I was surprised you didn't mention House of Leaves in your video. The movie completely ripped off that book's concept of a house that measures differently and acts as a kind of hell for its inhabitants and anyone who knows its secrets. Have you read it? You'd love it.
There’s also a quick dialogue where Theo and Suze talk about how neither of them picked the house. How they each thought the other sent them the listing. More evidence on how the house picks you.
I am so glad someone else noticed that. Personally, I think Stetler originally planned to trap both Suze and Theo before the fight. I know for the Christian belief you’re basically destined to go to hell if you don’t repent your sins and ask for forgiveness. I know Suze never outright said she was sorry, but she did admit to the affair and showed remorse at the end when she said she wanted to work things out. Theo, on the other hand acted like he was a victim and never accepted what he did up until the end, even going as far as not recognizing his crime as a sin
Littlemissbunny I just watched this movie and I’m curious on when she admitted to the affair? I know a lot of the things that happen points to it but I just don’t remember her actually saying it.
BraysMommy I think it was when he confronts her about having two phones. While she’s doesn’t outright say it, I don’t think she denied it either when she said she wished he’d just yell or show his anger about it
I think this film's downfall is being sold as horror. It seems like a subtle psychological drama. Lot of hate going around, the symbolism is lost to the expectation of horror and scares. Purgatory and the inability or denial to try and escape it terrify me... but that's not something most people reflect on.
Very insightful comment. I think that the psychological part was meant to be lost on some or most. A lot of ppl are only looking to be entertained these days.
At the end he says to Suze "If i stay we would end up back here" because he knows that he would end up killing her later down the road for cheating since that has also been eating him up since the start of the film and Suze would also feel the guilt of cheating which would eat her up inside thus she to would be stuck in the house.
He did not kill his ex wife. He just did not SAVE her. It appeared to me she killed herself. There is a huge difference there and he feels guilty about it
It's murder. He knew she would die. She wasn't trying to kill herself. She was just a drunken idiot with a pill problem. He could've saved her and left her. But money. He's not a good person.
Wow the philosophy behind leaving a negative situation before it ends up corrupting you or influencing you in a destructive way is really powerful, sometimes a situation can on longer be fixed and the best thing to do for both parties is to just part ways before things get ugly.
im doing an assignment on the novella that this movie was based on (watching stuff about the movie just out of curiosity) but i might actually steal this allegory 😭
The thing I hated about this movie was Susan cheating and the movie trying to make him out to be the bad guy at every turn. She didn't even try to apologize when she got caught
I didn't see the movie, but from the way you explained it, Stetler sounds like he represents purgatory, rather than hell. So he probably isn't actually the devil, but something that aims to 'purify' the soul. Just a guess, though. I remember that the angel of death from "Click" did a similar thing, and it was ultimately to teach a lesson.
Based on Biblical Words, devils or demons who punish people on hell cannot interfere with the world. They're the creation of god and will stay there and only has 1 job, which is to punish. They're lifeless. So it cannot be Satan aswell since the antagonist or the ghost here seems to represent divine interferance
my comment is late, but i did remember that. However what i remembered was that the wife was referring to the village. It was the time when he was sending her away after knowing that she was cheating. She asked "How long am I going to stay at purgatory." So basically, the village is the purgatory, which kinda makes sense because that's where the wife repented on her sin. otw she cried and felt guilty. So ig the house is hell. since theo never repented.
This is honestly some really cool and clever directing and writing! I honestly don't get what all the hate was. Did they not notice the foreshadowing and symbolism? It may not be a scary film, but it's a clever and interestingly written film! Reminds me of Alan Wake.
I mean, in Faustian tradition, the kid and wife are technically innocent and can’t be kept. Especially if the bargain has already been struck....though, honestly the shop keeper in his knowledge gives me more devil vibes. Even the store’s name feels like a trap.
I have absolutely no clue why this movie got bad reviews. It was quite different to me, and it is the only horror movie in history that had actually scared me a little.
I've watched almost every horror movie in the past 40 years. This one was not bad at all! It was definitely suspenseful and kept me interested until they end.
We can’t escape ourselves. Wherever I go, there I am. The guilt is following him. We are trapped in our own thoughts. Whether you think what he did made him guilty or not, doesn’t matter. He feels guilt and it's swallowing him whole.
I would’ve preferred that instead of him being trapped their forever he turned back and the house was gone he faced his sins and that’s what it was really all about it would’ve also went with the god vs devil theme
I mean if that happened there would've been no victims ever. Penance has nothing to do with admitting, it demands more of you. Yes the punishment outweighs the sin, but this reflects life in general. I think that would've been unsatisfying. Yes him escaping is the "happy" ending but that goes against the purpose of the film. He has made a mistake, now he has to pay for it. Edit: That's my take away from watching this video I, by no means, have seen this film. But that is what it seems like to me. Letting him escape would be a betrayal of the purpose. It's above him, it doesn't need to be complex. You sin, you're trapped forever.
Christian theology, somewhat oddly, accepts that once you go to Hell, you can't repent. (There were big debates about this way way back, but it was settled.)
@@DanielFolsom Actually, not all Christian sects believe that. We don't all even have a uniform belief about what hell is, or if it actually exists as a literal place in the afterlife.
@@supercode2825 There are adherents that reject Hell entirely (although few, if any, major denominations go that route), and there's virtually no support for the idea that repentance after being sent to Hell is possible.
The question I am asking myself, "Is he actually dead!?" and is that hell? Not just a haunted house? What if when they almost got in a car crash they actually did??!! The wife and kid followed him to hell, and at the end when they left they were actually going to heaven!!! That would make the movie make way more sense.
@خوشکگێی هەڤاڵ گەرمیانی there are interpretations of devil that Lucifer is called Beelzebuv and he is first of the fallen and the fallen angels are Devils, because Lucifer hubris becauss he is the most beautiful and beloved by God, he wants to rule humanity but God doesn't let and cast him down and his followers. And as punishment Lucifer that wanted to rule humanity. God sent sinners(shit) people thats why he sometimes called Lord of the Flies because he rules shitty people.
is kevin bacon's character even really a "bad guy?" bad enough for the devil to want him? its made to sound like her murdered his ex-wife, but that's different than leaving her as she drowned herself; unless i'm missing something.
I also want to know this. Did she drown herself? Or was it an accident? Honestly I can't blame the guy for anything if she chose to commit suicide, like yeah, he could have stopped it, but is it really his fault she chose to kill herself?
Lucas Brant I think she was drunk and on pills. It slowed shots of a wine glass and a bottle of pills next to it. Wait. Maybe it was a suicide I have no idea
The implication is that the wife committed suicide, and whilst he had returned home and witnessed this and that she was still alive, and he had the chance to save her life - he didn't. He leaves the room and at that point he becomes guilty. It's such a minor crime though. Here's the actually built of law it relates to: Section 323c Failure to Render Assistance Whoever does not render assistance during accidents or common danger or need, although it is required and can be expected of him under the circumstances and, especially, is possible without substantial danger to himself and without violation of other important duties, shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine.
