THE PLOT THUS FAR
College students exploring an abandoned insane asylum accidentally shatter canisters holding the cremains of former mental patients. Inhaling the dusty ash filling the air, they’re soon possessed by the souls once held within them. One is a convicted serial killer from 1950.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“House of Dust” is about an insane asylum with crazy people possessing nubile young teens. Most of the cast is new to me, since I don’t watch the MTV or the CW. But, they carry the scenes with the plomp that I’d expect from people that are barely five years out of Clearasil ads. Some of the ghostly designs work well, but it’s just a case of been there and done that. None of the kills are that graphic, but I could see this film working well at a young girl’s slumber party.
The haunted house has been a staple of so many awful movies. Most creative talents are scared to play with it due to that guilt by association. That being said, there’s something truly amazing about playing with an environment as a malevolent character. Few people get the magic of playing in an area that could contribute to your death. The Nostromo worked effectively in that sense for the first Alien movie. Most of the possessions only work when people realize that the afflicted are starting to act like better versions of themselves. If that was a carefully chosen decision, then I applaud the subtextual slam on today’s youth. Other than that, it works for what it is.
The DVD comes with no special features. The Dolby 5.1 track is pretty expansive. There’s a really amazing echo effect for some of the darker interiors that helps to set the mood. Plus, the transfer works well enough for standard definition. In the end, I’d recommend a rental.
RELEASE DATE: 05/20/2014