The best horror stories are considered to be the ones that take us out of our comfort zone and make us confront the more disturbing truths of life, especially within the world of movies. Whether it’s the personal anxieties that many of us face in our daily lives or the uniquely frightening situations that a rare few find themselves in, acclaimed films like “Get Out” and “Hereditary” have been praised for their willingness to explore the darkest corners of the human condition.
British writer-director Remi Weekes’ (“Fright Bites”) newest film “His House” is one such story and a well-made one at that, using the haunted house genre to give an unflinching look at the immigrant experience. Leads Sope Dirisu (“Gangs of London”) and Wunmi Mosaku (“Lovecraft Country”) play as Bol and Rial Majur, a refugee couple from South Sudan who are finally granted probational asylum and find themselves living in an apartment in a neglected housing project in the outskirts of London. As they attempt to fit in and start new lives, the couple is confronted with visions of their deceased daughter and a malevolent figure that brings their troubled pasts to light.
The film is relentless in its horror, balancing surrealistically unnerving imagery and expertly crafted supernatural scares with moments of harsh reality in the form of bigoted locals and cultural displacement. It manages to subvert viewer expectations while maintaining the techniques of old-school horror as its story dives into many relevant, mature themes like survivor’s guilt, racism and trauma. The story does not hold back in its portrayal of the struggles that immigrants face, with Bol and Rial feeling unsafe even when away from their haunted new home, which they cannot even move from in risk of getting sent back to South Sudan, giving the film a very claustrophobic feel.
Beyond the horror, the drama aspects of the story are just as strong. The characters are complex and understandable, with their movements and demeanors given all kinds of little subtleties that create a powerful sense of realism to their personalities. It handles its themes very well and explores them with the tact and respect they deserve. The camerawork and set design give the film’s setting a gritty feel that perfectly matches the story’s tone.
The cast is very small, but everyone plays their part wonderfully. Dirisu and Mosaku both give masterful performances as the main characters as we see their relationship stretched to the breaking point, with both bringing unique qualities to their roles. Dirisu brings a selfish yet tragic desperation to Bol in his attempt for a new start while Mosaku gives Rial a weary stoicism that informs everything about her. Both inject their respective roles with genuine emotion and disorientation that raises the movie above its peers. Matt Smith (“Official Secrets”) has a small part as the couple’s uneasy but empathetic caseworker. Javier Botet (“It Chapter Two”) and Cornell John (“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”) both excel in roles that cannot be spoiled here.
For this being his first movie so far, Weekes has delivered a powerhouse of a film that most directors would be proud to have as a feature debut. “His House” is a refreshing standout of the haunted house genre as well as a must-see for any horror fan and average moviegoer.
Image from Netflix via YouTube
