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His House Movie Review: Is This Horror Film Worth the Time?
Based on: A story by Felicity Evans and Toby Venables
Director: Remi Weeks
Release Date: January 27, 2020
Main Cast: Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, and Matt Smith
**Warning! Some spoilers are included in this post.**
If you’re into Black indie-horror films, then His House on Netflix might be the film for you. His House opens with a South Sudanese man (Bol - played by actor, Sope Dirisu), woman (Rial - played by actress, Wunmi Mosaku), and child boarding the back of flatbed truck along with others. The denizens are fleeing a community overrun with civil unrest and rebellion.
The scene transitions and viewers see the South Sudanese people aboard boats that are soon compromised. Many of the passengers are then ejected into the water. Why did this happen and who was responsible?
His House Movie Horror Incorporates Real-World Experiences
Woven into the plot of mystery and suspense are occasional instances of racial and socioeconomic challenges experienced by Blacks in European-dominated regions. From being regarded as something less than human to enduring systemic oppression, Weeks raises awareness of this reality.
I appreciate non-Black writers who risk including Black people as important characters in a plot and underscore the racial barriers that exist in our communities. Thank you, to the writers, Felicia Evans and Tony Venables, for incorporating these elements in the His House movie.
Bol and Rial are “assigned” to an apartment, and it becomes evident that their presence is not well received by a few neighbors. Bol positively receives the opportunity while Rial holds reservations about their new situation, which is encapsulated in acknowledgment of their surroundings and a connection to her spiritual beliefs. Their life soon begins to unravel as they struggle to hold onto reality.
Weeks contrasts the mentality of some young African youths who have embraced cultural assimilation to Africans who remain connected to their origins. In one scene, a male trio of African teens tell Rial to “Go back to f------ Africa.” This behavior highlights the reality that many Blacks of African-descent have forgotten their roots and forsakened their heritage. The interaction also illustrates the declining level of respect that youths possess for adults.
I found Mosaku emotionally captivating. Her eyes hold both emotion and mystery. Rial is the wife who suffers from the psychological torment of loss and pain while dealing with the strain of a marriage that may well be destroyed.
Disiru in the role of Bol showcases his ability to toggle and project an intensity of defeat and threatening aggression. One minute I found myself empathizing with him and the next, I’m think he’s a scumbag. You’ll understand what I mean when you watch the movie. Nonetheless, I’d like to see both of these actors in more roles in the future.
His House is currently on Netflix. Check it out if you have the time.
We’ll talk again real soon,
B.W.P.
