Director: Reinert Kiil
Writer: Reinert Kiil, Jane Helge Lillevik (Screenplay)
Starring: Frederik von Luttichau, Mats Reinhardt, Sondre Krogtoft Larsen, Evy Kasseth Rosten, Sigmund Saeverud, Anita Ihler
Plot: Two German soldiers has taken a Norwegian soldier as prisoner, during one of the cold Scandianvian winter nights during WW2. They are thankful that they find a lonely house out in the wilderness, but the houses aren’t that cozy after all.
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Atmospheric Horror
Story: The House starts when two German soldiers Andreas (Luttichau) and Jurgen (Reinhardt) are transporting their Norwegian prisoner Rune (Larsen) during World War II, with night falling, they look for shelter, finding a remote house in the wilderness, which seems like just another empty house.
This night isn’t going to be easy for the soldiers, when they starts hearing and seeing things around the house, but just what is happening, will be the biggest test for the soldiers.
Thoughts on The House
Characters – Andreas must follow Jurgen’s orders, he can switch off easily, but does seem to be the strongest when it comes to dealing with the evil inside the house, with his past being something he can fight off and the fact that he wants to do the right thing, while being haunted of images of his late wife. Jurgen is the lieutenant that is following his instructions, he will investigate more, which does see him enter into the evil with the house, he doesn’t believe in any of the supernatural events going on in the house. Rune is the Norwegian soldier and prisoner of the Germans, he is just as haunted with the events inside the house which does see him being about to figure out the translations for the Germans.
Performances – We have three main actors in this film who each get to show the same fears of just what is going on, they each take their moment without ever looking out of place through the horrors unfolding.
Story – The story here follows the two soldiers and prisoner soldier staying in a remote house only for the house to have an evil presence within which stats to play the tricks on the three soldiers on three different sides of the war. This story shows how the mindset of the soldiers changes once they become haunted by the evil within the house and just how far they will have to go to get out of it, they will be haunted by their pasts which will make them face the worst moments of their lives again. The best way to describe this would be on the same lines as ‘Outpost’ for the psychological side of the story, the not knowing the soldiers are going through.
Horror – The horror element in play through this film come from the ideas that the evil in the house is slowly starting to take over the soldiers forcing them to question everything they are living through.
Settings – The film is set in one house, it is in the middle of nowhere during the second world war which shows just how isolated the men are, the weather makes it even harder to travel because of the snow blocking off paths. This make for everything you need in a horror.
Special Effects – The effects in the movie are used well when needed, we don’t go over the top with anything either, we are given mostly around the corner or in the distance make up effects.
Scene of the Movie – The final shot.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – I get frustrated when I watch films that jump between languages, I find myself trying to read the English and wondering why it has gone.
Final Thoughts – This is a nicely built atmospheric horror that builds up for a strong payoff.
Overall: Creepy horror thriller.
Rating
