The House of the Devil (2009) Review – A Stylised and Nostalgic 80s Throwback
The House of the Devil: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A meticulously crafted aesthetic triumph that prioritises atmosphere and period-accurate texture over narrative momentum. The House of the Devil (2009) succeeds as a flawless visual recreation of the early-80s horror experience, utilising 16mm film and vintage zoom techniques to evoke a genuine sense of “found” cinematic history. Ti West’s direction is patient to a fault, cultivating a slow-burn tension that mirrors the “Satanic Panic” procedurals of yesteryear. While the film’s glacial pacing and sudden, hyper-violent climax may prove divisive for those seeking a more balanced slasher, its dedication to its retro roots is admirable. This 3.2 star effort is a technical success that functions better as a stylistic exercise than a compelling standalone story.
Details: Director: Ti West | Cast: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig | Runtime: 1h 35m | Release Date: 2009
Best for: Fans of early 80s aesthetic, slow-burn psychological horror, and those who appreciate technical filmmaking over fast-paced action.
Worth noting: To achieve the authentic look, the film was shot on 16mm stock and utilised actual vintage lenses from the 1970s and 80s.
Where to Watch: VOD, Amazon🛒
Rating: 3.2/5 Stars
(A masterfully stylised and visually authentic 80s throwback that successfully recaptures the look and feel of the era while struggling with glacial pacing and a thin narrative structure.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing Ti West’s throwback 80s style horror The House of the Devil.
Table of Contents
An 80s horror love letter
The House of the Devil follows Samantha, played by Jocelin Donahue, and her attempts to earn $300 to pay for her new apartment. Samantha has had enough of living on campus with her slob of a roommate so rents her own place. Naturally, she needs rent in advance and it just so happens that a local couple, Mr and Mrs Ulman played by Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov, need a babysitter. There is an eclipse that night and the couple have an event planned around it. The job is paying $100 and Samantha needs the money. Little does she realise, this is no ordinary couple.
“The House of the Devil is writer and director Ti West’s love letter to the 80s horror genre. Filmed on 16mm film to give it that ‘fresh out of the video rental shop’ look.”
The House of the Devil is writer and director Ti West’s love letter to the 80s horror genre. Filmed on 16mm film to give it that “fresh out of the video rental shop” look. This is a real nod to everything that made that generation of horror so iconic. And when I say nod, I feel like I am understating things a little. The House of the Devil has it all. Cheesy 80s music? Check! A grainy veneer to everything? Check! Unusual camera angles and fast zooms? Definitely! A satanic-panic based plot with an action packed ending? Yep!
The House of the Devil is almost bordering on parody for how keenly it follows the 80s horror format. The camera cuts are taken straight from Halloween, Black Christmas, and Friday the 13th. The pacing is deliberately slow. There is a purposeful cheesiness to everything. It’s less of a nod to 80s horror and more of a tongue in the ear and a hand down the pants.
Fifth time is the charm
I don’t know whether this is an indictment of the movie but my partner and I have tried to watch The House of the Devil at least 4 times. For some reason, we always seem to get distracted half way through or fall asleep. We finally managed to scratch that itch recently and made it through the entire movie. This is something of a problem with Ti West’s movie making style. He dwells on the dull and mundane. Meaning his movies take awhile to get going.
“This is something of a problem with Ti West’s movie making style. He dwells on the dull and mundane, meaning his movies take awhile to get going. The pacing is odd.”
The House of the Devil is a very slow paced film. It takes half an hour or so for Samantha to actually arrive at the house and another half an hour or so before anything really happens. Once things get going, however, the race to the end is lightning fast. The pacing is odd and it is not hard to imagine that some will check out half way through with its lack of story progression. I know that I did a few times.
Speaking of which, story progression is something that really takes a back seat in The House of the Devil. The events of the movie are very self contained and take place over one day. There isn’t any real opportunity to learn anything about the characters. There is also no real potential to expand on prior events. Again, like many of West’s other movies, this is something that would work better as a 15 minute short. Most of the first hour feels like story padding.
