"The Night House" is a clever drama hiding under the mask of a horror film about a mysterious house and mystical secrets of the past.

On September 9, a new horror film "The Night House" starring Stacy Martin, Rebecca Hall and Sarah Goldberg was released. The director is David Bruckner. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.

Horrifying Secrets of the Past

According to the plot of "The Night House," after the sudden death of her husband, Beth clearly feels his presence in the house. Strange rustles and shadows disappear with the morning light. Trying to understand what is happening, Beth begins to study the belongings of her deceased spouse Owen. All her searches lead to her husband's terrible secret.

Two main narrative directions can be distinguished: the mystical relationship of the main character with otherworldly evil forces and the theme of losing a loved one.

In the first minutes of the film, the viewer does not understand exactly how Beth's husband died. The narrative begins a few days after the tragedy, when the pain and horror of loss give way to awareness and acceptance. Beth cannot sleep alone, drinks Owen's favorite drink, rereads the suicide note over and over, is rude at work, and at the same time tries to immerse herself in her "investigation." We also see her fellow teachers who try to support her and help in some way.

This is where you should pay attention to the acting of Rebecca Hall. She managed to convey the full range of emotions that can overwhelm a person in such a situation. Beneath the anger and obsession lie resentment and misunderstanding of what happened. It is also worth noting that Owen's voice is never heard. Often, after losing a loved one, you can remember what the person looks like, but not always the voice. This is how the creators of "The Night House" show aspects of grief.

All mystical events occur due to the distortion of time and the creation of doppelgangers. Beth periodically falls out of life, losing track of time. Encounters with the world of the dead occur exclusively at night. Mirrors also play one of the most important "roles." It is through reflection that one can see the truth itself.

Most often in cinema, "doppelgangers" are shown as negative characters. For example, in the film "Us" by Jordan Peele or "The Double" by Richard Ayoade. In this film, David Bruckner uses the theme of doppelgangers as an opportunity to show Beth what she did not notice in all 14 years of marriage. After all, sometimes when people live together for so long, they really do not see much.

"The Night House" — Horror or Drama?

For horror fans, there are a few moments that might make you jump. Mostly, the film gives you the opportunity to reflect on questions of life and death, the foundation of relationships between us. The premise of the film is simple: a girl is left alone, and strange things start happening in the house. Then events begin to connect one to another like links in a chain. The lock clicks shut in the finale, and the plot comes full circle, providing answers to all questions.

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