Available today on DVD is the horror film The Houses October Built.
I was intrigued by this film before I even read the synopsis or viewed the film. The title alone sounds very interesting.
The Houses October Built is the story of five friends who love haunted houses. Not REAL haunted houses but rather the kind you see at carnivals or that pop up around Halloween. The kind of “house” where people like you and I dress up like homicidal clowns, monsters, zombies and other characters meant to scare the heebie jeebies out of you.
I love visiting haunted houses. I haven’t been to one in years. It’s fun when characters jump out at you or follow you around.
The Houses that October Built is shot in such a way that it looks like you are viewing it from the video camera. It’s one of those “found footage” films like the Blair Witch Project where you see things at the same time the person holding the camera does.
Personally I am not a fan of “found footage” films, but this one actually works out well being shot that way.
The friends head off across the state of Texas, and beyond, seeking out scary haunted house attractions. Their goal is to find the elusive “Blue Skull” haunted house. It’s difficult to find and you can only visit it by invitation only. It also moves around the country and no one really knows where it’s next stop will be.
On their journey to find the Blue Skull haunted attraction the friends encounter some truly freaky and scary individuals. First they appear at the haunted places they visit. Then they start showing up at the RV that they are using to drive around in.
One such person is a creepy looking “doll”. They meet her at a haunted house. A day or two later (when they are far away from the haunted house) the “doll” appears in the woods where they parked the RV for the night.
As time passes more and more of the creepy people they meet in the haunted houses start appearing.
Personally I would have gone home as soon as the doll showed up. That wasn’t enough to scare the friends. They kept on visiting haunted houses.
In between these scary encounters, and footage from their experience, the film injects video footage of people who are interviewed about haunted houses from those who enjoy them to those who work at them. I’m not sure but it would appear that the footage is real footage (not something made for the film), but I could be wrong. It looks different then the actual film. This footage is actually scarier than the film.
The friends eventually get a lead on the “Blue Skull”, except their experience is NOT what they expected. To find out what happens to the friends once they find the “Blue Skull,” you need to pick up a copy of The Houses October Built, now available on DVD. Look for it where ever movies are sold.
I am a fan of the horror genre. It takes A LOT to even make me close my eyes. I am not easily scared or creeped out.
The Houses October Built is not for the squeamish or easily scared. I could see this film giving people nightmares. Some of the people they encounter are frightening. I think the “real” interviews (the footage that truly does look real) are scarier than the actual film.
This would make a great film to watch on Halloween night or just before you visit a real haunted house. 🙂
There are bonus features which include pumpkins carved to resembled the cast members, deleted scenes, “Portraits of a Scare Artist” photo gallery and “Behind the Screams” which is a look inside haunted houses.
Here is the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
KKimberly
*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Jordan says
Sounds like a really scary movie!
Cheryl says
I love horror! This sounds right up my alley.
vickie Couturier says
ive got some grown kids an couple older grandkids that would enjoy this but not me,,,I dont do horror films,,ill let them watch and ill go into another room
Rajee Pandi says
looks like very scared movie watching its trailor
Cynthia C says
I used to like scary movies, but not so much any more. I think my grown kids would enjoy it, though.