The House of the Devil (2009) Limited-Edition Review
The House of the Devil (2009) Limited-Edition Review
Ti West – one of the most prominent horror filmmakers of his generation – continues to bring the fear with his wickedly entertaining horrors that include X, PEARL, MaXXXine, THE SACRAMENT and now his lauded 2009, Satanic scare fest – THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is the latest cult horror to get a brand-new Second Sight Films Limited Edition makeover this April.
Described by BFI.com as ‘a perfectly realised throwback to the terror titles of yesteryear, it also stands proudly as one of the finest, most authentic horror films to appear in recent memory’, the film stars a stellar cast including Jocelin Donahue, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig along with genre favourites AJ Bowen and Tom Noonan and now gets its highly anticipated Limited and Standard Edition Blu-ray release on 28 April 2025.
1983, USA, we meet skint college student Samantha Hughes (Donahue), who, desperate for money, spots an ad for a mysterious babysitting job and convinces her best friend (Gerwig) to drive her to the remote house. Unbeknownst to her the job coincides with a full lunar eclipse and on arrival it dawns on her that this is no ordinary childminding gig, there’s way more to her new employer than meets the eye.
Slowly as the tension builds it becomes apparent that true terror awaits. As the real reason she’s been hired is revealed, Samantha is confronted with unimaginable horror beyond her darkest nightmares, and it could cost her everything.
The Limited Edition is presented in a stunning rigid slipcase with new artwork by Nick Charge, along with a brilliantly informative 70-page book with brand new essays. Both formats come complete with a slew of new interviews, new audio commentaries and a Making Of featurette. Please see full list at the bottom of this review.
Simplicity is the key to what makes Ti West’s THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL’s such a remarkable movie. The set-up is straightforward, the film’s pacing unhurried and the build-up of tension is both confidently and effortlessly deployed. Key plot twists are revealed at the very last moment, and some details are left hanging allowing the viewer to fill in the blanks.
There is a palpable sense of dread throughout that adds to one’s eager anticipation of what’s to come and if there is a flaw to this Seventies based horror then it is that the climax does not deliver on the build-up, otherwise this is spot on! MANHUNTER’s Tom Noonan, excellent as the sinister and unreadable Mr. Ulman, adds to the sense of unease as he slowly unveils details as to what may lie ahead for both skint babysitter Samantha (Jocelin Donahue) and the audience.
There is one stand-out shock moment that comes early in the film that will jolt you out of your seat. It involves Samantha’s best friend Megan (Greta Gerwig, yes, the same person that directed the surprisingly decent BARBIE) and a favourite actor of mine Victor (AJ Bowen). From that point on prepare yourself to expect the unexpected. Ti West, who wrote, directed and edited the movie, has gone on to thrill us further with his Mia Goth headlining PEARL trilogy amongst other delights but for my money THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is his signature work and one of the best horror films of the 21st Century so far.
Special Features
Audio commentary with Writer-Director Ti West & Actor Jocelin Donahue
Audio commentary with Ti West, Producers Larry Fessenden & Peter Phok, and Sound Designer Graham Reznick
The Right Vibe: a new interview with Ti West
Satanic Panic: a new interview with Jocelin Donahue
Slowing Down is Death: a new interview with Actor AJ Bowen
A Level of Ambition: a new interview with Peter Phok
An Enduring Title: a new interview with Larry Fessenden
It All Feels Appropriate: a new interview with Director of Photography Eliot Rockett
Hiding the Seams: a new interview with Composer Jeff Grace
Writing Through Sound: a new interview with Graham Reznick
This Night Changes Everything: The Making of The House of the Devil
In The House of the Devil
Deleted Scenes
Trailer
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Nick Charge
70-page book with new essays by Martyn Conterio, Ariel Powers-Schaub, Jerome Reuter, and Julieann Stipidis plus Behind the Scenes gallery
Six collectors’ art cards
