Bluray Brings the Fright in THE NIGHT HOUSE

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and DVD from director David Bruckner and Searchlight Pictures comes the story of grief and mystery in THE NIGHT HOUSE.

Beth (Rebecca Hall) is a young woman dealing with the death of her husband Owen (Evan Jonigkeit). Keeping an eye on her is neighbor Mel (Vondie Curtis-Hall) and friend Claire (Sarah Goldberg) as they see she is not doing well.

Drinking a bit heavy, Beth starts to notice bizarre sounds and happenings around the house Owen built for them. On his cell phone she notices a photograph but is not sure if it is a picture of her and begins to question things Owen may be have been doing. As she starts packing up his books and clothes, she finds odd books about the occult.

She also notices something odd on the other side of the lake only to discover that there is more to Owen’s life than she knew. That’s when message begin to appear and a voice that clearly reaches out to her.

Now she must decide what is real and what is due to the pain of losing her love.

Hall as Beth is dealing with her husbands’ death her own way which includes alcohol and an attitude. Not sure what she wants to do from day to day, it is those moments of loneliness that what is in the house reaches out to her. Hall is awesome when she is at her most sarcastic and even better when she tackles what you can not see in front of her.

Curtis-Hall as neighbor Mel just wants to look out for Beth in any way he can. That’s difficult to do at times as Beth is becoming darker as the days go by. It is fantastic to see Curtis-Hall on the screen again. Goldberg as friend Claire tries to get Beth out of the house but as her friend tells her what is going on in the house, Claire seems more willing to believe that its alcohol than anything else.

Other cast include Stacy Martin as Madelyn, David Abeles as Gary, Christina Jackson as Heather, Patrick Klein as Rob, and Samantha Buck as Becky.

Searchlight Pictures is responsible for such films as SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, THE SHAPE OF WATER and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI. They have an extensive film library as well as documentaries, scripted series, and limited series. For more information, please visit www.searchlightpictures.com.

Bonus Feature includes: What Happens at the Lake House – Take a deep dive with director David Bruckner and the cast to unearth the secrets of The Night House. From the design of the mind-bending set, to Rebecca Hall’s haunted performance, witness how this chilling mystery was brought to life.

THE NIGHT HOUSE is a creepy film that will keep you staring at the screen wondering ‘did I see what I think I saw?’. The storyline reminds me a bit of the 1999 film STIR OF ECHOES, the 2002 film WHAT LIES BENEATH and a dash of the 2002 film DRAGONFLY.

There are some pretty awesome effects in the film that keep the creepy factor on high alert. For me, the problem becomes the last ten minutes of the film. It had the potential to take us to a higher height but instead it seemed like director Bruckner took a safe and predictable route.

Now, that being said, I did enjoy the film and Hall takes it all the way home. From start to finish she gives us all the motions someone who loses a love would go through. I suppose my favorite scene is in the classroom (that’s all you get) because I was a cheer leader to Hall’s attitude the whole way.

Shout out to Jonigkeit as Owen because even though his role was ‘small’, it is important in piecing together what Hall’s character is going through. As the story between Beth and Owen starts to click together, it also makes Beth’s life fall apart even more. Well done to both actors!

In the end – the mystery is going deeper than she could ever have imagined!

 

 

She Lives in THE NIGHT HOUSE

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director David Bruckner and Searchlight Pictures comes the story of grief and mystery in THE NIGHT HOUSE.

Beth (Rebecca Hall) is a young woman dealing with the death of her husband Owen (Evan Jonigkeit). Keeping an eye on her is neighbor Mel (Vondie Curtis-Hall) and friend Claire (Sarah Goldberg) as they see she is not doing well.

Drinking a bit heavy, Beth starts to notice bizarre sounds and happenings around the house Owen built for them. On his cell phone she notices a photograph but is not sure if it is a picture of her and begins to question things Owen may be have been doing. As she starts packing up his books and clothes, she finds odd books about the occult.

She also notices something odd on the other side of the lake only to discover that there is more to Owen’s life than she knew. That’s when message begin to appear and a voice that clearly reaches out to her.

Now she must decide what is real and what is due to the pain of losing her love.

Hall as Beth is dealing with her husbands’ death her own way which includes alcohol and an attitude. Not sure what she wants to do from day to day, it is those moments of loneliness that what is in the house reaches out to her. Hall is awesome when she is at her most sarcastic and even better when she tackles what you can not see in front of her.

Curtis-Hall as neighbor Mel just wants to look out for Beth in any way he can. That’s difficult to do at times as Beth is becoming darker as the days go by. It is fantastic to see Curtis-Hall on the screen again. Goldberg as friend Claire tries to get Beth out of the house but as her friend tells her what is going on in the house, Claire seems more willing to believe that its alcohol than anything else.

