Hello there fellow debauched devotees, it’s Thakgore and today I bring you a review of the new demonic gore-fest, “From a House on Willow Street”. I don’t normally dig on possession movies but this one brought a few twists to the sub-genre I found quite refreshing. What dark depravities does it contain? Let’s find out as we delve into the darkness emanating….
Following up 2014’s underrated “Indigenous”, director Alastair Orr steps into the infernal to bring us a glimpse of pure evil. Starring “You’re Next” badass Sharni Vinson, Carlyn Burchell, Gustav Gerdener, Zino Ventura and Steven John Ward, “From a House on Willow Street” is another “in over their heads” horror tale. The plot involves a group of criminals who intend to kidnap the daughter of a wealthy man for ransom. They meticulously plan for every contingency EXCEPT for a victim that is demonically possessed. Naturally. What follows is a taut and visceral ninety minutes that almost never drags and will keep you on your toes.
For starters, the movie looks pretty damn good. It may lean a little too heavy into the “industrial” color-scheme with a lot of browns and yellows but there are some inspired choices made throughout when it comes to color. One example is the mask that the lead kidnapper, Hazel (Vinson), uses to disguise herself. The deep red of the cloth brings out her eyes marvelously and helped with the intensity of Vinson’s performance. I also enjoyed the visual and makeup effects. While some of the cgi is questionable, most notably fire (something that seems to be a challenge in many contemporary offerings), the practical effects are outstanding and more than make up for any glitches in the visual department.
The performances were also surprisingly strong across the board. With much of the plot revolving around personal tragedy and the effect it has on the psyche, the film needed everyone involved to be able to convey the kind of tragic pain and regret that comes in the wake of great loss. Nearly everyone pulled this off in spades. Much of the focus is, of course, given to Vinson and Burchell’s characters but enough time is spent on the rest of the cast so that when those moments come along where you are supposed to feel sorry for them you honestly feel it. Not an easy feat to be sure. The only performance I personally found wanting was that of newcomer Zino Ventura. There is a pivotal scene at the end of the film where he is asked to give what is supposed to be a tortured performance and, unfortunately, he was not up to the task. A small nit-pick, but one that I would be remiss not to mention.
The plot, however, is another story. It is the film’s only real weakness. Criminals in over their heads isn’t exactly new territory to explore and neither is demonic possession. Combining the two may feel like a novel concept, at first, but much of the film plays out more like a ghost movie than a demon movie. The characters are haunted by visions of past mistakes and there is abundance of “boo” moments where “ghosts” pop up to scare the characters and audience. I can understand the necessity of a few of these moments but the sheer amount used here borders on egregious. I would have preferred more time be spent on mood. The explanation for the possession is also rather trite and I found myself rolling my eyes at it. I will say that when this movie gets intense it does so expertly. Alastair Orr exhibited a talent for this with “Indigenous” and continues to showcase it here. While it might not be terribly original the weakness of the plot didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the film. It just never tried to be anything more than derivative.
In conclusion I have to say that I had a good time with “From a House on Willow Street”. Even with an unoriginal plot the cinematography, acting and effects all combine to make this one of the “must see” horror movies of 2017. Sharni Vinson gives another outstanding, badass performance further cementing her as a horror “it” girl and director Alastair Orr adds a huge notch to his genre belt. Check this one out as soon as you can because I think you’ll have a great time. 4 out of 5
“From a House on Willow Street” is currently available on VOD and through Amazon Video.
