What is the plot?

Bol and Rial Majur escape from Sudan, the armed political conflict in that country is unbearable, they must flee for their lives. During that journey, first by land and then by sea, they lose their daughter Nyagak. After some time in a refugee center in England, they receive political asylum and are assigned a house in a village in that country. The couple is happy for the opportunity to stay, following the rules they are required to follow, in that new home. But they do not know that within those walls, a dangerous evil has come with them, to settle the debts of the past.

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The stories of haunted houses, with spirits and ghosts tormenting the new inhabitants, is a fairly hackneyed topic within the horror genre. There are countless films that each year tell a story of haunted houses. A few weeks ago I reviewed a mini TV series, with the theme of haunted houses.

His House falls into that sub-genre of houses with ghosts. But there are elements of the story that make it different, interesting and effective in capturing the chilling scenes of terror.

The house is not a mansion or a beautiful house, as we are used to in this type of film. The house is a dwelling located in a poor neighborhood of a city in England, which brings an atmosphere of realism to the story.

It is not a white family or a wealthy couple that comes to the house. It is an immigrant couple, Bol Majur and Rial Majur, people who have gone through a terrible situation in their country of origin and who have the hope of starting over in England. Making an effort to fit into that society, especially Bol Majur, who wants to adapt completely to the lifestyle of her new home.

This is the whole social component of the story, which makes it more interesting. That difficult transition that any person who has to leave his country and do everything possible to adapt to the customs and lifestyle of people who give him an opportunity but at the same time feel rejection towards them.

The terror of the film comes from the sides. First there is that evil spirit that seems to have possessed the house, along with all the ghosts of the couple's recent past that haunt them every night. And second, there is the society itself, the inhabitants of the community, the watchful eye of a world that does not like refugees.

We are good people. Bol says that phrase to the committee that evaluates the house assignment and repeats it at another time in the film. There is a lot of emphasis on wanting to show that you are a good person. Apparently they are, Bol was a bank employee in his home country, who due to the armed conflict, decides to flee in search of a better life. To achieve this, he is willing to do anything. Are they really good people? The desperation of the human being who fights between life and death, can lead him to do things that are not very good.

Scenes of fear are placed at the right moments and well done, they work perfectly within the story. But I'll be honest with you, I felt more fear in the scenes where the immigrant couple was interacting with other people.

The scene where the woman, Rial, is looking for the doctor's office in the community and approaches a group of young English people, made my hair stand on end, I felt that at any moment something terrible could happen. Because that's right, for an immigrant or refugee, in a country full of hate and racism, a living person can be more dangerous than a ghost.

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Remi Weekes is the director of the film, his name is unknown to most of us. Among his previous works are music videos, short fiction films and a short documentary. His House is practically his debut with a feature film and he has done well. Watch out for the following films, it's a solid debut in a genre that needs new ideas and talent.

The story is written by screenwriters Felicity Evans and Toby Venables. Remi Weekes also contributed to the script. But the original idea is by Felicity Evans, who came up with it five years ago and originally had the title The Welcome. It came to her when she heard a story about a homeowner in rural Essex who said his house was possessed by evil spirits. The house was located in an area where there were other houses that the government used to house immigrants. She tells the origin of her inspiration in an article in Medim: link

The main couple is very well built in their characters. With a couple of actors who are as big as that immigrant couple who will have to face their own demons.

The actor Sope Dirisu plays Bol Majur, that good person who wants to adapt to the new society, but who will also be the most affected by that evil presence that his soul wants in exchange for reversing the sin he committed. The actor has a career in English film and television, working in productions such as Criminal and The Huntsman: The Winter War. But I recommend that you watch the series Gangs of London, one of the best and most spectacular of this year and where the actor stands as the true protagonist.

Wunmi Mosaku plays Rial Majur, Bol's wife, who is the most affected by the loss of Nyagak while crossing the sea in a boat. That fact will mark her and will be fundamental in the surprising turn of the story. The actress has participated in several movies and TV series Mose Jones, Vera, Luther, Black Mirror and more recently in Lovecraft Country.

Trailer

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