The House of the Devil (2009)

In the 1980s, college student Samantha Hughes takes a strange babysitting job that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. She slowly realizes her clients harbor a terrifying secret; they plan to use her in a satanic ritual.

Director:

Ti West

Writer:

Ti West

Stars:

Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jocelin Donahue	...	Samantha
Tom Noonan	...	Mr. Ulman
Mary Woronov	...	Mrs. Ulman
Greta Gerwig	...	Megan
AJ Bowen	...	Victor Ulman
Dee Wallace	...	Landlady
Heather Robb	...	Roommate
Darryl Nau	...	Random Guy
Brenda Cooney	...	Nurse
Danielle Noe	...	Mother
Mary B. McCann	...	Elaine Cross (as Mary McCann)
John Speredakos	...	Ted Stephen
Lena Dunham	...	911 Operator (voice)
Graham Reznick	...	Local DJ (voice)
Ti West	...	Favorite Teacher

Storyline

In the 1980s, college student Samantha Hughes takes a strange babysitting job that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. She slowly realizes her clients harbor a terrifying secret; they plan to use her in a satanic ritual.

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Plot Keywords:

eclipse | secret | 1980s | satanic ritual | ritual | 

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Taglines:

Talk on the Phone. Finish Your Homework. Watch TV. Die.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some bloody violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official soundtrack site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 2012 (Taiwan)

Also Known As:

Dum dabla

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$25,195 (USA) (30 October 2009)

Gross:

$100,659 (USA) (25 December 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

MPI Media Group, Constructovision, RingTheJing Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the crew were locally sourced from Connecticut where the film was shot to help keep the costs down to under a million dollars.

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Goofs

The rotary phone inside the house has a "516" area code, which is Nassau County, Long Island, NY. There is also an emergency sticker on the phone displaying the real life working phone number for the New Hyde Park Fire Department. New Hyde Park is a suburb on Long Island, NY. However, the film is set in a remote area on the outskirts of an upstate college town.

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Quotes

Samantha: [Taps on goldfish bowl] Hello fish.

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Crazy Credits

Samantha is shown lying down on a hospital bed over the closing credits.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: The Big Box: Deep Throat (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Don't Go (Away)"
Written by Graham Reznick
Performed by Grazer

User Reviews

Classic suspense horror for true fans of the genre

I heard some good things about this film before viewing, and then on this site heard some bad things. I've come to believe that listening to others doesn't always help. It's all about opinion and experience, and in my opinion, this experience was worth it.

I won't get into too many details of the plot as the reviews and trailers tell it straight forward, but as far as tension, cinematography, atmosphere, music and style goes, this film really has it all. It's a classic story of your ordinary girl next door being put into an extraordinary situation. It's a situation that she tries to avoid, the people around her try to avoid, and you as a viewer knows she should avoid but can't help and stay to see what transpires.

If you're looking for a run of the mill slasher flick, a psychological thriller, or an action packed gore fest, I'm sorry but this isn't for you. However, if you're into the types of horror movies that take a simple, almost predictable concept and turns it on its' head in an unrelenting fashion, then look no further. This movie will stay with you for a few days for different reasons, but my biggest turn on was the feeling throughout the film, an homage to earlier times, and an evil that knows no bounds.