Coming from first time director/writer, His House brings a fresh voice into the horror genre in the form of Remi Weekes. In association with Netflix and BBC Films, Weekes delivers a timely horror that delivers on the chills alongside important social commentary.
Following a couple from war torn Sudan, leads Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial Majur (Wunmi Mosaku) begin to get used to there new surroundings, in presumably Stoke in the north of England. The horror begins immediately as we see a sight of asylum seekers travel through treacherous waters seeking safety, only for it to go awry. The pairing soon end up in England, with a new home after spending three months in a single room within a leisure centre. Their new residence is far from pretty and the couple are giving a shocking list of demands to obey by or they will be removed from their surroundings. Immediately, this hits hard as the trials and tribulations these people go through for the basic commodities is stated loud and clear.
The film soon takes a supernatural turn as it is soon evident that the duo are haunted by their pasts, allowing Weekes to blend his commentary in with traditional horror elements. This run down house soon plays perfect setting to an unnerving set of scenes with great mystery and suspense combining to great some truly great scares. As the film goes on, this element is diluted but makes way for plenty of hard hitting moments along the way.
As the film moves away from the supernatural and focuses more on the troubled backstory of the Majur’s, the film is really elevated with some haunting moments. The desperation and the struggles are shown in brutal manner, hammering home that these people aren’t fleeing for no reason. As we continue to see rafts make these journeys on public television and vile MP’s celebrate the stopping of these terrified people, let His House be an example of what it is exactly these people are wanting to escape, rather than thinking it’s for big houses and general freebies. A stunning final shot really hits home as the Majur’s begin to move on with the horrors they’ve faced, rounding out an excellent piece of work.
For a directorial debut, Remi Weekes has certainly made a big impact and is a welcome addition to British cinema. Weekes has undoubtedly got a bright future ahead of him and the success of this piece of cinema will hopefully open the door for similar stories to be told. A horror told from a fresh viewpoint, His House is a worthy watch in what looks like the starting point of a great career.
Final Rating: 4/5
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