Every once in a while Hollywood tries a new variation of the haunted house genre, and every once in a while, it works. This is not one of those times. The movie starts out with a flashback with a doctor doing lobotomies when one of his patients escapes and kills the doctor. The orderlies then take him out, stage a murder scene and burn the evidence in the hospital crematorium. Jump to the present and we get into the real movie; actress Inbar Lavi plays Emma, a new student at Eastern Connecticut State University. Her roommate, Gabby, introduces her to Colt and Dylan and take her to a burning trashcan party in the vacant front property in front of the abandoned Redding Home Asylum. In time, we learn Emma is psychic, although she has been using medicine to drown out the voices for years. When she is drawn into the hospital by the voices of one of patients killed at the start, her friends follow her inside but accidentally knock over a shelf with the forgotten canisters holding the ashes of the three cremated in the prologue. The spirits of the three patients infest the three as a result - Colt becomes psychotic, Dylan develops Intense OCD and Gabby becomes manic depressive. After the local mean girl gets murdered, Emma starts to realize what's happening. It's not very scary; in fact, the plot does get tedious and drags in places, but it is atmospheric and the acting is pretty good. However, it kind of ends on an incomplete note with no police involvement or resolutions. The other big problem I have is that the movie is based loosely on the discovery of actual abandoned human ashes found abandoned at Oregon State Hospital in 2015. Making a horror movie instead of a documentary on this discovery seems quite in bad taste to me. "House of Dust" is a fair horror movie that isn't really that memorable except for this fact. It's worth a look for its creepy moments, but it's not as intense as one would expect a horror movie should be.
10 Reviews
Fair to middling horror ...
parry_na5 August 2022
This is a middling horror, without much in the way of scares. Inhaling the 'cremains' of the former patients of a mental asylum, three out of four students find they are possessed by the spirits of the inmates. The fourth, new girl Emma (Inbar Lavi) has to try and save them.
I'm going to be absolutely honest and admit that Gabby (Holland Roden) kept me watching. The others were nowhere near as obnoxious as teens often are in this kind of film, but not hugely interesting either. Emma's telepathic sympathy with the former inmates is a way of getting into the story, but like the creepy lone security guard, that plot line comes to nothing.
A reasonable flick then, without ever approaching greatness. The location is very effective and nicely shot; A. D. Calvo's direction is often very effective, with many moody establishing shots of the various locations - but it never quite lives up to its powerful opening sequence. My score is 5 out of 10.
I'm going to be absolutely honest and admit that Gabby (Holland Roden) kept me watching. The others were nowhere near as obnoxious as teens often are in this kind of film, but not hugely interesting either. Emma's telepathic sympathy with the former inmates is a way of getting into the story, but like the creepy lone security guard, that plot line comes to nothing.
A reasonable flick then, without ever approaching greatness. The location is very effective and nicely shot; A. D. Calvo's direction is often very effective, with many moody establishing shots of the various locations - but it never quite lives up to its powerful opening sequence. My score is 5 out of 10.
INSANE MAJOR IN PSYCHE
nogodnomasters7 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The film opens with Lobotomy Asylum House of Horrors where a patient gets burned alive in the crematorium and ashes placed in a can on a shelf with a bunch of other people. This is followed by "Inspired by true events."
The film centers on a college (Eastern Connecticut State University) foursome. Dylan (Eddie Hassell) and Gabby (Holland Roden) are a couple. Dylan's roommate is Kolt (Steven Grayhm) a nice guy who goes commando (note shorts in opening shots) and doesn't drink. He sees new girl Emma (Inbar Lavi) who he takes an instant liking to, due to watching too much MTV. Emma takes meds and has cleavage of which we see very little of either.
Then to the shock and surprise of the viewing audience (plot spoiler) they go exploring said abandoned asylum against the direct orders of an overweight campus cop (Justin James Lang) driving a golf cart.. They make their way to the crematorium where they spill and inhale the dust of the house. (True Story: Canisters of remains were once found in an abandoned asylum.)
At this point the haunting thing begins.
The film was based on a good idea. I liked the plot. The cast lacked on screen chemistry. The horror factor was ineffective and the dialogue was bland. Character build up likewise was ineffective. Emma, the main character, we never got to know, even by the end of the film. Gabby gives us an explanation of what is going on with Emma about 40 minutes into the film, by which time you should have figured it out on your own.
