Architect Ben Williams (a solid performance by Gerald Webb) and his fed-up alcoholic wife Linda (sharply played by Diahna Nicole Baxter) move their dysfunctional family into a new house that turns out to be haunted. The bickering Williams clan must band together as a strong unit in order to stave off this formidable supernatural threat.
Director Christopher Ray, working from a compact script by Victoria Dadi, Jon Klondelik, and James Klondelik, relates the engrossing story at a brisk pace, ably crafts a spooky atmosphere, makes fine use of the funky and sprawling titular abode location, and puts a welcome and refreshing emphasis on eerie mood over excessive graphic gore and cheap jump scares. Moreover, it's nice to see a horror film with well-drawn black main characters that's done in a completely straight and serious manner instead of played for crude laughs (with the notable exception of a witty spin on that classic Eddie Murphy joke about how black people would automatically leave if they discovered that their house was haunted). The sound acting from the capable cast keeps this movie on track: Aurora Perrineau as the sassy Ashley, Melvin Gregg as the brash Alex, Bill Cobbs as sinister real estate agent Paul, Eddie Steeples as helpful voodoo priest Lucas St. Michelle, and Richard Grieco as a creepy ghost. The surprise grim ending packs a startling punch. Both Alexander Yellen's slick cinematography and Knappy's shivery score are up to par. An on the money fright film.
Director Christopher Ray, working from a compact script by Victoria Dadi, Jon Klondelik, and James Klondelik, relates the engrossing story at a brisk pace, ably crafts a spooky atmosphere, makes fine use of the funky and sprawling titular abode location, and puts a welcome and refreshing emphasis on eerie mood over excessive graphic gore and cheap jump scares. Moreover, it's nice to see a horror film with well-drawn black main characters that's done in a completely straight and serious manner instead of played for crude laughs (with the notable exception of a witty spin on that classic Eddie Murphy joke about how black people would automatically leave if they discovered that their house was haunted). The sound acting from the capable cast keeps this movie on track: Aurora Perrineau as the sassy Ashley, Melvin Gregg as the brash Alex, Bill Cobbs as sinister real estate agent Paul, Eddie Steeples as helpful voodoo priest Lucas St. Michelle, and Richard Grieco as a creepy ghost. The surprise grim ending packs a startling punch. Both Alexander Yellen's slick cinematography and Knappy's shivery score are up to par. An on the money fright film.