Reviews about the house
The House, Netflix’s new year's release, is a stopmotion miniseries featuring three stories. It takes place in a sprawling house. Each short is directed by a different director. However, they share an uncanny sense dread and spookiness.
Nexus Studios' The House anthology is the latest in a long line. It's the latest in a series of projects that have come from the UK-based studio (which also produced Billie Eilish’s Happier than Ever animated special). The three sections of one-hour each are divided into separate chapters that focus on different aspects.
Chapter one is set in the 1800s, and centers on a poor family who move into a strange house that seems to bring bad luck and evil to its inhabitants. It's a slow-burn tale that evokes a Wes Anderson feel, with a stop-motion aesthetic that's just as evocative of the Fantastic Mr. Fox, Salad Fingers and Ray Harryhausen films that it draws influence from.
The House isn’t just a dark comedy. Instead, it’s an arthouse-style miniseries asking you to think. It does this in an unexpected and rewarding way.
This piece of cinema is funny, sad, hopeful and creepy. This film is well-worth a watch with its compelling story beats combined with modern stop motion animation.
The House, aside from its gallows humors and shock value is one of the most visually appealing stop motion films outside of Laika. Each chapter has beautiful detail, from flocked figurines for the second story and felt characters for the first.
The House's look is a nice throwback at the 1980s Epoch Sylvanian Families series. The chapter's felt characters add a cozy feel to the terror, while the more realistic characters in the second chapter make stop-motion films lovers happy.
The House has its strengths, but it is not perfect. It doesn't overcome the minor flaws of its stories. They often substitute the surreal with more logical plot elements. While there are some moments of humor, it makes for an uneven and ultimately unsatisfying ending. Still, it's worth checking out for fans of dark comedies and stop-motion animation, especially those who enjoy the likes of Wes Anderson, David Firth and Tim Burton.