REVIEWS FOR INDEPENDENT FILM, LOW BUDGET FILM, SHORT FILM & WEB SERIES
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FEED ME SEYMORE! Anyone who remembers "Little Shop Of Horrors" will definitely remember that line. While "Housesitters" from writers Jason Coffman, Jamie Jirak and Annie Watkins doesn't have much to do with the eighties classic, I couldn't help think of it as I witnessed the shark tooth creeper - that serves as this films demonic familiar. Instantly I was prepared for a throwback film, but also expected a B movie cheese fest. On both counts I was correct. For better or worse as they say.
Directed by Jason Coffman, "Housesitters" follows along with the namesakes of the film, as they battle an evil... thing... that seems hell bent on killing everyone who enters the house. It's not a gore fest in any true sense of the term, but it is comedic. Both in terms of content and execution. The story is familiar. The characters are familiar and the monster itself? Very familiar. Enough to remind me of that old Rick Moranis cheese-fest. What a great combination! Right? By now you've guessed this is a low budget indie film. So don't expect any major polish or any kind of slick feel. Yet not having the big budget bang sort of works for this production. You know it's going to be goofy - so you don't get your hopes up. But are you correct? Yes. You are. This is a cheese festival of the highest caliber - and while it's true that it is funny, at times it does wear on you a tad. That is, up until the final act that for myself, contained the best scenes of the movie. Half the fun with these types of movies is the cheese factor. It's funny to watch a delivery or response - and realize how weird it looks or sounds. "Housesitters" seemingly never attempts to take itself seriously - and that's the true beauty of it. Had the cast been attempting a full out serious horror fest, the results would have been catastrophic. This was all about the good time. Reminding us what making movies is all about.
With that said, certain performances and scenes are a little much. When compounding those less than perfect portrayals with the low budget nature of the film, well reader... "Housesitters" will not be everyone's cup of tea. Especially those who generally only watch the Hollywood blockbusters. They simply won't get it - and watching this film may be considered a form of torture to them. For those in the know however, "Housesitters" provides an hour long excuse to chuckle and giggle like little school children. Now... about the ending. I found that the flip-things-over ending was the highlight of the movie. It's a full package. The acting is completely fitting. The jokes are completely fitting. Even the reasoning of the demon makes sense in a strange way. We get to see a civil demon making devilishly good drinks and explaining himself. We get to see our leading ladies... and man... attempt to reconcile things in their own heads... and... we are informed, in a comedic way, that as nice and charming as a demon can be... they still have no issues eliminating us. We're like ants to them. It was a great sendoff for a decent movie. At the end of the day? "Housesitters" was my cup of tea and I enjoyed it. Not the best thing I've watched lately, but good enough to keep the progress bar moving forward. A solid two and a half enjoyable stars. |
