Review: From a House on Willow Street

(imdb.com)

Hot off the release of The Devil's Candy, IFC Midnight's latest release, From a House on Willow Street, is easily eclipsed. Simultaneously difficult to follow as it is difficult to care about the hodgepodge collection of bandits central to this film, From a House on Willow Street makes numerous valiant efforts to scare only to quickly fall apart at the hands of a disjointed plot and dialogue.

From a House on Willow Street tells the story of a group of captors who kidnap a young woman only to find out that she is possessed. It stars a host of actors spread thinly due to lackluster dialogue. Sharni Vinson (Step Up) plays the central captor, Hazel, who's troubled past is bumpily explained. Carlyn Burchell (Bomb Girls) plays the kidnap victim, Katherine, who is filled with darkness. Other captors include Zino Ventura (C.I.G.A.R.E.), Gutave Gerdener (Donkerland) and Steven John Ward (Angel of the Skies), but none of their roles really substantiate past confusing filler.

The actors all make the most of their roles, each giving a performance that in an adequate horror movie would be stellar. This is especially true for Vinson who's previous horror endeavor, You're Next, is proof of her horror chops. Burchell is also able to go somewhere with her role; providing enough scares and creepy moments to stand out. The other captors do equally sufficient, but the film is presumptuous in believing that their shallow character development warrants viewers’ attentions or sympathy. The movie seems determined to make audiences care that one character wants to be reunited with his daughter or that Vinson's character lost her family but will they? Probably not, because the movie does little legwork past some shouting moments or "big" revelations to bring viewers in.


The biggest problem for the film is its jutting storytelling that feels like pieced together short films. From a House on Willow Street does offer some scares and has plenty of suspenseful moments, but they don't mesh together into a cohesive storyline. There are plenty of jolts and viewers should be prepared to jump out of their seat, but little is done to make those scares build an atmosphere of dread or horror. There's gore and as noted, Burchell does some pretty terrific possession techniques that in any good horror movie, would be stand out moments, but nothing is ever done to drive it or the story home.


From a House on Willow Street is a confusing, uninteresting horror movie brought to a level of mediocrity by its actors and the jump scares it provides. For those looking for something so simple to watch, the lackluster nature of From a House on Willow Street may be overlooked, but for those looking to really get their fill. I'd suggest waiting for a better option. In fact, just rewatch The Devil's Candy because that one had game for days. 4 out of 10.