Exploring the complicated dynamics of modern dating and incorporating a Gothic horror twist, Neil LaBute’s new movie House of Darkness is a pleasantly disconcerting reimagining of the traditional vampire hunter-prey format.
And the result, while predictable, is a largely effective and entertaining fable about truth and lies, right up until the point where the story begins to run out of momentum. At its core, this is a simple tale: Hap (Justin Long) is brought home by the beautiful and ethereal Mina (Kate Bosworth) for a nightcap. ‘Home’ happens to be a sprawling, unavoidably sinister Stoker-esque mansion with alarm bells ringing from every shadowy corner, but the intentionally unlikeable Hap thinks he’s onto a winner and so ignores the warning signs. As the viewer, you know exactly where things are going but it is the uncomfortable interaction between the two leads that keeps you watching. Long plays the fumbling self-confident Hap with smarmy ease while Bosworth is wickedly provocative, Mina analysing and questioning every word her son-to-be victim utters. Their chemistry may be natural due to their off-screen relationship, but it is essential in adding credence to a slight plot that is stretched almost to breaking point over the 88-minute runtime.
Framed over a two-act structure House of Darkness has all the attributes of a play; character driven and with a minimal number of simple locations. The dialogue is constructed with precision and the varying tone ensures you remain as unsettled as the hapless Hap. But LeBute’s film struggles to maintain its early promise and despite the welcome goriness of the finale, the story plays out with very few surprises.
House of Darkness is released in US cinemas on September 9th and US digital on September 13th.
