There’s Someone Inside Your House is a fun yet all too familiar teen slasher film. It premiered this week at Fantastic Fest and while there’s more that worked, versus what didn’t, this movie is not breaking any new ground. Horror fans are getting spoiled this year with slashers films, and now another solid effort has joined in. There’s Someone Inside Your House might not make a lasting impression but it’s a solid horror film with a strong lead performance.
The late ’90s certainly sparked a slasher film craze with classics like Urban Legend and I Know What You Did Last Summer. More recently, slashers have been making a comeback. There’s Someone Inside Your House is the latest gem horror fans should love watching this Halloween season. Directed by Patrick Brice and written by Henry Gayden. The film stars Sydney Park, Theodore Pellerin, Asjha Cooper, Burkely Duffield, Dale Whibley, Diego Josef, and Jessie LaTourette.
There’s Someone Inside Your House follows Makani Young (Park), a senior in high school with a secret she’s ashamed of. Makani’s efforts to hide that secret are put in jeopardy when a killer terrorizes the town of Osborne, Nebraska. Her classmates are picked off one by one and the killer is determined to expose their victim’s secrets along the way. The killer doesn’t want a confession from anyone, they just want to brutalize and expose. Gayden probably relies too much on nostalgia, which could ruin the film for some. But this diverse group of teens makes for a gory good time.
Sydney moved to Nebraska to finish out high school after a traumatic experience at her old school. Now living with her grandmother, she hopes to shed her past and have a fun senior year with friends. Gayden’s screenplay provides audiences with a shy, reserved, yet smart final girl to invest in. Her group of friends each adds their charm to the overall experience. There’s Someone Inside Your House throws in several horror cliches. A popular student is killed at the start. The aftermath results in a town curfew, and an obvious red herring who won’t be the killer. Makani’s keeping more than one secret from her friends.
During the summer break, she was seeing Oliver (Pellerin), a local teen who is ridiculed at school. Since their split, he can’t seem to let her go. His behavior will tip-off horror audiences as the obvious red herring. Instantly filling out Billy Loomis criteria usually means his sketchy behavior rules him out as a suspect. Gory would be an understatement when describing the kills, but most are pretty bland. Nothing horror enthusiasts haven’t already seen before. Adapted from Stephanie Perkin’s novel, There’s Someone Inside Your House isn’t treading new territory. But the inclusion of social media shakes it up enough for a new generation of horror fans.
Unfortunately, the fun doesn’t get wrapped up satisfyingly and had the film’s finale played out differently, it could have been saved. Parks is incredible as Makani and the character’s growth is great to witness. Pellerin’s performance as Oliver is solid, but his red herring status is too obvious. Although he does capture the off-putting nature of Oliver adequately enough. Brice’s direction, while effective, provides no moments of tension. There are some wonderfully captured kills, but a sense of danger never kicks in. Its pacing is flawless though and there’s never a dull moment.
There’s Someone Inside Your House is an entertaining teen slasher film for today’s generation. Capturing the vibe of ’90s horror might be enough for older audiences to have fun with it. It’s an engaging horror film with a strong cast that keeps the film exciting during all the bloodshed in between. The film might be forgotten in a couple of years, but some horror fans might add it to their yearly watch list.
There’s Someone Inside Your House releases on Netflix on October 6, 2021.