Okay as a rental.
Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex. Near shower nudity.
The film centers on a college (Eastern Connecticut State University) foursome. Dylan (Eddie Hassell) and Gabby (Holland Roden) are a couple. Dylan's roommate is Kolt (Steven Grayhm) a nice guy who goes commando (note shorts in opening shots) and doesn't drink. He sees new girl Emma (Inbar Lavi) who he takes an instant liking to, due to watching too much MTV. Emma takes meds and has cleavage of which we see very little of either.
Then to the shock and surprise of the viewing audience (plot spoiler) they go exploring said abandoned asylum against the direct orders of an overweight campus cop (Justin James Lang) driving a golf cart.. They make their way to the crematorium where they spill and inhale the dust of the house. (True Story: Canisters of remains were once found in an abandoned asylum.)
At this point the haunting thing begins.
The film was based on a good idea. I liked the plot. The cast lacked on screen chemistry. The horror factor was ineffective and the dialogue was bland. Character build up likewise was ineffective. Emma, the main character, we never got to know, even by the end of the film. Gabby gives us an explanation of what is going on with Emma about 40 minutes into the film, by which time you should have figured it out on your own.
Okay as a rental.
Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex. Near shower nudity.
Not the worst, but NOT the best.
wksk10 May 2014
As far as the haunted house genre of movie, this one was not one of the best in it's field, by far, however there have been much worse. The acting was actually not that bad at all. The actress who plays "Gaby" also has a role on the MTV show Teen Wolf. This is also not the first role for any of the cast, so more or less, they get the job done. While I understand that this was based off something that happened at a real crematorium, I believe they went about explaining everything in a what that was not very believable. I hate the type of movies where the lead characters do plan stupid stuff just to the movie doesn't end. Everyone knows that no one in their right mind would do something "like that" but they always end up doing it anyway. I say, if you're bored, you have nothing to lose. Just don't spend money on it.
House of Dust needed more pace, bigger budget and it could have been something much more than it was.
seans_life30 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This is a movie that is for sure good as a cheap rental. It needed more action/a faster pace at certain points of the movie though to make it better for more people and to make it likable for a wider audience. Also with a bigger budget they could have had some better special effects but what they did have didn't look bad on screen. In regards to the story I liked the idea of how this spirit came about possessing people. There also was an interesting back story even if it wasn't too complex but it was well set out for us at the beginning. I also think the ending was interesting in that the spirit found a host which it should be able to control easier and mold into what he needs the person to become so he can create more havoc on the earth eventually. Definitely a second movie could be made and be entertaining. No way this movie was a 1 like someone said on the IMDb message boards for this movie and yeah it wasn't a blockbuster 8+ movie but it was watchable and enjoyable for the most part. Also in regards to the acting for this it was solid if not spectacular. I have seen much, much worse and the acting did not make me want to shut off the movie. As for specific acting Inbar Lavi is smoking hot. I don't think people are going to mind seeing more of her on the big screen. She delivered her lines fine and it would have been interesting to see if this cast could have handled a more fast paced script which is what this movie should have had more of. Hopefully we will see this in a sequel. To be honest I can't remember the last person in a movie that I said was smoking hot before Inbar Lavi in a long while. A new pretty face for the movies? Maybe.
I hate to put a score out of 10 on this and so I won't if I don't have to while posting this review.
I hate to put a score out of 10 on this and so I won't if I don't have to while posting this review.
No thrills, nothing creepy, just more wasted money.
InDyingArms12 April 2015
I love anchor bay entertainment! But like most other distribution companies, they run out of money, and I guess "House of dust" is what you get when that occurs..
First off, the story of this movie. Once I got the main idea of the story, a huge face palm was planted on my face. In this case, the story of this movie is clichéd, and has been seen millions, of billions of times before, delivering absolutely nothing new in the sense of entertainment. The so called "Legend" is a massive cliché that has portrayed in many, many other films, as well as the characters, location, etc.
Next, the killer, or foe in this tale. One word, once again, cliché. The killed has been portrayed in many others films! Yet again I say! And in this movie, the killer wasn't even executed all that well, making him seem foolish, and stupid in a way that drags this film deeper then it already is..