I have a problem when movies use the concept of a village feeding people to a house because it only eats bad people. Wouldn’t feeding people to a house make the entire village nothing but bad people? Wouldn’t that attract those people to the house because they deserve to die because they’re bad people?
I'm not sure the village was feeding the house as much as just aware that bad people were drawn to the house and never left it. In all honesty, if this was a real thing, and it actually drew in real rapists and murderers and such, would you try to save them from going in? Or would you simply say Karma?
3 years late but the village people are means to an end. Basically we can all see the house as the purgatory, the village as hell, and the people as devil’s servants, probably people who committed bad deeds and are trapped in time never being given the chance to rest in peace.
Stetler as the devil makes some sense as if you go away from the strict Christian idea the devil is typically a trickster who likes to play games. As Theo is the only one that has taken a life in the film the devil may have singled him out because of his tainted soul. Yes Suze has a lover but she, as far as the audience knows, has yet to commit adultery in the purist of senses. Ella is a child and thus still an innocent Stetler may not be interested or allowed to take the souls of those not already doomed to damnation.
Stetler is more likely the embodiment of Purgatory or perhaps even an angel as he is trying to redeem Theo rather than tempt him and bring him down a dark path.
@@304enjoyer3 Not justifying it. But it can be a gray area. Partners drifting apart, changing, making opposing life choices. Not saying it's right, but sometimes it's just not fully wrong. Purely situational.
To me the house represents a test, with Stetler being the test proctor. If the souls of those who are being tested are able to confront their sins, they can be at peace. Since Theo is able to be honest about what he's done, and he even chooses to stay alone so that Susanna and his daughter can leave, he's able to finally ease his guilty conscience. His confession and acceptance at the end of the film wasn't terrifying or panicked. Instead it seems somber/bitter sweet; that he is willing to accept judgement and stop running from his guilt. I feel those that continue fear from judgement or lie to themselves are the ones who are trapped in purgatory shown as polaroid's on the wall. Also, with the ending narration of "Some leave. Some stay", I took it to mean the people being tested, not necessarily Susanna and his daughter. This interpretation helps explain why I don't see Stetler as the "Devil", and why he allows Susanna and Theo's daughter to leave, instead of trapping whomever enters.
Carl Jung would refer to Stetler as the shadow/the unconscious. Eckhart Tolle would call him the pain body/unobserved mind. He is the ego/the self. The story teller. The guilt ridden time traveler living in the past. Or the anxiety tortured time traveler living in the future.
• 6:18 - What kind of architectural flaw could make it bigger on the inside? 🤨 • 10:27 - There was only one shadow-like figure and it was himself from the future. • 11:11 - That's because you're thinking of the post-Dante Christian concept of the Devil as evil incarnate. In many/most cultures (and the comic/show Lucifer), the devil is just an instrument of punishment of the wicked, not personally malicious himself.
The house having different measurements inside and outside also occurs in a horror book called house of leaves that, of course, takes place inside a house. The themes and plot are different tho
Here is my only question, but it's a damn good one: If the main character ended up staying in the house at the end of the movie....then how could the house be available for rent again at the very end of the film??? Does this imply that the main character took his own life out of guilt as did others before him and it is the spirits of these people living in the house? How else could he live in the house and the house be rented to other people? If anyone has insights on this, please comment. This is the only part of the movie that left me confused.
i mean the house changed itself at will and you'd never run into the other 'residents', but my guess is that only he's soul stayed, the whole journey is a metaphore for taking ownership of the things you've done/gone through.
I think Stetler may be an angel. Due to the number of chances he gives his "victims " to repent. The house may be evil but Stetler seems separated from the house. Basically, my theory is that the house has become the final testing ground for potentially dammed souls. Those who confront their demons and repent get to leave, the others... not so much. My reasoning for this is that the shopkeeper says: "Some people leave, some don't " Maybe the townspeople interacted with some of those who were allowed to leave, and came to realize the importance of Stetlers work, hence the whole town being in on it. Kind of a -"If that house only eats evil people, who am I to stop it?"-type of rationalization . Just my 2 cents
This reminds me of Triangle. It will be up to Theo how his redemption goes once he quits fighting the process. He made an unselfish choice in letting his family escape and he took responsibility. He's already on that path.
I feel like the whole "ant doesn't understand a cathedral" argument is turning into a free pass to just hand-wave things away. Like "why is the house the way to is" "ehhhhhhhhhh you wouldn't get it"
Honestly, if the house was explained in detail how it worked then the movie would have to be about the house. Also over explaining ruins horror since the horror is in the unknown
I was just thinking this. It's not surprising that they couldn't quite capture the horror of house of leaves. That book will never have a movie do it justice, just due to the format.
Okay. Now I see that the film is just trying to rip off the house of leaves. Not a adaptation and too accurate for inspiration. Just a bit unoriginal. And bad
David Andersson im not shocked at all lol. i mean, bigger on the inside than the outside hasnt been done often before. i dont think its a coincidence if im being honest.
This movie is good from both a subjective and profile standpoint. The film incorporates several super deep foreshadowing moments that make no sense(until the end), comparable to the sixth sense. Also the conflict of trying to start his life over and having it torn away from him is a huge symbol of punishment. Bacon was the best actor for this, keeping his stagnant calm self. The house represents purgatory! Not hell! This is in fact the angel of death not the devil. The frustration of being lost in time is a description of a lost world. It’s a world to serve penance not to endure pain and suffering for the sake of suffering. Rather to endure suffering to learn the error of your ways. It also enhances the idea of Good samaritainship. The devil wants cold blooded killers while God wants good samaritains, Bacons character was neither of these people, he was a healthy middle, not causing the death but not doing anything to prevent it . Showing the house is purgatory an indescribable middle ground of the two. Get over it, it was a good film. Was it portrayed in the best way? No it wasn’t. Neither was Star Wars, or Divergent, or passengers, all good stories but bad filming techniques resulting in a split audience. Star Wars got amazing reactions but it wasn’t filmed correctly and had some plot holes. Imagine if all movies could be perfect. This one is far from it but it does have an amazing showmanship of showing someone the error in their ways.
@FINESSED TAY GAMING It was mediocre at best!!., I just wished they had made it more of an actual horror/ thriller and developed the plot line better. They could have developed, the unreliable Narrator to an eventual arc that was understood, and gave answers to so many questions, to a level so much deeper than what they did. It left people more confused than anything. There was no real answers into what was actually going on?, or why he had to stay?, what brought them there?. Why he was able to go back & leave his daughter with his wife?, who was the shadow man? What was his purpose?, was he the devil?, if so why did he want him to find peace? , what the point was of the Shopkeeper & the old woman by the car?. It could have been done, alot better. They also charged people $20 for a 90 minute film. I didn't pay to watch it, but I feel bad for the people who did.
11:42 My thought, This is the only say of village people that "devil built that house" because there were mysterious deaths in that house that's why they relate it as act of devil. But they don't know that the house only kills the bad people. No where in the movie, director even tries to say that the house made by devil. Director just shows that the people of that village relate it with devil.
