Directed by Remi Weekes
Starring: Spoe Disu, Wunmi Mosaku, Matt Smith & Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba
His House is a Netflix-produced horror film and the directorial debut of Remi Weekes. The story centers on a South Sudanese couple who immigrate to England only to find the ghosts of their past are currently haunting their new home. This is a very moody and atmospheric horror film which does not rely too heavily on the tropes of horrors past and it uses a fresh perspective to create a powerful and unique resolution. The pov of a young immigrant family is not one that has been used much in horror, but the parallels between a supernatural haunting and the pressure of trying to assimilate to a new culture act as incredibly effective real estate for a heartfelt story. From the outset, it is clear the couple have experienced tragedy on their journey. The use of dream sequences throughout the story are effective for scares as well as giving hints to what happened before the story begins. The couple also seem to have different ideas about how to adapt to their new home, the husband, Bol, tries his best to move on through immersing himself in the new local culture. On the other hand, his wife, Rial, tries to hold on to their roots, clearly uncomfortable in their new environment. This tense atmosphere lays an excellent groundwork for when the haunting begins to show itself.
His House uses the same structure as films like The Babadook and Hereditary and uses its horror as a metaphor for feelings of grief, regret, and loss. With this new perspective though, it keeps the more familiar aspects from feeling stale and makes them feel fresh again. The story also holds a twist in the end, which is shown in one of the most emotional reveals, possibly since Hereditary. Both of the lead performers deliver amazing performances, making the terror much more palpable even in a more subdued film than some of the mainstream Hollywood horror flicks of recent memory. Both Spoe Disu and Wunme Mosaku are absolutely actors I will be looking out for in the future.
His House uses lighting incredibly effectively delivering subtle and effective scares throughout the beginning of the film. Toward the end though, it starts to stumble up until the aforementioned twist. To me, the effectiveness of the twist fully redeemed the story and led to a very heartfelt ending that was well deserved and left a great resolution. This film is a fantastic new edition to modern horror and a must-see new film on Netflix.
Rate: 8/10