A few plus points
Acting is generally decent. Jocelin Donahue is fine as Samantha though there isn’t exactly much she is tasked with. Samantha is somewhat lacking in personality. There isn’t much of an opportunity to expand on any of the characters in The House of the Devil. To be honest, Samantha as a character seems a little all over the place.
“If you enjoy the retro aesthetic then you are in for a treat. The use of 16mm film was a great touch, stepping beyond what most filmmakers do when creating love letters to the 80s.”
Samantha’s friend, played by Greta Gerwig, is typical horror movie comedy fodder. Her mumbling, slightly stoner-esque, manner is a bit cliched but then so is the entire movie. Mr and Mrs Ulman, played by Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov, are the would be stars of the show but the movie never really expands on them to any degree. The majority of the movie is spent following Samantha around like a fly on the wall. The 70s and 80s style of horror often put us in the shoes of the protagonist and had us stick close by them. The House of the Devil is no different.
If you enjoy the retro aesthetic then you are in for a treat. The grain covering everything in The House of the Devil is almost eye cutting. You can pretty much feel it like pebbledash on a wall. The use of 16mm film when making the movie was a great touch. It is certainly a step beyond what most filmmakers do when creating their love letters to the 80s. Camera work is also spot on for the time. With interesting camera placement, fast zooms and fun shots galore. West is a very talented film maker.
Nearly, but not quite
The House of the Devil was really well reviewed upon release. I always suspected that this was, at least in part, due to the 80s aesthetic of the movie. Finally watching it all the way through, I am left with my suspicions somewhat confirmed. The House of the Devil is an okay movie but it does not live up to the rhetoric being uttered regarding it on release. Something that I think is reflected in West’s future movies X and MaXXXine.
Sure, the 80s nostalgia is there in spades. It is done so well it could be a movie directly from that era. The truth is, however, if it was actually from that era, it would not receive the praise it received in 2009. Pacing is uneven, the scares are not there, Samantha is generic and difficult to care about, and the ending is rushed. There just isn’t that much that stands out beyond the cool retro chic.
There are times where you are fairly invested in what is happening in the Ulman house. The tension is somewhat present for the first 20 minutes as you wait for something to happen. But, after the third time of Samantha creeping upstairs, you feel somewhat checked out. The ending literally explodes over the finish line with no fanfare after waiting nearly 80 minutes to get there.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Visual Authenticity: Shooting on 16mm film creates a texture and grain that feels genuinely historical and elevates the film’s retro appeal.
- Technical Mastery: Ti West’s use of vintage camera angles and fast zooms is a brilliant homage to 70s and 80s horror filmmaking techniques.
- Atmospheric Dread: The film successfully cultivates a sense of unease through its quiet, isolated setting and deliberate use of silence.
The Bad
- Glacial Pacing: The story takes nearly an hour to truly begin, requiring a level of patience that many viewers may find frustrating or boring.
- Thin Narrative: Beyond its 80s window-dressing, the story is incredibly simple and lacks the depth to justify its feature-length runtime.
- Rushed Finale: After eighty minutes of slow-burn buildup, the ending feels frantic and disjointed, lacking a truly satisfying payoff.
The Ugly: The Walkman Sequence. A brilliant but painfully long scene that perfectly captures 80s mundane reality while simultaneously testing the viewer’s patience.
Should You Watch The House of the Devil?
Yes, if you value style over substance. It is a 3.2 star film that serves as a beautiful time capsule of 80s genre tropes. If you go in expecting a high-energy slasher, you will likely be disappointed by the slow-burn approach. However, if you appreciate the technical craft of 16mm filmmaking and want a nostalgic “vibe” to switch your brain off to, it’s a solid watch. It’s an okay movie that looks incredible but fails to stand among the giants it so desperately loves.
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