Stetler in my opinion could very well be the Grim Reaper as apposed to the Devil or even possibly God. My reason for saying this is that the Grim Reaper is supposed to collect soles and bring them to their final resting place (in this case the house). The Grim Reaper in some cases like the Ferryman from Greek Mythology is supposed to guide people down to hell or their final place of resting. The Grim Reaper not only guided our protagonist to the home, but helped him cope and lay to rest his past/past self.
I just feel like if Theo has to stay in the devils house because he sinned then Suzy should have had to stay as well because she’s a sinner too. (Infidelity)
They should have dropped the scene at the beginning or made it a shadow and definitely modified Bacon's voice (which has a very unique and memorable wraspy timbre that we've heard in a million movies for years) because that just gave the whole thing away to me. And they should've put more time into the house or town if it was that powerful a place or at least it's look. It just looked like the director's friend was a realtor and gave them a show home to film in for a couple of weeks. I did like the whole trapped in purgatory/time loop effect and when the interior began to get weird it had a nice Navidson Record vibe. And in some versions, the devil is more about just punishing the wicked that collecting as many souls as possible (i.e. the show "Lucifer").
lol it feels like Blumehouse just shotguns a bunch of movies every year like here's 15 movies and 3 are good hahah just throw a bunch out there and hopefully the couple that are good pay for the rest
People tend to forget, but Kevin Bacon actually made some pretty AWESOME horror-movies - "STIR OF ECHOES" being among my absolute favourites (ALL-TIME favorites!).
I wouldn’t feel guilty at all. If my partner was disturbing my peace for years to the point of hatred for him, and he decides to mix alcohol, medication, and a hot bath one day….he’s a grown man, who am I to stop him? I wonder if he had no guilt, I wonder would the house be as effective?
Stetler is an anagram for settler...the person who settles in the house. The house can warp time, Stetler is actually his future self after an untold amount of time, driven to even more madness, it is his own personal hell.
I just looked it up and Stetler or Stettler is derived from the surname Stadler in German; the root word being Stadle, which means ‘barn, granary, storage building’, hence a topographic name for someone who lived near a barn or granary, or an occupational name for an official who was responsible for receiving tithes into the manorial storehouse. Maybe this etymology is meant to show that “Stetler” takes offerings in the form of the residents souls, or Polaroids, to maintain the manor and as a Stadler can never leave as a result
i know this is late but also in the movie you can see how the house chooses people by watching when theo and susanna are arguing while theos making dinner both of them say it was eachothers idea which shows that the entity sent both of them links to the house
This movie left me with more questions than answers which I never like in a movie. Why did he let his wife die? If he wanted her to die, why is he feeling angry and guilty? What was wrong with their marriage that he should have left? Did he just end up killing his self in that house? How did he know staying in that house was right instead of raising his daughter?
I kind of think that the house is the abyss for all who are either fighting with guilt and Stetlar is more like a Ed(super ego) like you mentioned ......I think the guy just drowned in his own guilt (the house ) coz he couldn't face and resist his Ed (stetlar) coz he was hiding it and he was feeling and at the end just like the suiciders he also gave up coz he said, "I cant do this anymore" ......he just gave up and left his wife and kid that he think he didn't deserve , embraced his guilt and went into the darkness like any depression patient ......he could've fought it though but he just gave up ....thinking he deserves the punishment and not a second chance
Oh my, I am going to really like this movie, I really enjoy thrillers like this... Also, the house measurements not adding up is taken from the book "House of Leaves"
Kevin Bacon also starred in Hollow Man - based on The Invisible Man - where his character says: It's amazing what you can do when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror anymore.
If I'm not mistaken, the mythological figure of what could be considered the devil didn't just take souls. He took guilty souls in some stories. As those were the only ones he had right to. I wonder if this is an allusion to one of those type of stories.
The devil isn’t just evil, he is but he isn’t just evil to everyone. The devils main job is to pass judgment. He can’t hurt someone who isn’t evil inherently
6:06 Simple solutions are a rare treasure in fims nowdays. When I saw the film I didn't notice that the is the angle in the ruler what's "wrong", not the wall. Brilliant. And brilliant acting, the three of them.
At the beginning of the movie when they are driving to the house, ella asked if theo will die before suze because he is older, then he said, "not if I can help it," which could possibly mean that he was mad at Suze for cheating on him and he thought he could eventually kill her
I have not seen the film but was interested when I seen a clip and watched basically enough reviews and roundups to gather my own opinion. So we know Kevin’s character is plagued with guilt that he didn’t step in to prevent his wife’s suicide or that he didn’t leave her before it came to that. It’s mentioned in the film that the house usually finds the people who need it or they find it. Perhaps it isn’t a bad thing but a chance for those plagued with guilt to repent for their sins whilst also gaining some sense of relief. The startled character although seems like a devil character seems more like the manifestation of Theo’s guilt and im sure the house is the entity and startler is different to every victim simply because it is them. It’s their shadow of guilt they have carried into the house that is allowed to be unleaded within that house, that forces it’s real world counterpart to deal with. I can’t really explain the time jumps. Only that Theo was trapped in a loop from the moment he stepped into the house he just didn’t realise it.
I think the Stetler entity isn't the devil, but something else that could SEEM like the devil to people who have done bad things and have no remorse at all. But with Theo, he wanted to come clean and keep his wife and daughter out of it, so Stetler has that same feeling. Stetler is the evil of the people who come there. Some of them still have feelings and emotions and want to repent, others do not
Having watched this film I was hoping i'd misinterpreted it but it seems Think Story got the exact same interpretation that I did, but I thought i'd chime in a little because it seems there is some misunderstanding regarding 'The Devil'. Lucifer was a Fallen Angel who had committed a betrayal against God himsel, he isn't inherantly evil. The Bible attempts to portray him as this polar opposite to God and the other Angels themselves but perhaps the best portrayal I have seen is a recent interpretation in the Amazon Prime series 'Good Omens'. Lucifer would not take an innocent child to hell, so it's very likely that he would allow Theo to have a chance to save his daughter if indeed Stetler IS an incarnation of Lucifer, as Ella had done no wrong. That being said, however, I find it really weird that he would allow her to leave with Susanna who isn't related to her in any meaningful way - that's the glaring plot hole which I can't wrap my head around and I was hoping to find some semblance of explanation of.
I think your acceptance of Stetler as The Devil depends on your interpretation of that entity. There are some interpretations of The Devil that depict him merely as the punisher of guilty souls. A vengeful spirit who exists to unleash God's wrath on the wicked while leaving the innocent alone. Kind of like The Krampus. I think this is a much older version of the character. The Faustian soul collector version of The Devil came later.
That was my take away too, that they were leaning back towards the older Devil who punished the wicked and sinful. WHich was always kind of how I thought hell worked as Kid, the Devil was the warden and then we had the demons who did the actual tempting and possessing to get more souls.
