It is the 1980s, from the Walkmans and feathered hair, to the soundtrack, to the camera shots and angles. Destitute college student Samantha is desperate to score off-campus housing: her roommate boinks random dudes all the time, is a total slob (to Samantha's neat-nik) and can't be bothered to write down her phone messages. She finds a great little apartment and the understanding landlady (played by Dee Wallace! Cujo! The Hills Have Eyes! E.T.!) waives the first and last deposit. Samantha still needs to come up with $300 for the first month's rent and manages to land a babysitting job. When she and BFF Megan (wealthy, with a car, very practical and supportive of her friend; played by Greta Gerwig) drive out to the gig - a gorgeous Victorian - it's creepy. The weird couple who have hired her don't have a child; the sitting is for an elderly parent who is capable enough, but just in case something happens. Samantha tries to back out because CREEPY but when they offer her $400, she can't say no. Megan leaves, the weird couple leave and Samantha settles in.
This is JUST the kind of movie that gives me fidgets. It is a combination slasher and haunted house film, with some Satanic worship thrown in for good measure - with the slightest tinge of Rosemary's Baby right at the end. For most of the movie, director Ti West is simply masterful at ratcheting up the tension without showing anything - ANYTHING - to be scared of. I was so twitchy and jumpy, expecting something to happen and then getting more nervous when nothing did, that I had to get up to get more wine to diffuse some of the tension. When the slasher portion did kick in, I found it a relief. Excellent little indie horror movie - highly recommended (unless you prefer really gory and/or torture porn flicks).
Some of my notes: "DO NOT GO UPSTAIRS people in horror films are SO STUPID" and "JESUS DON'T GO BACK UPSTAIRS" and "SHE FIGHTS BACK"
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