I had been terrified to watch this film for the longest time. I had heard it was one of the scariest movies ever to be made, and it was based on a true story. Once I got the figurative balls to watch it, I was left a little underwhelmed. The story centers on the Lutz family, who move into a large house on the coast. Even after being warned by the realtor that the house had a horrific history (a father murdered his entire family in it), they proceed with the purchase. Wrong decision, because the house definitely doesn’t want them living in it.
The acting was solid, and I thought James Brolin was fantastic as George Lutz. The child actors were meh, and some of the supporting cast felt hammy, but it didn’t detract from my experience. The effects were well-done, and the film is quite pretty, visually.
What disappointed me about this film was the fact that it wasn’t very scary. Not much happens, and when it does, it admittedly packs a punch. Nothing about this movie terrified me in any way, though. I did think the ending was smart (in a logical way).
Verdict: 3.5/5
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