His House (2020)

Director: Remi Weekes

Stars: Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba

Runtime: 93 minutes

Synopsis: A refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking beneath the surface.

Verdict: Most horror movies nowadays are made with the purpose of either pure entertainment or the study of characters suffering from heavy emotional distress. Those that act as socio-political commentaries are rare, and those that properly succeed at delivering their messages are even less common.

Remi Weekes' Netflix original "His House" is an exception to that unwritten rule. About a couple of refugees' difficulties to get used to the English suburbs where their residence seems to be haunted, it's much more than just an impressively executed debut for the young director. If you look past its supernatural and allegorical surface, you'll find in it a heartbreaking tale detailing the hardships that come from escaping the horrors of one's home nation, which in the case of the protagonists is the war-torn African state of South Sudan. The fact that they've lost their daughter on their way to Europe adds an element of guilt to their eventful journey, presented to the audiences as haunting manifestations of memories of the lives they're trying to leave behind.

With no famous names attached to it to draw a wide audience, I believe that the film's release on Netflix will deservedly elevate its reachability to a lot of people that probably wouldn't have seen it had it come out in theaters. I truly believe that it's the best release in that specific horror subgenre since Jordan Peele's "Get Out", and I have to recommend it for both its important themes and impressive craftsmanship.

FINAL GRADE: 7/10