Review of Housebound (2014) by Thequietgamer — 20 Oct 2015

Horror-comedies often leave me disappointed. They usually try too hard to juggle both aspects and as a result don't really succeed with either, giving viewers an overall mixed affair. They are rarely capable of pulling off what they set out to do (making us laugh while also scaring us). That isn't the case with Housebound. What we get is a wildly funny affair with a few creepy moments to be found. While it definitely is more of a comedy it still manages to feel like it's apart of the horror genre.

It a classic haunted house affair with a few knowing winks. It starts off with the same dark basements and having things go bump in the night. It manages to avoid the "been there, done that" monotony with some goofy moments and some genuinely unnerving ones. A particular scene involving a robotic bear is both horrifying and hilarious.

The movie quickly changes up the pace into a murder mystery story before becoming a goofy slasher film. The best part is that it only manages to get funnier the longer it progresses. It does so without coming across as a spoof which is appreciated. However the funnier it gets the less scary it gets. This is both a good and a bad thing. The good thing is that it allows for the movie to focus on what it wants to be at the time without being burdened down by stubbornly clinging to it's horror elements that would have felt out of place. The bad thing is that it does lose the horror element. Those looking for scares should check elsewhere.

I particularly enjoy the dysfunctional family drama aspect at the heart of it all. Lead actress Morgana O'Reilly is fantastic. Her interactions with the rest of the cast are a treat, delivering a sense of hilarity and antisocial interactions that bring the dialog to life. Watching her character's personality clash with the rest is a real treat.

Housebound is a rare gift for the horror-comedy genre. One that uses the horror setting to bolster the laughs as opposed to drag the experience down, as all too prevalent with these types of movies. While the actual horror is lacking, there are enough creepy moments to make it worth a watch for horror fans even if they are mostly used to set up a punchline. It's nice enough to give us some creeps along with the laughs. The plot might lose some focus as it begins to evolve, but the enjoyment factor never does.