Always packed with a good amount of gore and teen romance, most teen slasher movies are the same. But, Netflix brought something new to the table with director Patrick Brice’s “There’s Someone Inside Your House,” released on Oct. 6, 2021.
The horror film revolves around Sydney Park’s character, Makani Young, who has a hidden past on the verge of being exposed by a killer that murders high school students and reveals their dark secrets. The twist is the killer wears a mask of the victim’s face when getting ready to strike, making people aware of who’s next.
The use of the mask is unique. It shows the killer is so dedicated to the craft, they go through the trouble of carefully and precisely creating the detailed face cover. This trait separates “There’s Someone Inside Your House” from other slasher films, but does still contain the basic elements of romance, blood, etc.
The setting choice is interesting, as it takes place in a rural town in Nebraska. For me, when the characters live in the middle of nowhere, it adds to the fear and suspense of the plot. It increases viewers’ curiosity and makes them question what could happen next in such a remote location.
“There’s Someone Inside Your House” also does an excellent job of touching your heart in some moments and bringing tears to your eyes in others. Besides it being slightly emotional, it has its comedic moments, too, with hilarious side comments from the characters.
The videography of the film is pleasing to the eyes as well. There is a great use of aesthetically pleasing colors, angles and camera movements that add an element of likeability to the film.
A masked killer murders high school students and reveals their dark secrets in the film.
Photo Courtesy of Netflix
But, this movie has its flaws as well.
While watching the film, you may find yourself getting slightly bored with the plot and wishing the excitement you felt earlier would return. There are filler scenes that some audiences won’t have much care for. For example, the romantic scenes should not have been overdone, especially in a horror movie where people are mostly looking for gore and fear.
Also off-putting is one of the characters, Macon Bewley, played by Zane Clifford, who seems to have a southern accent while all the others do not. Since the characters are all from Nebraska, there is no reason to give one of them a southern accent, especially since Clifford is originally from Canada. This is a simple but noticeable mistake on the director’s end.
Another flaw is the reveal of the killer. The satisfaction and surprise viewers might expect to feel isn’t as prominent as they would think. This had a major impact on my view of the movie as a whole, but nonetheless, it shouldn’t steer you away from giving it a chance.
Burkely Duffield plays Caleb Greeley (left), meanwhile Sydney Park plays Makani Young (right).
Photo courtesy of Netflix
All in all, “There’s Someone Inside Your House” should be added to your watchlist, especially if you enjoy other slasher movies such as “Scream,” “Halloween” or the “Fear Street” trilogy. It is a fascinating film that truly succeeds in terms of creativity and incorporates everything you need in a movie: suspense, romance, despair and an overall happy ending.
So, grab some popcorn and get together with friends to give “There’s Someone Inside Your House” a watch.
And don’t forget to keep your friends close, and your secrets closer.
