There are horror films and there are HORRIFIC films. The difference, to me anyway, is that one portrays an undead-unstoppable killer that is chasing you around. The other, is a normal everyday looking guy, that’s really a crazy fucker, chasing you around, trying to kill you with no remorse or empathy.

IN THE HOUSE OF FLIES is a horrific film.

The story is simple enough, Steven and Heather are a couple on the verge of marriage. During their vacation they are gassed and wake up in a locked cinderblock cell. Not knowing how or why they are there, as the days go on their only hope of survival lies within 4 locked briefcases, a rotary phone, and a shit bucket.

Sure this is a film about a couple of people captured, but it’s not what you are thinking. There is no crazy guy strapping them to a chair and torturing them. This is a slow burn film and as every moment passes by, you feel the noose tightening around your neck, building anxiety, and feeling uncomfort I haven’t felt watching a film before. The Director, Gabriel Carrer, forces you to experience the torment and pain of this couple first hand. This is like no movie I have ever seen. After the film was over, I was going over some of these scenarios that our couple goes through, thinking how I would react or what I would do. I was doing this for HOURS after finishing the film. Would I bring myself to eat rats, kill myself to let the one I love go, punch the one I love for some food if starving, or kill the one I loved to go free. These are all tough questions that are played beautifully in this film. Carrer is forcing you to answer these questions as they are asked of the characters. There is no way to watch this film and NOT answer these questions in your mind.

It’s very hard to pull of a character piece, especially in this type of Genre. Angus McLellan’s story is clean, in the dirtiest of ways. It’s very hard to watch what these characters go through at every level. Not only is this a solid story, but the cast also has a big part in pulling such a film off. Lindsay Smith and Ryan Kotack are superb as Heather and Steven. The pain, the hope, the dread, the exhaustion, the frustration, the anger, and even the relief is done perfect. There is not an emotion that both of these characters don’t go through, and Smith and Kotack pull off every one of them.

The psycho in the film is never actually seen, which is even crazier that these guys pulled this film off. You only really hear the killer over the phone. He doesn’t have some strange creepy voice, he doesn’t even yell, he sounds like your neighbor. Well if your neighbor was Henry Rollins (how cool would that be). Rollins plays the capturer on the other end of the phone, orchestrating this subtle but murderous game.

If you are a horror fan looking for a killer wearing an apron, with a disfigured face to torture some kids, this is not going to be your type of film. If you want to feel some emotions that I hope you will never have to feel again, this is going to be a fun film. It’s actually hard to watch. I loved the film, but honestly the real fun came after watching it as I contemplated being in this same particular scenario and what my actions would be. You may find out you aren’t the unselfish, loving person you thought you were.

 

IN THE HOUSE OF FLIES 2014 Review: An Emotionally Draining Film, It’s Awesome!