I AM THE PRETTY THING THAT LIVES IN THE HOUSE

Horror. A house with death in it can never be sold by the living, only borrowed from its ghosts. This is something hospice nurse Lily Saylor (The Affair’s Ruth Wilson) learns when she moves into a house in Massachusetts to look after Iris Blum (Paula Prentiss from The Stepford Wives), the author of 13 horror novels who has dementia.

Director Osgood Perkins is the son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins and says the film’s themes reflect his attempts to connect with his father. He also cast Prentiss because she’s a family friend.

Unfortunately, the result is as long-winded and pretentious as the title suggests. The music, manipulative voiceover, setting and ghosts make for some creepy watching, but it’s style over substance and eventually just plain boring.

Rather watch Perkins’ 2015 debut film, February, or his latest, Gretel & Hansel (2020), a twist on the traditional fairytale. – PIETER VAN ZYL 2016. 89 MIN. 16HV.