I just read the novella that this movie is based on for class and decided to watch something about the movie out of curiosity. Here are some differences i noticed if anyone is curious (SPOILERS FOR THE NOVELLA) 1. Not really important but they literally changed the daughters name. Her name was Esther in the novella but she's Ella here so idk. Also Susanna's lover's name is David not Max. Minor details 2. On the topic of names, Theo literally does not have a name in the novella. The entire story is told from the perspective of his journal entries and he never actually says his name. I just call him the narrator honestly. It written in a style called "stream of consciousness", because it's literally just his thoughts, which i think lends itself well to the story, which could have potentially hurt the storytelling in the movie 3. And I think that's why they added the heavier religious elements and the murder of his ex-wife. In the novella, there is no murder, there isn't anything to atone for. Theo was a screenwriter and he is looking for a house to work on the sequel to his most successful movie (it is literally a romcom called Besties, which i find so funny, it's such a stark contrast to the vibes of the story). Though it still has the line about neither of them actually sent it to one another. 4. Like i said previously, there are a lot less religious elements. the house was said to be built on the grave of a tower, but it's also not super clear, because the clerk also says it might've just been a wizard, so idk. Stetler also isn't a major character, i think there's a brief reference to him when Theo/the narrator is talking to the store clerk but he literally doesn't show up once. Overall, the novella seems to lean much more into the idea of reality not being as easily perceived as we might think. Time is all messed up, angles aren't adding up (which in the novella, it's just that the angles of a triangle he draws don't add up to 180, though there are rooms that disappear and reappear), and towards the end the narrator insinuates that he now knows *why* this is the case and that it's because there's is another dimension/angle that isn't visible but is there that hasn't been taken into account. this is why he can exist in two places at once and why time doesn't make sense i would highly suggest reading the actual novella, it's very good. I'm not into horror (i read mexican gothic ONCE and have sworn off horror), but i think the novella at least is less horror and more just a thriller. Very fascinating read (im actively procrastinating on doing assignments FOR this novella, so thanks for giving me an excuse)
I think Stetler is definitely some sort of demon, but not THE devil (Lucifer, Satan). I also think that if Theo hadn't encountered the house, something else bad would have happened by what was said on Theo's meditation app: "This is a situation that cannot last."
Stetler is most likely guilt personified. The house is a gateway between heaven and hell where the soul must take its final journey to decide which destination it's it's fate.
While I haven't seen the film, I think I got the gist of it from this video. Seems like it had potential had they made Theo a worse person. The only crime he commited was failure to act which is punishable by up to 1 year in prison, he did not commit a serious crime and yet he gets effectively infinite torture. It would seem as though everyone around him is as bad if not worse than him and yet the movie makes him the bad guy. They should have made his crimes worse, and made the surrounding cast more moral.
I think it's relatively implied that Theo was cheated on by his ex-wife and was certainly emotionally abused. Then he gets cheated on again by his current wife, and then trapped in infinite torture; the guy can not catch a break.
This movie really reminds me alot of the game Silent Hill 2 and the movie Ghost Ship. They collect tainted people, have kids involved, SH even has the same important plot point.
🥓🥓🥓🥓
You sound like a better version of Jared from wisecrack !
How come you don't use the clip of the guy at the end mouthing "daddy loves you very much" as often as you used to?
It actually does say it was filmed in Wales and stages in London for the multiple doors and hallways effects not new jersey
@@goodtrav8114 nah
I was surprised you didn't mention House of Leaves in your video. The movie completely ripped off that book's concept of a house that measures differently and acts as a kind of hell for its inhabitants and anyone who knows its secrets. Have you read it? You'd love it.
There’s also a quick dialogue where Theo and Suze talk about how neither of them picked the house. How they each thought the other sent them the listing. More evidence on how the house picks you.
I am so glad someone else noticed that. Personally, I think Stetler originally planned to trap both Suze and Theo before the fight. I know for the Christian belief you’re basically destined to go to hell if you don’t repent your sins and ask for forgiveness. I know Suze never outright said she was sorry, but she did admit to the affair and showed remorse at the end when she said she wanted to work things out. Theo, on the other hand acted like he was a victim and never accepted what he did up until the end, even going as far as not recognizing his crime as a sin
Littlemissbunny I just watched this movie and I’m curious on when she admitted to the affair? I know a lot of the things that happen points to it but I just don’t remember her actually saying it.
BraysMommy I think it was when he confronts her about having two phones. While she’s doesn’t outright say it, I don’t think she denied it either when she said she wished he’d just yell or show his anger about it
this is the only comment i like. like this so so smart no one else mentioned something like this. thank u lol
If my wife said she didn't book a stay and I hadn't I would be gone. Leave the shit and book the next flight
I'm just glad that when he was beating Stetler it didn't turn out to be his wife or worse his daughter. That would be terrifying
That whole scene I totally expected it to be the daughter
Yh, me too. 🤦♀️ I thought it was his daughter.
Exactly, I was cringing waiting to see her
deuce crane I stg I was thinking the same thing 😂😂😂😂😂I was just waiting for him to turn into Ella crying or something
I was worried about that, that he was actually beating up his daughter without knowing
I think this film's downfall is being sold as horror. It seems like a subtle psychological drama. Lot of hate going around, the symbolism is lost to the expectation of horror and scares.
Purgatory and the inability or denial to try and escape it terrify me... but that's not something most people reflect on.
Very insightful comment. I think that the psychological part was meant to be lost on some or most. A lot of ppl are only looking to be entertained these days.
I agree
Yeah I hate so called horror movies where nobody gets killed.
Chi same, I love a psychological thriller
I personally really loved the movie, I think it’s an incredible psychological movie and it’s genuinely terrifying
At the end he says to Suze "If i stay we would end up back here" because he knows that he would end up killing her later down the road for cheating since that has also been eating him up since the start of the film and Suze would also feel the guilt of cheating which would eat her up inside thus she to would be stuck in the house.
good take
I think it’s more about punishment. In order to keep his family safe, he has to let them go.
Nah he cant leave, if they drove off would end right back at the house
Why would he kill her? He didn’t kill his wife he just didn’t save her
@@Edhead. Dude. That's killing...
He did not kill his ex wife. He just did not SAVE her. It appeared to me she killed herself. There is a huge difference there and he feels guilty about it
i think some acts of omission like this can be called a crime.
@Mommyhustlesharder Legally it's not, but morally it's obviously hideous.
@@DanielFolsom depending on whete you live, it technically could be considered murder
@@annabradish172 You might be right-sorry I have no idea what laws outside of the United States are. But inside the US, not murder.
It's murder. He knew she would die. She wasn't trying to kill herself. She was just a drunken idiot with a pill problem. He could've saved her and left her. But money. He's not a good person.
Wow the philosophy behind leaving a negative situation before it ends up corrupting you or influencing you in a destructive way is really powerful, sometimes a situation can on longer be fixed and the best thing to do for both parties is to just part ways before things get ugly.
im doing an assignment on the novella that this movie was based on (watching stuff about the movie just out of curiosity) but i might actually steal this allegory 😭
The thing I hated about this movie was Susan cheating and the movie trying to make him out to be the bad guy at every turn. She didn't even try to apologize when she got caught
Very true
Accountability is kryptonite to women
@@PigSticker-wm2tqtrue enough
@@RR29337thats for sure,and let him go 😂
The whole cheating arc was just pointless.
