Blu-ray Review: THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (2009)

Almost twenty years after the well of ‘Satanic Panic’ dried up in Hollywood, indie filmmaker Ti West allowed horror fans to whet their whistle with a throwback to eviler times with The House of the Devil – available now on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.

When a cash-strapped colleague student, Samantha, answers a vague advert for a babysitting job, a night of seemingly easy money becomes a waking nightmare as a sinister plot slowly reveals itself.

Many genre titles that attempt the throwback approach to more classic times, often come across as simple gimmicks. While some filmmakers generally aim for surface aesthetics and a few old tunes, West knew the right ingredients to establish a more authentic experience. You could be forgiven for assuming The House of the Devil was a lost feature, discovered and released for modern audiences. Camera zooms, an autumn colour pallet, and the anachronistic use of mundane objects create a hybrid time, perfectly combining the late 70s and early 80s. The atmosphere is finely tuned with the film’s central location of a remote Edwardian mansion, and while it feels very familiar and un-original as Sam explores each floor and various rooms, it’s still a refreshing experience.

Joceline Donahue appears as our sweet and likable protagonist, who, true to her horror archetype manages to gain sympathy despite ignoring just about every red flag. Samantha has a chill vibe and relatable quality due to her financial situation, while her best friend, the more outgoing Megan, played by Greta Gerwig, is slightly obnoxious despite being the voice of reason as the finer details of Sam’s one-night gig are screaming, “run!”

Tom Noonan as Sam’s employer, Mr Ulman, is uncomfortably odd yet pleasant. I personally wouldn’t babysit for him, but I’d gladly mow his lawns and pretend not to notice any pentagrams. His creepier half, Mrs Ulman is played by the legendary prolific character actress Mary Woronov, whose intentions aren’t exactly subtle upon first meeting her.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Audio commentary Ti West, Larry Fessenden, Peter Phox, Graham Reznick
Audio commentary Ti West and Jocelin Donahue
NEW! Video Essay with writer and critic Heather Drain
In The House of the Devil featurette
Behind the House of the Devil
Deleted scenes
House of the Devil’ 1896 Georges Méliès short film
Trailer

Most of the special features on this disc come ported from the U.S. 2010 Blu-ray release, but given the film’s lack of (recent) availability in Australia, this isn’t a bad thing. Critic Heather Drain hosts an all-new video essay, providing easy listening thanks to her laidback demeanour. Covering a wide array of topics relevant to the 1980s and House of the Devil, Drain helps add cultural context for much of director Ti West’s creative choices. Those wanting to hear from those who worked on the film first-hand will especially enjoy the first commentary with West and producers Larry Fessenden and Peter Phonx which is light-hearted, fun, and worth sitting through House of the Devil a second time for.

VIDEO AND AUDIO

Umbrella has sourced the original HD master from both their Collector’s and Standard editions and despite the film being 15 years old, the transfer holds up reasonably well. However, I feel the 1.77:1 image becomes a little too dark for its own good during certain sequences, which does reveal some posterization.

Optional 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks are available. I opted for Stereo during my viewing as it offered loud dialogue, and I felt it was more suitable given the film’s retro style. Nevertheless, the surround alternative fills the rooms with audible vibes. English subtitles are included.

The House of the Devil may be dwelling in the shadow of West’s “X” film series, but I think it’s easily among his best films and a perfect homage to a popular sub-genre that fans can easily click with.

Collector’s and Standard editions are available to purchase online at Umbrella Entertainment

THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL
(2009, director: Ti West)