Heather (Lindsay Smith) and Steve (Ryan Kotack) are in love. As they take in the day with a tour of the Niagara Falls region (while Loverboy plays over the assortment of images) they seem like they are on top of the world. And then…..

Drugged, abducted and secured in a solid concrete bunker in the middle of nowhere, Heather and Steve awaken to unfamiliarity of their new setting. Confused and disoriented and with only the smallest of windows to provide them with light, Heather and Steve soon learn that they have been captured as part of a sick diabolical imprisoner who communicates to the couple through a landline phone placed within their cell. As voiced by Henry Rollins, the voice on the other end of the phone will run the pair through challenges and rewards the duo with combinations to cases located within the cell that include items that will keep them alive. But for how long? In the House of Files was directed by Gabriel Carrer whose most notable credit prior to this entry was 2011's If a Tree Falls – a film we were hardly kind to in our review.

But In the House of Flies keeps things simple and the result in a highly recommendable psychological thriller that borrows from more familiar horror films such as Saw and 13 Sins.

We never do find out the motive behind their captors intentions. And that's a good thing. There is no backstory of how they were abused as a child or had a traumatic experience in a basement themselves leading them to a motive that is undeniably malevolent. Sometimes, people are just evil. Plain and simple. And we appreciated how In the House of Flies didn't try too hard to give us a reason why everything was occurring around our protagonists.

The confinement to the concrete bunker allowed for a considerable chilling claustrophobic feel that worked to the film's benefit and audiences will strive for air and sunlight as much as the two central characters as a result of the film's authentic setting.

If we had one thing of the not-so-kind sort to say about In the House of Flies is that it felt like it had been done before. Might not have been done better but the film didn't feel as original as we would have hoped in its attempt to rise so prominently among its peers.

Still, In the House of Files is a good film and you would not be doing yourself a disservice to your watching time allotment if you are able to seek it out and give it a shot.

www.killerreviews.com

If you're going into this movie blind don't expect much. The two main characters are not believable at all. The male boyfriend character over acts everything to the point that it's completely annoying. The female character seems so bland it's almost like she's bored. Not a single trace of chemistry between the two. They must have went to the Aniken Skywalker school of acting. The whole movie is just terrible. Probably could have been better if they had chosen actual actors to play the parts and not just use friends because it's cheaper that way. I also don't buy how they make the two main actors look like they have been locked away from the sun for years when it has only been one day. Obviously no one thought this movie through before they filmed it or they were making it up as they went along. The music is bad and the cinematography is unimaginative. Just don't waste your time.

The story is a strong, well thought out situation that builds on a steady, tense chain of events framed by a claustrophobic, and hopeless setting. The acting is pretty tight, with most of the film's thrills coming from the situational reaction of the captive couple at the mercy of an unknown psychopath. The concept is pretty customary in modern horror with characters forced to play out the twisted games of a nightmarish persona. The overall effect of the drama, meant to cause chills and tension becomes slightly tedious over the course of the film, but the cast manages to create an uncomfortable, emotional atmosphere which allowed me to build a connection, and feel invested.

The special effects are subdued, limited practical effects that offer a mix of gore, and grit. The majority of "In The House Of Flies" effectiveness as a horror film comes from the cramped setting, creepy props, insects, and macabre atmosphere. These things are 90 percent of the films horror element, sometimes giving us chilly realness, other times remaining inert properties. The sound effects do offer up an extra dose of despair, which helps to create that suspenseful unease effect. I had no real complaints on that aspect of this film.

Overall "In The House Of Flies" fails to really be horrific, often the film becomes a bit boring. The slow pace, mild nature did little to thrill me. The drama, writing, and effects were pretty stellar for an indie micro-budget film like this. Carrer's shows real talent with "In The House Of Flies" but the lack of action, and real energy keeps the film from really excelling considering the concept. The ending is a bit underwhelming, considering the cool vibe created by the opening scenes. It would have been nice if Carrer would have finished with that level of energy considering how sedate the majority of the film tends to be.