You know what’s scary, alienating, lonely, and ripe for exploration in a horror movie? Emigrating to a new country after your life has been totally upended by war and you’re sent to a place that isn’t exactly inviting. That’s the sharp premise of “His House,” a horror movie that debuted at Sundance International Film Festival earlier this year merging the fears of traditional terror with the frightening uncertainty of being a refugee in a new country.
Written and directed by editor turned filmmaker Remi Weekes, his stunning directorial debut, our Sundance review of “His House,” described the film as “devastating….a terrifying examination of what it means to be a dislocated from home—spiritually, physically, emotionally, and otherwise—and uprooted to a strange, unfamiliar place where everyone looks at you with distrust and unease. It’s the refugee and immigration tale, so many people take for granted, but is so anxiety-inducing on so many levels, especially when fleeing hardship.”
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Reviews of “His House” were so ecstatic, Netflix picked up the film for acquisition after Sundance for a reported eigh-figure deal. Weekes also signed with CAA right after and had already been regarded for a variety of shorts and commercial campaigns that won numerous awards, including a Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. “His House” is mostly filled with relative unknowns and stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Wunmi Mosaku, and Matt Smith. Here’s the official synopsis:
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After making a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, a young refugee couple struggle to adjust to their new life in a small English town that has an unspeakable evil lurking beneath the surface.
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“His House” debuts on Netflix on October 30. Watch the first trailer below.