I didn't see the movie, but from the way you explained it, Stetler sounds like he represents purgatory, rather than hell. So he probably isn't actually the devil, but something that aims to 'purify' the soul. Just a guess, though. I remember that the angel of death from "Click" did a similar thing, and it was ultimately to teach a lesson.
This does make sence though
That’s pretty much it
Based on Biblical Words, devils or demons who punish people on hell cannot interfere with the world. They're the creation of god and will stay there and only has 1 job, which is to punish. They're lifeless. So it cannot be Satan aswell since the antagonist or the ghost here seems to represent divine interferance
@@chronological3957 Broo yea also how is it a fight between the devil and god because an single angel can defend the devil because god protects
@@dennismichelsen4936what did you even say?
The older Bacon gets, the more Dafoe he becomes.
I agree! 😆😁
AnomalyINC I was thinking that too. But I love DaFoe!
He’s not campy though..
That's so mean.
Willam defoe is even Willam Defoeesque
The house is purgatory.
His wife mentions it at one point with something like “How long are we going to stay in this purgatory?”
my comment is late, but i did remember that. However what i remembered was that the wife was referring to the village. It was the time when he was sending her away after knowing that she was cheating. She asked "How long am I going to stay at purgatory." So basically, the village is the purgatory, which kinda makes sense because that's where the wife repented on her sin. otw she cried and felt guilty. So ig the house is hell. since theo never repented.
Good point actually
This is honestly some really cool and clever directing and writing!
I honestly don't get what all the hate was. Did they not notice the foreshadowing and symbolism? It may not be a scary film, but it's a clever and interestingly written film! Reminds me of Alan Wake.
Because they want everyone to get slashed, and they actually have to use their OWN brain to think 🤔
When we see him write “you should leave” later on, he should have wrote something more explicit and said something to prove they should leave
I mean, in Faustian tradition, the kid and wife are technically innocent and can’t be kept. Especially if the bargain has already been struck....though, honestly the shop keeper in his knowledge gives me more devil vibes. Even the store’s name feels like a trap.
I have absolutely no clue why this movie got bad reviews. It was quite different to me, and it is the only horror movie in history that had actually scared me a little.
yeah these people writing reviews are just cry babies. Makes sense when you see that one of the greatest rated films/series is the office
You must not have watched many horror films
This is a thriller
I knowww, and I have see plenty of horror movies but this one, damn, it was the concept for me, pretty scary stuff.
I've watched almost every horror movie in the past 40 years. This one was not bad at all! It was definitely suspenseful and kept me interested until they end.
Its an Amazon experiment. He can only order things online from his house but can never leave.
No!
Lmao)
😂😂😂😂
Seriously that's an Eagles lyric lol so funny.
thx to covid that may well be true someday 😟
We can’t escape ourselves. Wherever I go, there I am. The guilt is following him. We are trapped in our own thoughts. Whether you think what he did made him guilty or not, doesn’t matter. He feels guilt and it's swallowing him whole.
I would’ve preferred that instead of him being trapped their forever he turned back and the house was gone he faced his sins and that’s what it was really all about it would’ve also went with the god vs devil theme
So Silent Hill 2?
I mean if that happened there would've been no victims ever. Penance has nothing to do with admitting, it demands more of you. Yes the punishment outweighs the sin, but this reflects life in general. I think that would've been unsatisfying. Yes him escaping is the "happy" ending but that goes against the purpose of the film. He has made a mistake, now he has to pay for it.
Edit: That's my take away from watching this video I, by no means, have seen this film. But that is what it seems like to me. Letting him escape would be a betrayal of the purpose. It's above him, it doesn't need to be complex. You sin, you're trapped forever.
Christian theology, somewhat oddly, accepts that once you go to Hell, you can't repent. (There were big debates about this way way back, but it was settled.)
@@DanielFolsom Actually, not all Christian sects believe that. We don't all even have a uniform belief about what hell is, or if it actually exists as a literal place in the afterlife.
@@supercode2825 There are adherents that reject Hell entirely (although few, if any, major denominations go that route), and there's virtually no support for the idea that repentance after being sent to Hell is possible.
The question I am asking myself, "Is he actually dead!?" and is that hell? Not just a haunted house? What if when they almost got in a car crash they actually did??!! The wife and kid followed him to hell, and at the end when they left they were actually going to heaven!!! That would make the movie make way more sense.
TheRealTrump that makes so much sense
@Chi No need to be an ass
Wow that do make sense
Chi Lmao you can’t read can you? Or maybe you just didn’t read the comment at all? Come back and write something coherent when you have.
Yeah, that does make sense
Well, the devil “exists” to punish people who have done wrong. Not just to be the embodiment of evil
No that’s gods job
Shari J by sending them to the devil
The "devil" is nothing more than Gods bad side. Everybody has one
@خوشکگێی هەڤاڵ گەرمیانی there are interpretations of devil that Lucifer is called Beelzebuv and he is first of the fallen and the fallen angels are Devils, because Lucifer hubris becauss he is the most beautiful and beloved by God, he wants to rule humanity but God doesn't let and cast him down and his followers. And as punishment Lucifer that wanted to rule humanity. God sent sinners(shit) people thats why he sometimes called Lord of the Flies because he rules shitty people.
I find it hilarious that people argue over which one is right about... Essentially fantasy.
is kevin bacon's character even really a "bad guy?"
bad enough for the devil to want him?
its made to sound like her murdered his ex-wife, but that's different than leaving her as she drowned herself; unless i'm missing something.
Nope lol
I also want to know this. Did she drown herself? Or was it an accident?
Honestly I can't blame the guy for anything if she chose to commit suicide, like yeah, he could have stopped it, but is it really his fault she chose to kill herself?
@@lucasbrant9856 she didn't kill herself on purpose. She was drunk/overdosed on pills and was unconscious
Lucas Brant I think she was drunk and on pills. It slowed shots of a wine glass and a bottle of pills next to it. Wait. Maybe it was a suicide I have no idea
The implication is that the wife committed suicide, and whilst he had returned home and witnessed this and that she was still alive, and he had the chance to save her life - he didn't.
He leaves the room and at that point he becomes guilty. It's such a minor crime though. Here's the actually built of law it relates to:
Section 323c Failure to Render Assistance
Whoever does not render assistance during accidents or common danger or need, although it is required and can be expected of him under the circumstances and, especially, is possible without substantial danger to himself and without violation of other important duties, shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine.
I have a problem when movies use the concept of a village feeding people to a house because it only eats bad people. Wouldn’t feeding people to a house make the entire village nothing but bad people? Wouldn’t that attract those people to the house because they deserve to die because they’re bad people?
Yeah and his wife was cheating. Why didn’t she get taken?
I'm not sure the village was feeding the house as much as just aware that bad people were drawn to the house and never left it. In all honesty, if this was a real thing, and it actually drew in real rapists and murderers and such, would you try to save them from going in? Or would you simply say Karma?
