House of Darkness (2022)

First off, DO NOT watch the trailer unless you want everything ruined. Seriously, who thought to release that?On to the film – We open with playboy Justin Long returning to the large, isolated home of a beautiful but odd woman (Kate Bosworth). As the two dance around what each other is after, we learn they may not be alone in the house…Basically, this is a slow burn thriller with a twist at the end. Director Neil Labute (of Wickerman remake infamy) must have watched a lot of Ti Wests films such as House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, because this film fits right alongside those in terms of style. If you don’t have the patience for a very, very, very slow-moving film, you will not enjoy House of Darkness.If, on the other hand, you did enjoy the aforementioned films, this film will have you captivated. The dialogue is great, our three main players are all excellent, and you’ll be waiting to see what happens next.But, is the payoff worth the wait? Without ruining the film, as I think it will be far more enjoyable not knowing where it will lead, I would say the answer is a slight yes. They obviously had a very small budget, which hinders giving perhaps a bigger oomph of an ending. What we get is good, but had they a bit more to work with, the film may resonate more.