From the Father-Son duo that wrote the critically acclaimed book “Widow’s Point,” comes a new trip into terror. Richard and Billy Chizmar both write and helm this throwback haunted house, short film, that is set during the peak of the satanic panic era. As technology and dark lore met in the 1970s and 1980s, books, films, and television, exploded with tales of dark legends that cloaked the country. Ed and Lorraine Warren became household names, homes such as the Amityville house became stapled into American psyche, and bible thumpers gathered cult like masses in attempt to thwart the devil from invading the youth of the nation. “Murder House” is a new take on an old tale that will lead the audience back to a time where dark lore still whispered in the shadows of homes with horrific history.
Jane (Tatiana Harman) is ready to cash in on the booming market of haunted house lore, by making and selling a first-person video diary of a home with a recent dark past. The house on Hanson road, located in Edgewood, Maryland, was the scene of a brutal murder suicide five years prior. After two more families quickly fled the dark abode shortly after purchase, the home has set abandoned with only a creepy caretaker keeping a distant watch on the grounds. As Jane, and her partner Rick (Joseph Yates,) explore the dark history of the house, an all too real sinister atmosphere begins to close in on the doomed duo. The two journalists must wrap up the shoot before becoming permanent residents in the Murder House.
If “The Amityville Horror” and “Paranormal Activity” had a baby film, “Murder House” would be that creepy child. Coming from the pen of a multiple New York Times Best Seller, it was no surprise to be engrossed by the masterfully crafted dialogue, which is perfectly delivered by Harman. The plot plays as a simplistic story that leads the viewer into a den of darkness. “Murder House” gives the appearance of big budget quality on an indie budget. The directors, along with the team at Sympatico productions, litter the film with creative angles and dark hues that add to the haunting atmosphere. The only problem with “Murder House” is that of its format. Being a short film, the quick tale leaves the viewer begging for more. Director Ti West brought back satanic based films with the masterful, “The House of the Devil.” Leaving the horror nation craving more tales of dark legends that reside behind the doors of our neighbors. With the upcoming release of, “The Long Night,” a film with a plot similar to these evil home homages, the time may be perfect for a present-day full-length feature return to the Murder House.
(Murder House can be purchased at www.cemeterydance.com)
Scream Score: 8.6/10