@@scrappymom7881 🤣😅
@@scrappymom7881 Good one 😅
3 years late but the village people are means to an end. Basically we can all see the house as the purgatory, the village as hell, and the people as devil’s servants, probably people who committed bad deeds and are trapped in time never being given the chance to rest in peace.
Stetler as the devil makes some sense as if you go away from the strict Christian idea the devil is typically a trickster who likes to play games. As Theo is the only one that has taken a life in the film the devil may have singled him out because of his tainted soul. Yes Suze has a lover but she, as far as the audience knows, has yet to commit adultery in the purist of senses.
Ella is a child and thus still an innocent Stetler may not be interested or allowed to take the souls of those not already doomed to damnation.
Stetler is more likely the embodiment of Purgatory or perhaps even an angel as he is trying to redeem Theo rather than tempt him and bring him down a dark path.
Adultery is also a gray area. You can cheat for lust or loneliness or any number of reasons.
@@robertgronewold3326 Cheating is still cheating though :p
@@robertgronewold3326 lust is a mortal sin, just like murder. And don't try to justify cheating btw
@@304enjoyer3 Not justifying it. But it can be a gray area. Partners drifting apart, changing, making opposing life choices. Not saying it's right, but sometimes it's just not fully wrong. Purely situational.
What about the credit he had left at the shop? Surely the devil will let him out of the house to spend it, no?!
To me the house represents a test, with Stetler being the test proctor.
If the souls of those who are being tested are able to confront their sins, they can be at peace. Since Theo is able to be honest about what he's done, and he even chooses to stay alone so that Susanna and his daughter can leave, he's able to finally ease his guilty conscience. His confession and acceptance at the end of the film wasn't terrifying or panicked. Instead it seems somber/bitter sweet; that he is willing to accept judgement and stop running from his guilt.
I feel those that continue fear from judgement or lie to themselves are the ones who are trapped in purgatory shown as polaroid's on the wall. Also, with the ending narration of "Some leave. Some stay", I took it to mean the people being tested, not necessarily Susanna and his daughter.
This interpretation helps explain why I don't see Stetler as the "Devil", and why he allows Susanna and Theo's daughter to leave, instead of trapping whomever enters.
Carl Jung would refer to Stetler as the shadow/the unconscious. Eckhart Tolle would call him the pain body/unobserved mind. He is the ego/the self. The story teller. The guilt ridden time traveler living in the past. Or the anxiety tortured time traveler living in the future.
• 6:18 - What kind of architectural flaw could make it bigger on the inside? 🤨
• 10:27 - There was only one shadow-like figure and it was himself from the future.
• 11:11 - That's because you're thinking of the post-Dante Christian concept of the Devil as evil incarnate. In many/most cultures (and the comic/show Lucifer), the devil is just an instrument of punishment of the wicked, not personally malicious himself.
Drunk Time Lord architect?
Aleksei Nagaev talking about the house
The house having different measurements inside and outside also occurs in a horror book called house of leaves that, of course, takes place inside a house. The themes and plot are different tho
Maybe the house is a type of entrance for the river of Styx, and stettler is actually the ferryman Charon, helping the souls cross.
The house just wants bacon.
@Michael Harrell It was a joke. He meant bacon as in the meat
Well you obviously didn’t get the joke so I hadda let you know
Here is my only question, but it's a damn good one: If the main character ended up staying in the house at the end of the movie....then how could the house be available for rent again at the very end of the film??? Does this imply that the main character took his own life out of guilt as did others before him and it is the spirits of these people living in the house? How else could he live in the house and the house be rented to other people? If anyone has insights on this, please comment. This is the only part of the movie that left me confused.
i mean the house changed itself at will and you'd never run into the other 'residents', but my guess is that only he's soul stayed, the whole journey is a metaphore for taking ownership of the things you've done/gone through.
I think Stetler may be an angel.
Due to the number of chances he gives his "victims " to repent. The house may be evil but Stetler seems separated from the house. Basically, my theory is that the house has become the final testing ground for potentially dammed souls. Those who confront their demons and repent get to leave, the others... not so much. My reasoning for this is that the shopkeeper says: "Some people leave, some don't "
Maybe the townspeople interacted with some of those who were allowed to leave, and came to realize the importance of Stetlers work, hence the whole town being in on it. Kind of a -"If that house only eats evil people, who am I to stop it?"-type of rationalization .
Just my 2 cents
wow. interesting take. reminds me of the show ' the good place'.
That implys that the village isnt evil and we are all corrupted sinners
This reminds me of Triangle. It will be up to Theo how his redemption goes once he quits fighting the process. He made an unselfish choice in letting his family escape and he took responsibility. He's already on that path.
We watched this last night and was left puzzled. Your take on it helps, especially after seeing the movie. Thanks for the help!
I feel like the whole "ant doesn't understand a cathedral" argument is turning into a free pass to just hand-wave things away. Like "why is the house the way to is" "ehhhhhhhhhh you wouldn't get it"
AT least they didn't put a platform in it that just goes up and down carrying food.
eating sugar no papa you can’t just say “no” to an opinion dude lol
@@neildoerdan2298 the platform was actually a really great comment on society tho, and at least it was original.
Honestly, if the house was explained in detail how it worked then the movie would have to be about the house.
Also over explaining ruins horror since the horror is in the unknown
I feel like whoever wrote this script read House of Leaves.
I was just thinking this. It's not surprising that they couldn't quite capture the horror of house of leaves. That book will never have a movie do it justice, just due to the format.
i was coming to the comments to say the exact same thing. it has the EXACT same concept as house of leaves and its a little bit concerning.
Okay. Now I see that the film is just trying to rip off the house of leaves. Not a adaptation and too accurate for inspiration. Just a bit unoriginal. And bad
I knew this comment would be down here.
David Andersson im not shocked at all lol. i mean, bigger on the inside than the outside hasnt been done often before. i dont think its a coincidence if im being honest.
I liked this movie and most Blumehouse movies even Fantasy Island
This movie is good from both a subjective and profile standpoint. The film incorporates several super deep foreshadowing moments that make no sense(until the end), comparable to the sixth sense. Also the conflict of trying to start his life over and having it torn away from him is a huge symbol of punishment. Bacon was the best actor for this, keeping his stagnant calm self. The house represents purgatory! Not hell! This is in fact the angel of death not the devil. The frustration of being lost in time is a description of a lost world. It’s a world to serve penance not to endure pain and suffering for the sake of suffering. Rather to endure suffering to learn the error of your ways. It also enhances the idea of Good samaritainship. The devil wants cold blooded killers while God wants good samaritains, Bacons character was neither of these people, he was a healthy middle, not causing the death but not doing anything to prevent it . Showing the house is purgatory an indescribable middle ground of the two.
Get over it, it was a good film.
Was it portrayed in the best way? No it wasn’t. Neither was Star Wars, or Divergent, or passengers, all good stories but bad filming techniques resulting in a split audience. Star Wars got amazing reactions but it wasn’t filmed correctly and had some plot holes. Imagine if all movies could be perfect. This one is far from it but it does have an amazing showmanship of showing someone the error in their ways.
I literally just watched the movie thank you so much
I litterly just finished it. I had no idea what was going on.
