Sometimes It’s Best for an Actor to Stick to the Genre They Do Best

Read Time:2 Minute, 16 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
House of Darkness
–

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Mystery
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 29m
Director(s): Neil LaBute
Writer(s): Neil LaBute
Cast: Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Gia Crovatin, Lucy Walters
Where To Watch: In select theaters, September 9 on demand and digital 13, 2022

What do you get when you combine Justin Long (ACCEPTED, GALAXY QUEST) and the horror genre? I’m not sure; the film ended up being just under an hour and a half but felt far longer. Justin Long has been in horror before, including JEEPERS CREEPERS, but something about the slow burn here didn’t suit his style. There were some comedic elements to the film, but generally, those felt more subdued than expected. The film sometimes battled as somewhat of gothic horror or a horror comedy.

In asking the director why they’d make a film like this and why they’d make it now. The simple response was, “fairy tales are always useful; they are always ‘in’ and, since childhood, have taught most of us some of the biggest lessons that we’ve learned in life.” I was stunned when I read the director’s notes because I knew parts of it felt familiar while watching the film, but I couldn’t place exactly why. Parts of the film were loosely based on Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, resulting in a familiar yet very different experience.

While I enjoyed certain aspects of the film, it didn’t have the cohesive element I was hoping for. I believe that could’ve made for a much more intriguing story had the focus been on one of the many offshoots that the movie kept going on. Gothic horror seems to be making a resurgence as of late, and I’m super excited for it, especially with examples like this and THE INVITATION. Unfortunately, neither nailed the genre and instead managed to skirt around them.

I enjoy Justin Long as a comedian, but I don’t think serious roles are his cup of tea. If anything, I found his straight-faced acting to be somewhat distracting. A horror comedy would’ve suited him far better. That being said, the rest of the cast had stellar performances and nailed their roles. It just shows that it’s not always the actor you know that will give you the best experience.

For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews

Follow me on Instagram, Letterboxd, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.