The House of the Devil (2009)

The House of the Devil (2009) is a slow-burning, 1980s-set horror-mystery about Samantha Hughes, a cash-strapped college student who accepts a strange babysitting job the same night as a total lunar eclipse. Isolated in an eerily quiet house, Samantha soon senses that her employers are hiding something far more sinister than late-night eccentricities. What begins as an awkward, uneasy evening escalates into a tense and terrifying struggle for survival as dark rituals and shocking revelations come to light. Viewers can expect a deliberate, atmospheric build rather than rapid-fire scares: moody, retro production values, period detail and a synth-tinged score create a strong sense of time and place that recalls classic ’80s horror. The film leans on mounting dread, careful framing, and long, quiet stretches to ratchet tension, then delivers a harrowing, uncompromising final act. Performances (especially the lead) keep the psychological strain believable, and the film’s restraint makes its moments of violence and horror land harder. If you watch The House of the Devil, you’ll feel a creeping unease more than constant shocks — an immersive, slow-burn experience that rewards patience with a memorable, chilling payoff. It’s well-suited to viewers who appreciate atmospheric, character-focused horror and throwback stylings rather than nonstop jump scares or gore.

Actors: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov

Director: Ti West

Runtime: 95 min

Genres: Horror, Mystery

5.4 /10 73 /100 6.3 /10 6.3 /10