@FINESSED TAY GAMING It was mediocre at best!!., I just wished they had made it more of an actual horror/ thriller and developed the plot line better. They could have developed, the unreliable Narrator to an eventual arc that was understood, and gave answers to so many questions, to a level so much deeper than what they did. It left people more confused than anything. There was no real answers into what was actually going on?, or why he had to stay?, what brought them there?. Why he was able to go back & leave his daughter with his wife?, who was the shadow man? What was his purpose?, was he the devil?, if so why did he want him to find peace? , what the point was of the Shopkeeper & the old woman by the car?. It could have been done, alot better. They also charged people $20 for a 90 minute film. I didn't pay to watch it, but I feel bad for the people who did.
11:42 My thought,
This is the only say of village people that "devil built that house" because there were mysterious deaths in that house that's why they relate it as act of devil. But they don't know that the house only kills the bad people. No where in the movie, director even tries to say that the house made by devil. Director just shows that the people of that village relate it with devil.
But he did leave... his wife to drown. Should've stayed and saved her.
Stetler in my opinion could very well be the Grim Reaper as apposed to the Devil or even possibly God. My reason for saying this is that the Grim Reaper is supposed to collect soles and bring them to their final resting place (in this case the house). The Grim Reaper in some cases like the Ferryman from Greek Mythology is supposed to guide people down to hell or their final place of resting. The Grim Reaper not only guided our protagonist to the home, but helped him cope and lay to rest his past/past self.
Wait, this whole video makes it seem like it's a good movie. Everything you described seems super cool.
I enjoyed it, for what it's worth
He didn’t kill his wife, he just didn’t save her when he could.
That's murder. He knew what was gonna happen and didn't intervene.
@@atel7346 failure to render aid is not the same as murder. If she was drunk and he put her in the tub to drown her, that would be murder.
@@christiec9728 Failure to help even tho u can is murder
@@atel7346 That’s not the definition of murder
and you're okay with that?
I cannot wait for the sequel they're making called You should come here.
I love how some parts of the movie seem to take inspiration from “House of Leaves”, it’s such an amazing book
I just feel like if Theo has to stay in the devils house because he sinned then Suzy should have had to stay as well because she’s a sinner too. (Infidelity)
They should have dropped the scene at the beginning or made it a shadow and definitely modified Bacon's voice (which has a very unique and memorable wraspy timbre that we've heard in a million movies for years) because that just gave the whole thing away to me. And they should've put more time into the house or town if it was that powerful a place or at least it's look. It just looked like the director's friend was a realtor and gave them a show home to film in for a couple of weeks. I did like the whole trapped in purgatory/time loop effect and when the interior began to get weird it had a nice Navidson Record vibe. And in some versions, the devil is more about just punishing the wicked that collecting as many souls as possible (i.e. the show "Lucifer").
agree. i was very sure it was gonna be a 'confronting your issues' kinda movie because of the nightmare scene.
I was left at the end going WTF. Interesting concept, but took forever to get to the point and once it did it was anticlimactic and underwhelming
Also Stetler is an anagram of Settler, which is what Kevin Bacon will eventually become in the confines of the house.
I just luv your sense of humour so much
lol it feels like Blumehouse just shotguns a bunch of movies every year like here's 15 movies and 3 are good hahah just throw a bunch out there and hopefully the couple that are good pay for the rest
People tend to forget, but Kevin Bacon actually made some pretty AWESOME horror-movies - "STIR OF ECHOES" being among my absolute favourites (ALL-TIME favorites!).
Thankyou for the recommendation.
Yessssss absolutely love that movie
You know "Bread of Heaven" is the national song of Wales, right?
I wouldn’t feel guilty at all. If my partner was disturbing my peace for years to the point of hatred for him, and he decides to mix alcohol, medication, and a hot bath one day….he’s a grown man, who am I to stop him? I wonder if he had no guilt, I wonder would the house be as effective?
Kevin Bacon is aging like fine wine
This house is an SCP.
What's an SCP
Lol i thought the same thing 🤣🤔
@JAYDEN HERRERA thank you
SCP666?
Stetler is an anagram for settler...the person who settles in the house. The house can warp time, Stetler is actually his future self after an untold amount of time, driven to even more madness, it is his own personal hell.
I just looked it up and Stetler or Stettler is derived from the surname Stadler in German; the root word being Stadle, which means ‘barn, granary, storage building’, hence a topographic name for someone who lived near a barn or granary, or an occupational name for an official who was responsible for receiving tithes into the manorial storehouse.
Maybe this etymology is meant to show that “Stetler” takes offerings in the form of the residents souls, or Polaroids, to maintain the manor and as a Stadler can never leave as a result
i know this is late but also in the movie you can see how the house chooses people by watching when theo and susanna are arguing while theos making dinner both of them say it was eachothers idea which shows that the entity sent both of them links to the house
With all these "facing your shadow" themes I expected someone to talk about Persona
Imagine being trap in that house with Kevin Bacon! You can learn all the steps in Footloose!
This movie left me with more questions than answers which I never like in a movie. Why did he let his wife die? If he wanted her to die, why is he feeling angry and guilty? What was wrong with their marriage that he should have left? Did he just end up killing his self in that house? How did he know staying in that house was right instead of raising his daughter?
Yeha
I kind of think that the house is the abyss for all who are either fighting with guilt and Stetlar is more like a Ed(super ego) like you mentioned ......I think the guy just drowned in his own guilt (the house ) coz he couldn't face and resist his Ed (stetlar) coz he was hiding it and he was feeling and at the end just like the suiciders he also gave up coz he said, "I cant do this anymore" ......he just gave up and left his wife and kid that he think he didn't deserve , embraced his guilt and went into the darkness like any depression patient ......he could've fought it though but he just gave up ....thinking he deserves the punishment and not a second chance
Stetler can also become settler. One of its definitions is a negotiator that settles disputes. Stetler is settling a dispute of Theo's emotions.
All these footloose references cracked me up especially: 02:12 😂😂👏
Oh my, I am going to really like this movie, I really enjoy thrillers like this... Also, the house measurements not adding up is taken from the book "House of Leaves"
And the 3th filme, Should I stay or should I go
Kevin Bacon also starred in Hollow Man - based on The Invisible Man -
where his character says: It's amazing what you can do when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror anymore.
If I'm not mistaken, the mythological figure of what could be considered the devil didn't just take souls. He took guilty souls in some stories. As those were the only ones he had right to. I wonder if this is an allusion to one of those type of stories.
There was probably some room in this video for a few Graboid jokes. But it was a great video nonetheless!
The devil isn’t just evil, he is but he isn’t just evil to everyone. The devils main job is to pass judgment. He can’t hurt someone who isn’t evil inherently
6:06 Simple solutions are a rare treasure in fims nowdays. When I saw the film I didn't notice that the is the angle in the ruler what's "wrong", not the wall. Brilliant.
And brilliant acting, the three of them.