Other cast include Stacy Martin as Madelyn, David Abeles as Gary, Christina Jackson as Heather, Patrick Klein as Rob, and Samantha Buck as Becky.

Searchlight Pictures is responsible for such films as SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, THE SHAPE OF WATER and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI. They have an extensive film library as well as documentaries, scripted series, and limited series. For more information, please visit www.searchlightpictures.com.

THE NIGHT HOUSE is a creepy film that will keep you staring at the screen wondering ‘did I see what I think I saw?’. The storyline reminds me a bit of the 1999 film STIR OF ECHOES, the 2002 film WHAT LIES BENEATH and a dash of the 2002 film DRAGONFLY.

There are some pretty awesome effects in the film that keep the creepy factor on high alert. For me, the problem becomes the last ten minutes of the film. It had the potential to take us to a higher height but instead it seemed like director Bruckner took a safe and predictable route.

Now, that being said, I did enjoy the film and Hall takes it all the way home. From start to finish she gives us all the motions someone who loses a love would go through. I suppose my favorite scene is in the classroom (that’s all you get) because I was a cheer leader to Hall’s attitude the whole way.

Shout out to Jonigkeit as Owen because even though his role was ‘small’, it is important in piecing together what Hall’s character is going through. As the story between Beth and Owen starts to click together, it also makes Beth’s life fall apart even more. Well done to both actors!

In the end – the mystery is going deeper than she could ever have imagined!

 

 

BREAKING BROOKLYN Brings the Word Family to the Forefront on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from writer/director Paul Becker and Lionsgate is a film about the meaning of family and music when you are BREAKING BROOKLYN.

Aaron (Colin Critchley) is a twelve-year-old boy with a penchant for dance. Unfortunately his father doesn’t see it the same way because he’s to busy breaking the law. Older brother Albee (Nathan Kress) also has dreams but a little different from his brother.

Teacher Miles Bryant (Louis Gossett Jr.) sees something in the young man inviting Aaron into his tap class. It doesn’t quite go as planned when Aaron and Albee’s father ends up arrested and the car they have been living in is towed away. Not knowing what to do, Miles steps in and offers the boys a home while things get straightened out.

Unsure at first, the boys know it is better than living on the streets. Aaron immediately sees the stage where they will be living and feels the urge to dance become even stronger. Albee just notices Miles daughter Faith (Madeleine Mantock) who is a no-nonsense girl who slowly begins to understand the young man.

Aaron, on the other hand, wants to be part of a showcase that has a huge prize. He also meets Miles brother Greg (Vondie Curtis-Hall) and comes to realize that theirs isn’t the only family with hurt in the past and a chip on the shoulders.

Yet, when the music plays and the feet move – they all find their center!

Critchley as Aaron is a talented young man! As a boy who just wants to dance, he also supports his family the best he can, even if that means living in a car with his dad and brother. It is his safe place and when it turns on him, he finds faith in the most unlikely place and people.

Gossett Jr. as Miles loves dance and loves teaching it. When he meets Aaron, he sees something special in the young boy who comes from a place that is unsure and uncertain. Helping Aaron’s family eventually helps him come to terms with his own.

Kress as Albee is keeping an eye on his brother while Dad is in jail but also feels there is something special about Mile’s daughter. It is probably the first time in his life he is not trying to make a move for all the wrong reasons. Mantock as Faith is a young woman who has been raised to be strong and know what she wants out of life. That rubs off on Albee as the two become closer.

Curtis-Hall as Greg is an angry man because of one past mistake. Instead of forgiveness and finding his place in life, he instead chooses to be closed off and unforgiving but also sees something in the young Aaron.

Other cast include Jack Noseworthy as Christian, Chris Petrovski as Corey, Gabriel Sloyer as Castro, Brian Tarantina as Randy, Liza Colon-Zayas as Ms. Cruz, Deidre Goodwin as Lisa, Lorrie Odom as Ms. Loretta, and Catherine Curtin as Principal Carver.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to it’s 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

BREAKING BROOKLYN is an amazing family film that teaches us that our circumstance doesn’t always dictate our outcome in life. The young Aaron is living in a situation that plagues our country today and that is homelessness. There are many families that live in their cars but in this boys case he is also dealing with a father who isn’t on the right side of the law.

When he is given the chance to show what he is capable of, the young Aaron stumbles but it is Miles who sees that one stumble isn’t the end of everything. That’s what this film has to offer families who are looking for films that are worthy of sharing with the entire family.

The cast is heartwarming in a simple story that dances its way into your soul and if you are going to dance, go all in.

In the end – on the streets of Brooklyn a star is born!