House Hunting (2013) Review

Is it Good

House Hunting is a solidly built supernatural thriller of two families trapped within an isolated house. While the circumstances are paranormal the effects the house has on the families are the primary focus. There is enough characterization in the first half that lets the subsequent breakdown of their relationships hit harder. The building tension breaks out into a great finale with a few surprises to cap it off.

 

Plot

Emma Hayes is forced to go on a House Hunting trip at her father’s request. She is not happy about going with her stepmother Susan, but she keeps quiet. 

As they look at homes a strange man requests to take a look at a house on the market. It is isolated, within budget and located on a very large lot that entices them to take a look.  

On arrival, the house appears a little disheveled and has multiple pre-recorded message boxes around it explaining the rooms and features. 

On leaving they meet up with the second family interested in the home, the Johnsons. After some small talk and greetings they depart only to be drawn back to the house after an injured woman stumbles into their path. Any attempts to drive away would continuously loop them back to the house again, leaving them trapped on the property.

 

The Loop

Every morning they find the cupboard stocked with exactly the amount of canned meals they need for their day. With no one entering the home during the night as far as they know.

Whenever they attempt to leave whether on foot or in a car it’s as if they get turned around and come back the same direction they went. 

Time is actually progressing far as they can tell. A broken leg heals and the trash can outside fills with used food cans showing a month has passed before the situation between them changes.

Each family begins to see that the loop isn’t just with them, time seems to be coming back to them. Events from their past replay outside in the fields, straining the relationship between and within the families.

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