Lastly, the cinematography, sound, overall execution, and characters. The characters, or in this case main characters were, like the rest of this movie clichéd. They were a bunch of collage kids that listened to the strong, "better" guy of the group, getting themselves into trouble, and DEATH. The cinematography of the film was shallow. Some shots were flawed, making it look terrible. Some of the lighting, as well made the scenes look dull, and misplaced. Overall depressing - like when it wasn't meant to. Moving along, almost everything of the film was reliant of CGI, and it was horrible looking. They used CGI from fire, to a shattering light bulb. All of which was horrible, misplaced looking. Finally, the sound. Most of the soundtrack didn't fit! Some music sequences sounded like action when noting really was happening, throwing us viewers off track! And concluding, the scares. Horrible! There were none, no tension, thrills, nothing. Once we got anything, thought, it was lame, horrid jump scares! No! In conclusion. This is a bad, bad, bad low budget film that tried to be more then it was, leading in an ultimate downfall! This movie failed from beginning, to end! More money wasted! Stay away from this one, I honestly have no intentions of recommending this to anyone, for it's another uneventful, cliché fest that angers, instead pleasing.
First off, the story of this movie. Once I got the main idea of the story, a huge face palm was planted on my face. In this case, the story of this movie is clichéd, and has been seen millions, of billions of times before, delivering absolutely nothing new in the sense of entertainment. The so called "Legend" is a massive cliché that has portrayed in many, many other films, as well as the characters, location, etc.
Next, the killer, or foe in this tale. One word, once again, cliché. The killed has been portrayed in many others films! Yet again I say! And in this movie, the killer wasn't even executed all that well, making him seem foolish, and stupid in a way that drags this film deeper then it already is..
Lastly, the cinematography, sound, overall execution, and characters. The characters, or in this case main characters were, like the rest of this movie clichéd. They were a bunch of collage kids that listened to the strong, "better" guy of the group, getting themselves into trouble, and DEATH. The cinematography of the film was shallow. Some shots were flawed, making it look terrible. Some of the lighting, as well made the scenes look dull, and misplaced. Overall depressing - like when it wasn't meant to. Moving along, almost everything of the film was reliant of CGI, and it was horrible looking. They used CGI from fire, to a shattering light bulb. All of which was horrible, misplaced looking. Finally, the sound. Most of the soundtrack didn't fit! Some music sequences sounded like action when noting really was happening, throwing us viewers off track! And concluding, the scares. Horrible! There were none, no tension, thrills, nothing. Once we got anything, thought, it was lame, horrid jump scares! No! In conclusion. This is a bad, bad, bad low budget film that tried to be more then it was, leading in an ultimate downfall! This movie failed from beginning, to end! More money wasted! Stay away from this one, I honestly have no intentions of recommending this to anyone, for it's another uneventful, cliché fest that angers, instead pleasing.
Straight up nonsense
stevelivesey6730 December 2022
A supposed horror story that involves haunted dust. I'm not kidding.......haunted dust from a crematorium. I wonder how they got this bag of spanners Green lit.?
Does it have any good bits? Well, if you had to push me into a corner, I might say that Inbar Lavi is quite charming in the lead role and some of the scenes had me half-anxious but that would be about it.
The premise is the worse bit. Well, that and that he seems to be able to possess anyone at will and make people dream. That and apparently service and maintain a perfectly working crematorium furnace through the years just in case someone knocks over his tea caddy container.
Avoid.
Does it have any good bits? Well, if you had to push me into a corner, I might say that Inbar Lavi is quite charming in the lead role and some of the scenes had me half-anxious but that would be about it.
The premise is the worse bit. Well, that and that he seems to be able to possess anyone at will and make people dream. That and apparently service and maintain a perfectly working crematorium furnace through the years just in case someone knocks over his tea caddy container.
Avoid.
Actually Dust, dust your house, this is awful.
kpcisq26 December 2020
Will keep you on the edge of your seat!
delia-berlin8 April 2014
Beautifully shot ghost story full of spooky moon lit scenes of northeast Connecticut. Recognizing scenes of the wonderful campus of Eastern Connecticut State University is a special treat for Willimantic area fans. Inspired by a real story of cremation remains of patients found at an abandoned asylum for the "mentally insane" this fantasy often gets too close to reality for comfort. A.D. Calvo has a knack for contrasting beauty and horror, both through images and sounds. This is not a movie to watch alone. In the end, the boundaries of mental health and sanity blur as fantasy and reality trade places. As always, questions are answered as new questions remain.
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