The Open House (2018)

Mom and Son have to move into a new home after a tragedy but the twist is that it's their aunt's home and they're trying to sell it. So every weekend there's an open house for people to come in, but did they come out?

The Open House is directed and written by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote. This is both of their's really first time trying a major movie. Major enough for Netflix to put their name on the title. I watched this with my niece and she loved the first half. I've seen enough horror movies to kinda guess where this one was headed. She was surprised. I suppose that's good writing, but only for a niche crowd.

Dylan Minnette acted as if someone told him, just be a teenager like you were in 13 Reasons Why and Don't Breath. He pauses before he speaks, he consistently has furrowed brows and pursed lips. Don't get me wrong he's a talented actor. He's just pigeonholing himself. I know he has the drive to show range.

Piercey Dalton doesn't sell being a mother, especially a mother who has befallen tragedy. Her lines were delivered with odd rollercoaster emotions and it's weird when the teenager can act better than the mom. She hasn't really been in much and with this performance, I bet she'll continue to go down that path.

There are movies that people try to make thinking "I'm gonna make a movie where no one can guess the ending" and it comes off as insulting and not original at all. The film is one big let down and the jump scares at almost always false ones which most horror fanatics hate. There is only one glimmer of appreciation in the film an that Dylan Minnette.

Result: D+ (One big let down in writing, acting, and delivery. It's not direct to DVD horrible though)

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