Ya know, part of me wants to put this under the “found footage” banner, but that’s not quite accurate. It IS “found footage,” in that it is found footage at the heart of the film, but this one falls under the category of analog horror. If this wasn’t influenced by SKINAMARINK, either the short film, or feature, I’d be shocked. That isn’t at all to say that it’s derivative, no, but it takes the idea of a film told through VHS footage and takes it to fascinating places.
Before I dive in, I warn you that this is not a movie for everyone.
It’s very, very good, but what makes it so memorable and fascinating is that it tells its story in such a fascinating and unique way. What might seem like a gimmick initially, becomes an amazing storytelling technique.
THE CHILDREN UNDER THE HOUSE is presented as a series of interviews that are found on VHS tapes. The interviews are between a doctor, and patient, the patient being a young girl who is non-verbal and claims to have invisible friends. These friends are children who live under the house her family has just moved into, and which all appear, from her drawings, to have died violently. Over the course of the film we learn about those children, about Jess, the girl who sees them, and realize along with the therapist that these are not imaginary friends at all.
The film is told entirely through audio interviews – all one-sided, as we only hear from the therapist – drawings, and handwritten recollections of therapy sessions. It’s a jarring style that works wonders. With the story unfolding in this way it engages your imagination more, and the images you do see are chilling. We see the “children” only through the Tess’ drawings, and they are child’s drawings, but because of that are much, much more horrifying. Imagining what these ghost children, bisected, decomposed, and transformed into hideous creatures, is something that wouldn’t be possible on a low budget so, going this route, you get a feel for what Tess is seeing.
Yikes!
This is a movie you will easy “get” or not, but I loved it. The biggest knock on it is that the lone voice, the actress, doesn’t add any inflection into anything we hear, and there are times when there needed to be emotion. It doesn’t derail the film, but it does kill some of the vibe.
Wow.
I am really shocked at how much the film has stuck with me, and is still rattle around in my head. It’s a simple premise, but it goes to show just how, with a captivating story, you don’t need a big budget to make a good, scary film.
If you are looking for something different, unique, and really creepy, check this one out on Tubi.
3.5 out of 5
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 