Awesome movie poster? Check. Halloween funhouse? Check. Sorority girls? Check. That was basically all it took for me to become interested in The Scarehouse, so I was excited when I received an online screener for review. Here are my thoughts.
The Scarehouse is written and directed by Gavin Michael Booth with Sarah Booth. Sarah also stars in this feature alongside Kimberly-Sue Murray (The Colony, “Being Human”), Katherine Barrell, Jennifer Miller, Teagan Vincze, Emily Alatalo, Dani Barker, Ivana Stojanovic, Brad Everett, Jack Ettlinger, Alex Harrouch (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”), and many more.
“When two friends open a Halloween fun house on Devil’s Night it is all fun and games until their former sorority sisters begin to arrive. These six sisters are confronted by their past as the night spins out of control.”
Starting things off, I just want to say that I think The Scarehouse is going to be monumental for one reason which spawns many others. The film features not one but two homicidal maniacs portrayed by women. Despite women in horror having their own month long celebration, the depiction of women serial killers are few and far between. The Scarehouse breaks the traditional horror film mold and keeps the new experiences going, too. This was the first time I’ve ever seen two female murderers working together on screen and this is one of the first times I’ve ever seen women carrying out horrible acts of torture since I Spit on Your Grave. Although the underlying plot has been beaten to death in horror films, the use of women as the antagonists has breathed new life into the idea and given it a new sense of originality.
When it comes to pointing a specific audience in the direction of The Scarehouse, it becomes a little fickle. I think there are a ton of different people who would get a kick out of this title: current sorority girls in the middle of pledge season, guys who want to see a horror film filled with equally talented and attractive women, fans of torture porn, anyone just looking for a new and exciting movie they haven’t seen before. If I had to pick a specific age range, I think men and women between the ages of 16 and 32 will thoroughly enjoy this movie. Its massive appeal to a wide range of demographics is bound to make it popular, especially around next year’s Halloween season. I’m glad to have gotten a chance to view it first, and yes, I fit in the middle of the demographics I just listed.
I know by this point I’ve mentioned sorority girls a couple times, and you may be thinking, “Oh, great. Another horror flick filled with dumb, slutty college girls.” Well, I guarantee you that is not the case with The Scarehouse. Sure, all the characters are flirty, rambunctious, and slick tongued, but who isn’t on a night out to party night? More-so, when the secrets start coming out and the layers of cattiness are peeled away (some by force…) you start to find someone who is either lost or afraid. It makes them all endearing in some sort of way. Having been to a university and having handfuls of friends in Greek life, I know that the pranks that happen between sororities and fraternities are all done in fun, with no malicious intent involved…most times. However, each girl lied and basically ruined the lives of the two killers, so, they’re getting their karma back. Favorite characters, hands down, were Lisa (played by Jennifer Miller) and Katrina (played by Emily Alatalo).
The Scarehouse is just a really great movie. The action-suspense starts right from the very beginning and keeps going until the very end. All of the gore effects were great, and this is also the first time I’ve seen someone have their eye lids torn off with a pair of pliers. All of the actresses and actors gave great performances. This was my first taste of a product from Gavin Michael Booth and I’m very impressed with him so far. I hope to see more of him in the future. The Scarehouse is the perfect horror revenge-thriller; a step in the right direction for women in horror; and the last place you’d want to be, but the most fun you’ll have watching a movie at night. I’m going to rate it an 8 out of 10.
