Review of The Open House (2018) by Derek G — 22 Jan 2018

Was this made by a film student? Checking on IMDB shows an estimated budget of $100,000 but that doesn't mean the story has to suck!

What this film gets right is completely negated by what it gets wrong: unanswered questions. The classic suspense build-ups are there: creaking doors, turn-around surprises, and questionable characters. I admit, I really liked the slow tension ascension - I couldn't tell if it was ghosts, or a maniac killer, or just in the mind of the main character(s). But then they pour on more slow walking to scary area gimmicks and you just want to get past it, thinking: Okay, okay....I get it!

Then, in the last 2 minutes of the movie, we find out nothing. This is one of the absolute worst things you can to your audience: leave 'em hanging with no hint of resolution. This is why they suggest in film school to tell your story orally over and over again to people. If someone told me this story the way it was reflected on screen, I would say, "You got quite a turd on your hands there, wtf happens?! Go back and think it over, there is potential there.".

This movie will leave you frustrated and I wouldn't recommend it.