Halloween is a much bigger deal in the United States than in the United Kingdom, we all know that. As horror fans demand more intense and immersive experiences a whole industry has grown to cater to this, the result being a number of so-called haunted houses populated mainly with out-of-work actors whose goal is to scare the hell out of paying customers.
Bobby Roe’s found footage film focuses on the most extreme of these events. Zack (Andrews) and his four friends Brandy (Schaefer), Bobby and Mikey (Roe) and Jeff (Larson) rent an RV and set off on a trip across the Southern States in search of the best (or worst) that the haunted house experience has to offer. As they journey into this semi-secret world they hear whispers of a mysterious group know as Blue Skeleton who apparently offer the scariest night possible but it becomes increasingly clear that some things should be left well alone.
The biggest problem with The Houses October Built is that it would probably have worked better, and been more interesting as a traditional documentary rather than one of the fake variety. This is clearly an interesting subject but this is not the film to shed any light upon it. It is difficult at times to see exactly what is going on with much of the footage shot in virtual darkness, and while this may be accurate to the situations it doesn’t make for a clear viewing experience.
As a result the fear that the film tries to convey is lost a little and therefore never feels truly engaging. The justification for the cameras is also flawed; if the filming is to be done within the houses themselves then why are there cameras fitted all over the RV, both inside and out? While this does become apparent in the contrived narrative later in the film it never convinces in its reasoning.
OVERALL SUMMARY
There are some scary moments and if you have an inherent fear of clowns, claustrophobic places or being buried alive then The House October Built could prove to be an uncomfortable viewing experience. Ultimately though there is just not enough going on for most audiences to remain interested.
