder, "Is that bad?". All films aren't spectacles or carnival rides, some actually try and tell a good story. Hrumph!
    Back to the matter at hand, West's fantastic House of the Devil. The film is all about anticipation, the way West builds his story slowly towards the inevitable horrific climax. The main character and her situation grows on you gradually as you feel stuck in the tedium, then horror of the situation too. As an aside, my wife who generally hates horror films really loved this until the 50 minute point where the tension just go too unbearable for her and she had to leave. West has complete control of his characters and the pace and is truly becoming an auteur who I will follow in whatever genre he decides to delve into, though I think his particular style fits perfectly into horror. Highly recommended for those who aren't just looking for a roller coaster ride.
  • November 1, 2009
    This movie feels like a prequel/sequel to "Babysitters Wanted" and while this wins in gore and pace "The House of the Devil" wins in execution and acting.
    It is not just a homage of late 70's or early 80's horror movies. It feels like a real flick of the era and if you see it w...( read more)ithout knowing anything about the movie you can think it is really and old movie.
    Most of the movie is just suspense specially in the second part and is not till the last 20 minutes or so that you get some action and gore. So if you are looking for a slasher flick or an action packed gore fest, I'm sorry but this isn't for you.
  • November 17, 2009
    One of the best recent horror movies. The visual style and tone are amazing. It feels like you're watching Evil Dead or Rosemary's Baby. The director obviously knows the genre and all of the classic techniques. It has a lot of great original aspects to it as well. The blend of co...( read more)medy every now and then was perfect. The acting completely surprised me, I just wasn't expecting it to be this good. It was a perfect indie horror.
  • November 17, 2009
    OH OH OH! This movie is really creepy and it doesn't take cheap shots to do so. I lot of people will probably want to say that it sucked b/c there wasn't enough unrealistic goryness, but I absolutely loved how they styled, shot, and went into a direction with this film. SEE IT...( read more)! Also, the character of Megan was pretty much the coolest chic ever.
  • November 16, 2009
    They got the 80's look down great, some good tension and a nice ending for a sequel.
  • November 16, 2009
    This is very intersting, watch out
  • November 12, 2009
    i have never seen it so who cares
  • November 10, 2009
    yes i want to see that
  • November 10, 2009
    A different kind of scare. Long live the 80's!
  • November 8, 2009
    C'est vrai qu'on peut trouver que le film ne file pas droit à l'essentiel, que c'est un peu lent, mais en fait c'est pas si lent que ça, et puis au moins le film n'est pas parasité par des malheureuses tentatives pour faire sursauter le spectateur (comme dans pas mal de film d'ho...( read more)rreur récemment). Et puis surtout, les années 80 sont vraiment bien restituées dans ce film, on jurerait qu'il a été tourné à cette époque, la photo, le générique, les acteurs, ce film réussi là où pas mal de tentative de "revival" échouent et rien que ça c'est pas mal. Bien sûr les fameuses 20 dernières minutes sont prenantes mais c'est légèrement bâclé, mais la fin qui nous révèle le pourquoi du comment est pas mal du tout.....et puis j'sais pas, je le trouve attachant ce film, sincère, et y'a Tom Noonan en plus !!!

Critic Reviews


November 12, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The film may provide an introduction for some audience members to the Hitchcockian definition of suspense: It's the anticipation, not the happening, that's the fun. full review

October 30, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Although the payoff is creepy, it takes a little too long to arrive -- and when it does, it's about as worn-out as the movie's title. full review

October 30, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The House of the Devil is really a romance: a love letter to the kind of gal we thought had given up the ghost. full review

October 29, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

West avoids cliché and cheesiness with wise casting choices. Donahue's naturalistic performance is as persuasive as the subtly sinister portrayals by Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov. full review

May 3, 2009
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Yet another of this year's homage-facsimiles, The House of the Devil forgoes campy self-awareness in favor of reverential faithfulness--and in doing so, implicitly critiques contemporary horror cinema. full review

View more The House of the Devil reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • lovecyn4ever
    November 3, 2009
    I will have to agree with "Cinema Blend".Nearly the entire film, save for the last 20 minutes, is just a buildup to the grand not-so-horrifying finale.

  • agouda29
    October 27, 2009
    i want to see this movie coz i know that i will like it.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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