Housebound

XLrator Media | Release Date: October 17, 2014

Summary: Kylie Bucknell is forced to return to the house she grew up in when the court places her on home detention. Her punishment is made all the more unbearable by the fact she has to live there with her mother Miriam – a well-intentioned blabbermouth who's convinced that the house is haunted. Kylie dismisses Miriam's superstitions as nothing Kylie Bucknell is forced to return to the house she grew up in when the court places her on home detention. Her punishment is made all the more unbearable by the fact she has to live there with her mother Miriam – a well-intentioned blabbermouth who's convinced that the house is haunted. Kylie dismisses Miriam's superstitions as nothing more than a distraction from a life occupied by boiled vegetables & small-town gossip. However, when she too becomes privy to unsettling whispers & strange bumps in the night, she begins to wonder whether she's inherited her overactive imagination, or if the house is in fact possessed by a hostile spirit who's not particularly thrilled about her return. [XLrator Media] … Expand

Genre(s): Thriller. Horror. Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 107 min

Horror-comedies often leave me disappointed. They usually try too hard to juggle both aspects and as a result don't really succeed with either, giving viewers an overall mixed affair. They are rarely capable of pulling off what they set out to do (making us laugh while also scaring us). That isn't the case with Housebound. What we get is a wildly funny affair with a few creepy moments to be found. While it definitely is more of a comedy it still Horror-comedies often leave me disappointed. They usually try too hard to juggle both aspects and as a result don't really succeed with either, giving viewers an overall mixed affair. They are rarely capable of pulling off what they set out to do (making us laugh while also scaring us). That isn't the case with Housebound. What we get is a wildly funny affair with a few creepy moments to be found. While it definitely is more of a comedy it still manages to feel like it's apart of the horror genre.

It a classic haunted house affair with a few knowing winks. It starts off with the same dark basements and having things go bump in the night. It manages to avoid the "been there, done that" monotony with some goofy moments and some genuinely unnerving ones. A particular scene involving a robotic bear is both horrifying and hilarious.

The movie quickly changes up the pace into a murder mystery story before becoming a goofy slasher film. The best part is that it only manages to get funnier the longer it progresses. It does so without coming across as a spoof which is appreciated. However the funnier it gets the less scary it gets. This is both a good and a bad thing. The good thing is that it allows for the movie to focus on what it wants to be at the time without being burdened down by stubbornly clinging to it's horror elements that would have felt out of place. The bad thing is that it does lose the horror element. Those looking for scares should check elsewhere.

I particularly enjoy the dysfunctional family drama aspect at the heart of it all. Lead actress Morgana O'Reilly is fantastic. Her interactions with the rest of the cast are a treat, delivering a sense of hilarity and antisocial interactions that bring the dialog to life. Watching her character's personality clash with the rest is a real treat.

Housebound is a rare gift for the horror-comedy genre. One that uses the horror setting to bolster the laughs as opposed to drag the experience down, as all too prevalent with these types of movies. While the actual horror is lacking, there are enough creepy moments to make it worth a watch for horror fans even if they are mostly used to set up a punchline. It's nice enough to give us some creeps along with the laughs. The plot might lose some focus as it begins to evolve, but the enjoyment factor never does. … Expand

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One of the most entertaining movies I've seen in a while, and quite unique in its approach: act one is a horror, act two a murder mystery, and act three a comedy; each act just as effective as the others.

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Seemingly ordinary but deceptively quirky, Housebound is the farthest thing from haunted house cliché. The movie shifts between horror and comedy so easily, it's as if Psycho and Home Alone happening at the same time at the same house. Characters are occasionally annoying, although they react with such ludicrous manner, it's almost a representation of real reaction. These are not clean cut personalities of usual on-screen haunting victims, at first Seemingly ordinary but deceptively quirky, Housebound is the farthest thing from haunted house cliché. The movie shifts between horror and comedy so easily, it's as if Psycho and Home Alone happening at the same time at the same house. Characters are occasionally annoying, although they react with such ludicrous manner, it's almost a representation of real reaction. These are not clean cut personalities of usual on-screen haunting victims, at first they might not be likeable, but in the end one can't help but to laugh at them or cheer for their potential survival.

Story revolves around Kylie Bucknell (Morgana O'Reilly) after she botches a robbery attempt, thus sentenced for house arrest. Her family is not a normal one, it's quite dysfunctional actually. As her stress level rises, she begins to find odd things happening in her old house. The development strays from the norm so much, it's refreshing to see a sort of movie as parody of itself yet still able to be taken seriously. Kylie is the type of troubled girl who's rebellious with golden heart buried very deep inside, and she makes all the wrong laughable decision.

Most of the funny part comes from her mistakes and how Amos (Glen-Paul Waru), a sympathetic tech support and occult enthusiast who is willing to help her and her family. The movie moves with certainty, it may seem awkward and out of place, but everything has purpose, either it to set the tension or simply entertain. Character are jovially natural with occasionally profanity or excessive gossip lash, it's not hard to imagine that this family could be just that strange family in the corner of one neighborhood.

When it sets to chill, it delivers so fascinatingly well. Some of the scares are predictable, but they are effective regardless thanks to the smart direction. Screenplay is superb, from disturbing nightmarish tales, down to silly self-mocking jokes and slapstick gore. It will give audience ample of surprises and delights. Its polar opposite terror and hilarity help each other, some aspect of the horror makes the comedy much more appreciable. Furthermore, with a few brilliant twists and their ingenuous nature, the characters will be more relatable as audience gets to know them.

Housebound is the perfect example of 'Don't judge a book from its cover' old saying. It is a blast, it's exciting in every laughs and gasps. This is one of the most fun I've had watching a movie. … Expand

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Under house arrest in a haunted house!

Absolutely a kick-ass horror-comedy from the Kiwi. In a horror, usually we expect too much, particularly we calculate them according to how much it scares us. That's a tough job for the filmmaker, but when the comedy tag was attached to it which makes even tougher. In this kind of theme, very rarely people say they're satisfied enough and this is one of those. Yep, a surprise film written and directed by a Under house arrest in a haunted house!

Absolutely a kick-ass horror-comedy from the Kiwi. In a horror, usually we expect too much, particularly we calculate them according to how much it scares us. That's a tough job for the filmmaker, but when the comedy tag was attached to it which makes even tougher. In this kind of theme, very rarely people say they're satisfied enough and this is one of those. Yep, a surprise film written and directed by a newcomer. Since it is a New Zealand film, I don't anybody from it, but they all were excellent. Particularly the lead woman was unbelievably good, totally loved her, kind of reminds Nia Vardalos of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' fame and her expressions too matches for in this film.

The story was familiar, even some part of it can be compared to the recent film 'The Boy'. Likewise, other pieces from different films, but I did not care, because it still looked fresh of its own. The way it was developed contributed to the film's success and those suspense lived up to the hype that were made in the early stage of narration. The woman who won't get scared easily, finally meets her ultimate fear after returning to her mother's house where she grew up. But only to discover the house is haunted, followed by mysterious events and the final confrontation between her and whoever on the opposite.

Great setting with the awesome performances, and always keeps us on the edge. But the laughs were delivered in the form of black comedy. The twists and turns make the film to flip to the opposite side after reaching at one point of the narration leaving the viewers to judge how strongly it linked to its genre. But I don't think most of them care about that since they're already entertained and only going to witness the final thrilling conclusion. I hope there won't be any follow up, because this one-off film was one of the best from the down under, so I don't want it to be ruined, like they do in the Hollywood. Recommended, you will enjoy it even your rating does not meet what I've given.

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