At the beginning of the movie when they are driving to the house, ella asked if theo will die before suze because he is older, then he said, "not if I can help it," which could possibly mean that he was mad at Suze for cheating on him and he thought he could eventually kill her
I have not seen the film but was interested when I seen a clip and watched basically enough reviews and roundups to gather my own opinion. So we know Kevin’s character is plagued with guilt that he didn’t step in to prevent his wife’s suicide or that he didn’t leave her before it came to that. It’s mentioned in the film that the house usually finds the people who need it or they find it. Perhaps it isn’t a bad thing but a chance for those plagued with guilt to repent for their sins whilst also gaining some sense of relief. The startled character although seems like a devil character seems more like the manifestation of Theo’s guilt and im sure the house is the entity and startler is different to every victim simply because it is them. It’s their shadow of guilt they have carried into the house that is allowed to be unleaded within that house, that forces it’s real world counterpart to deal with. I can’t really explain the time jumps. Only that Theo was trapped in a loop from the moment he stepped into the house he just didn’t realise it.
I think the Stetler entity isn't the devil, but something else that could SEEM like the devil to people who have done bad things and have no remorse at all. But with Theo, he wanted to come clean and keep his wife and daughter out of it, so Stetler has that same feeling. Stetler is the evil of the people who come there. Some of them still have feelings and emotions and want to repent, others do not
Having watched this film I was hoping i'd misinterpreted it but it seems Think Story got the exact same interpretation that I did, but I thought i'd chime in a little because it seems there is some misunderstanding regarding 'The Devil'. Lucifer was a Fallen Angel who had committed a betrayal against God himsel, he isn't inherantly evil. The Bible attempts to portray him as this polar opposite to God and the other Angels themselves but perhaps the best portrayal I have seen is a recent interpretation in the Amazon Prime series 'Good Omens'.
Lucifer would not take an innocent child to hell, so it's very likely that he would allow Theo to have a chance to save his daughter if indeed Stetler IS an incarnation of Lucifer, as Ella had done no wrong.
That being said, however, I find it really weird that he would allow her to leave with Susanna who isn't related to her in any meaningful way - that's the glaring plot hole which I can't wrap my head around and I was hoping to find some semblance of explanation of.
It’s a good movie. I’ve watched it 2 times already . My acting coach trained Kevin Bacon. Great actor
I just had a bacon sandwich 🥪 😋
One of the hardest working man in cinema.
This movie reminds me of Hide and Seek with Robert De Niro.
I was thinking the same.
Alysia Mer David-Wasser oh shit our names are really similar. One letter off
Some silent hill type stuff!
Oh wow I was wondering why he was disabled. That explanation at @8:43 👏 well done!!
Thanks for explaining this movie! It was kind of all over the place with it's plot at times!
If Stetler is the devil maybe he's just letting him go to avoid overcrowding. Hell's probably pretty packed.
I think your acceptance of Stetler as The Devil depends on your interpretation of that entity. There are some interpretations of The Devil that depict him merely as the punisher of guilty souls. A vengeful spirit who exists to unleash God's wrath on the wicked while leaving the innocent alone. Kind of like The Krampus. I think this is a much older version of the character. The Faustian soul collector version of The Devil came later.
That was my take away too, that they were leaning back towards the older Devil who punished the wicked and sinful. WHich was always kind of how I thought hell worked as Kid, the Devil was the warden and then we had the demons who did the actual tempting and possessing to get more souls.
Best notification ever . Nice
I just read the novella that this movie is based on for class and decided to watch something about the movie out of curiosity. Here are some differences i noticed if anyone is curious (SPOILERS FOR THE NOVELLA)
1. Not really important but they literally changed the daughters name. Her name was Esther in the novella but she's Ella here so idk. Also Susanna's lover's name is David not Max. Minor details
2. On the topic of names, Theo literally does not have a name in the novella. The entire story is told from the perspective of his journal entries and he never actually says his name. I just call him the narrator honestly. It written in a style called "stream of consciousness", because it's literally just his thoughts, which i think lends itself well to the story, which could have potentially hurt the storytelling in the movie
3. And I think that's why they added the heavier religious elements and the murder of his ex-wife. In the novella, there is no murder, there isn't anything to atone for. Theo was a screenwriter and he is looking for a house to work on the sequel to his most successful movie (it is literally a romcom called Besties, which i find so funny, it's such a stark contrast to the vibes of the story). Though it still has the line about neither of them actually sent it to one another.
4. Like i said previously, there are a lot less religious elements. the house was said to be built on the grave of a tower, but it's also not super clear, because the clerk also says it might've just been a wizard, so idk. Stetler also isn't a major character, i think there's a brief reference to him when Theo/the narrator is talking to the store clerk but he literally doesn't show up once. Overall, the novella seems to lean much more into the idea of reality not being as easily perceived as we might think. Time is all messed up, angles aren't adding up (which in the novella, it's just that the angles of a triangle he draws don't add up to 180, though there are rooms that disappear and reappear), and towards the end the narrator insinuates that he now knows *why* this is the case and that it's because there's is another dimension/angle that isn't visible but is there that hasn't been taken into account. this is why he can exist in two places at once and why time doesn't make sense
i would highly suggest reading the actual novella, it's very good. I'm not into horror (i read mexican gothic ONCE and have sworn off horror), but i think the novella at least is less horror and more just a thriller. Very fascinating read
(im actively procrastinating on doing assignments FOR this novella, so thanks for giving me an excuse)
There's a movie called clown trying ending explained to that
did Starlord make this video? Cause whoever did is obsessed with Kevin Bacon in Footloose
6:05 I don't think that ruler is at a right angle either.
Amazing explanation. Thank you.
The moment i saw the warning on the notebook i already knew this was gonna be one of those "your future self warning you to get out" type movies
I think Stetler is definitely some sort of demon, but not THE devil (Lucifer, Satan). I also think that if Theo hadn't encountered the house, something else bad would have happened by what was said on Theo's meditation app: "This is a situation that cannot last."
All of the Footloose jabs are hilarious.
Stetler is most likely guilt personified. The house is a gateway between heaven and hell where the soul must take its final journey to decide which destination it's it's fate.
Thanks for the recap. I only made it halfway through. You proved the movie isn't even worth watching a review of! 🙏
While I haven't seen the film, I think I got the gist of it from this video. Seems like it had potential had they made Theo a worse person. The only crime he commited was failure to act which is punishable by up to 1 year in prison, he did not commit a serious crime and yet he gets effectively infinite torture. It would seem as though everyone around him is as bad if not worse than him and yet the movie makes him the bad guy. They should have made his crimes worse, and made the surrounding cast more moral.
I think it's relatively implied that Theo was cheated on by his ex-wife and was certainly emotionally abused. Then he gets cheated on again by his current wife, and then trapped in infinite torture; the guy can not catch a break.
I ironically loved this movie. Throw back to 70s scary tv movie of the week. Rachael Anne call your father
The bread of heaven bit might not be as clever as you think. It's a common thing in wales and part of quite an important song to Welsh culture
This movie really reminds me alot of the game Silent Hill 2 and the movie Ghost Ship. They collect tainted people, have kids involved, SH even has the same important plot point.
Ela, the name means "God is my promise."
Oh, the full Hebrew version of the name. Elisheva