Bargain Haunting

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MOVIE REVIEW
eVil Sublet
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Genre: Horror, Comedy
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 45m
Director(s): Allan Piper
Writer(s): Allan Piper
Cast: Jennifer Leigh Houston, Sally Struthers, Charley Tucker, Pat Dwyer, Stephen Mosher, Leanne Borghesi, Helen Hong, Patrick Wang, Joshua Price
Where To Watch: will be released digitally on October 1, 2024

RAVING REVIEW: New York's East Village serves as the eerie setting for EVIL SUBLET, where an abnormally low rent lures a young couple into a narrative thick with ghosts and laughs. Director Allan Piper tells a tale that straddles the realms of horror and comedy, employing the supernatural to cast a sharp eye on social issues. This film repurposes the haunted apartment trope to dissect urban housing crises, infusing it with both humor and a chilling sense of reality.

EVIL SUBLET pivots around the experiences of Alex, played by Jennifer Leigh Houston, and Ben, portrayed by Charley Tucker, whose dream of affordable metropolitan living descends into a spooky nightmare. Their journey is set against a “too good to be true” apartment that Piper and Houston once called home, adding a layer of genuine spookiness to the setting. This choice of location does more than just serve the plot—it amplifies the film's commentary on the brutal truths of city dwellings, particularly the cutthroat real estate market.

The film stands out for its vibrant casting and commitment to diversity, notably featuring LGBTQIA2S+ actors in pivotal roles. This enriches the narrative, offering fresh perspectives and complex character portrayals, especially by actresses like Houston. Including a motley crew of characters, ranging from Alex’s ex-wife to paranormal experts, injects further vibrancy and a bit of the unexpected into the storyline, with Sally Struthers adding her quirky touch to the ensemble.

The authenticity of the haunting in EVIL SUBLET is bolstered by Piper’s eerie experiences, which he weaves into the film's fabric. Piper blurs the line between fiction and reality by incorporating “real-life” paranormal encounters, heightening the film's tension and drawing the audience deeper into its ghostly embrace.

Amidst its darker themes of societal inequities and exploitation, the film maintains a light-hearted tone, balancing its spectral scares with comedic style. This balance is achieved through the characters' lively interactions with their haunted home, which ensures the narrative remains engaging and relatable from start to finish.

On the visual front, EVIL SUBLET does not hold back. The film utilizes a wide-angle lens to distort the cramped spaces of the haunted apartment, enhancing the unsettling feel that pervades the film. High-contrast lighting is strategically employed to deepen the ominous shadows and highlight the spectral figures funded by the innovative crowdfunding campaign.

The innovative financing strategy of turning backers into on-screen ghosts encapsulates the film’s communal spirit and creative approach to filmmaking. This method helped bring the project to fruition and enhanced the spectral ambiance, making the horror more personal and immediate for its audience.

Now, this is an indie film; even with the inclusion of well-known names, it struggles with dialogue and feels like a low-budget film (because it is.) In a way, this is a charming addition, making it feel more documentary-like than the feature horror/comedy it is.

In conclusion, EVIL SUBLET emerges as a noteworthy and innovative addition to the horror-comedy genre. It adeptly combines frights with laughs and incisive societal commentary, bolstered by solid performances from Houston and Struthers and Piper’s insightful direction. The film offers an engaging cinematic experience that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, appealing to horror enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.

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[photo courtesy of SPEAKEASY PRODUCTIONS, LION HEART DISTRIBUTION]

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