Review of Housebound (2000) by Eric A — 16 Dec 2014

Similar to other horror movies from New Zealand, Housebound is yet another successful horror-comedy entry in line with movies such as Braindead (1992) and What We Do in the Shadows (2014), from director and writer Gerard Johnstone's directorial debut. Now facing eight months of being confined to her home, Kylie has to not only put with her estranged parents, Graeme (Ross Harper) and Miriam (Rima Te Wiata), but also a spirit that seems to be intent on communicating with her for help, only Kylie doesn't care about helping it or anyone else.

Joining the likes of Sarah Snook as 2014's list of actresses to look out for in the future, Morgana O'Reilly plays the feisty Kylie who - plainly put - isn't going to take shit from anyone, living or dead, in Housebound. With a complete control over her bladder, Kylie is a fresh departure from regular horror female archetypal characters as she smokes, punches and smashes her way through the supernatural as her parents look on disapprovingly. Attempting to help Kylie and her somewhat eccentric parents, are the former's state-assigned shrink and counsellor, Dennis (Cameron Rhodes), and Amos (Glen-Paul Waru), Kylie's parole officer with an inclination towards the paranormal.

With its many genre clichés, like the backstory of a girl being brutally murdered and a haunted house, one would expect Housebound to be another predictable run-of-the-mill genre piece on par with the likes of Ouija (2014). However Johnstone's effort is one that sadistically plays with its clichés like a mutant would with its prey in a The Hills Have Eyes movie, rather than one that allows itself to marinate far too long in horror clichés, with Johnstone's direction and editing - particularly the latter - being one that bears a haunting resemblance to that of Edgar Wright's brilliant comedic filmmaking.