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The House of the Devil
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - Australia - Umbrella Entertainment Review written by and copyright: James-Masaki Ryan (4th March 2025). |
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The Film
 "The House of the Devil" (2009) Samantha (played by Jocelin Donahue) is looking to move out of her college dorm and finds a great deal on an apartment, but she is strapped for cash. She finds an ad for a babysitting job and decides to make the call for some easy money. Her best friend Megan (played by Greta Gerwig) drives her to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ulman (played by Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov), but things don’t sit right for them as Mr. Ulman states that it is not a child to be looked after. But after some negotiation for $400 for the evening, Samantha takes the job, though Megan thinks it is a bad idea to stay… Filmmaker Ti West received some notices for his first two features produced by Glass Eye Pix: “The Roost” (2005) and “Trigger Man” (2007), and it led to his attachment to directing “Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever”. The production was filmed in 2007 but due to clashes with Lionsgate, it had reshoots and reediting without his involvement with an eventual release in 2009 which West disowned. During the troubled post-production, he returned to Glass Eye Pix and was able to make “The House of the Devil”, which was highly praised and received the most attention. But what set it apart from the rest of the independent horror films of the time? The notable aspect of the film is that for the most part, it does not look or feel like a production from the 2000s, but from the 1980s. The film is set in 1983 and the production crewdid an excellent job to make the film feel like it was from that era, even if there are a few anachronisms to be found. Shot on 16mm film, the stock's look and the colors match those of productions from the era. Coupled with the vintage clothes, the hairstyles, the cars, and the props, they all convey to the audience of the time setting without loudly saying what decade it is supposed to be, which is a common trope of period films. In addition, the credit sequences have a 1980s television look to them with the lettering, and for most viewers they may not even realize it was a film from the 2000s on first viewing. Granted with the low budget there are some minor details that the filmmakers got wrong, such as the payphone cost and the license plate designs not being completely accurate, but there is a lot to be commended on the production design and the visuals seen. The story itself is fairly small and simple, and description wise it seems like the entire story could fit on a single page. Yet audiences are drawn to the well played characters of Samantha and Megan and their rapport together, and Donahue and Gerwig are excellent in their roles. Although there is not too much revealed about Samantha, she is easily relatable due to the situation presented. She is not happy living with her roommate (played by Heather Robb) and is looking for a place to herself during the winter break. While it isn’t revealed about her family and their relationship, Samantha seems more of the quiet and sensitive type and is not used to asking for help. This is in sharp contrast to Megan who is more carefree, does not worry about spending her parents’ money and is also willing to help Samantha with her needs. She even goes out of her way to tear down all the other ads posted by Mr. Ulman so it would give Samantha a better chance of getting the job. Their banter together is fun and natural, but things turn to a different direction once they show up at the Ulman residence. Tom Noonan always makes a wonderful presence, and this portrayal of Mr. UIman is excellent. (He played a role in West's first film "The Roost" previously.) With a soothing and calm voice, but a towering figure, he is just as warm as he is intimidating. He and his wife are well dressed for the evening in which they state they need to go out for a viewing of the eclipse that evening, things turn odd when they state that the caretaking is not for a child but to make sure nothing happens with the elderly mother of Mrs. Ulman. It would not be for constant care, as Samantha is free to order pizza and watch TV for the evening as there would most likely be no issues of having to check in often. It seems too good to be true, and in fact it is all too good to be true as the audience finds out. The Ulman’s son Victor (played by AJ Bowen) encountering Megan on the side of the road, the mysterious basement, and the creepy shape of the so-called mother, the reveals in the latter half are where the shocks and gore come in. The one point that feels out of place is during the ritual sequence, where the camera movements suddenly shift to having a lot of movement in handheld form, and the color palate changing drastically. From here on, it feels more like a modern low budget indie film rather than what it was set out to do as a 1980s period piece. While this is the central point as it is a horror film and it is where the bloodiest moments occur, it feels lacking. The creepiness leading up to the ritual scene is fantastic, though after that it does not come off as strong as it could have, though some of the gore moments are to be commended, as they are well done without going too overboard. The film was shot in the winter of 2008 in Connecticut on a short schedule with a small budget of less than $1 million. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25th, 2009, the film went on to play at numerous festivals in the United States as well as overseas throughout the year to great acclaim. It received a VOD release in the United States from October 1st that year and a limited theatrical release from October 30th, then a home video release on DVD and Blu-ray in early 2010. West’s direction and the performances by Donahue and Gerwig were highly praised as well as the attention to detail for the 80s setting and the homages to numerous horror films of the past while giving a fresh take were mentioned. It’s the film that cemented West’s style and reputation, and is easily one of the most enjoyable horrors of that era while also fitting in nicely within the 1980s setting. As the American theatrical distributor Magnolia Pictures only released the film to less than ten theaters across the country, it was not film that received theatrical buzz but more through streaming and later on home video. It was certainly overshadowed by an even lower budget horror film that season, "Paranormal Activity" which was produced for $15,000 but made nearly $200 million theatrically. Over the years, West's output has been steady and his recent "Pearl" trilogy of films also received high praise for the period settings and the creativity behind the productions. But it all comes back to his solid third feature in which he had complete creative control. More than fifteen years later, it still stands strong. Note this is a region ALL Blu-ray
Video
Umbrella Entertainment presents the film in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio in 1080p AVC MPEG-4. The film was shot on Super 16mm film. The HD transfer does not seem to be a new one. and that is completely fine as the film looked quite good on its initial home video release, with the transfer retaining the vintage looking visuals with the muted color palate, the distinct film grain, and fine detail. The image is sharp throughout, colors are well balanced with deep darks to be seen. Film grain is kept intact and there are no noticeable issues of damage to be found. It looks and feels like a remastered 80s horror feature and there are no issues of artificial sharpening or digital artifacts to be found. A solid looking transfer to be found on this release. The film's runtimes is 95:12.
Audio
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo There are both original 5,1 and folded down 2.0 stereo tracks for the film, both in lossless form. One thing that does not quite feel "authentic" to the low budget 80s horror experience is that the film was mixed in 5.1 rather than mono. Though it may be anachronistic, the 5.1 track is very well done. Dialogue is always centered while the surrounding channels are used for music and effects. From the soundtrack cues from bands like The Fixx sound full as does the eerie score by composer Jeff Grace, which sound very close to the period setting. The soundscape is also fully utilized in the ritual sequence with all channels. Dialogue is always clear and easy to understand and is well balanced against the music and effects. There are no issues such as dropout, hiss, or other damage to be heard for a clear audio track. There are optional English HoH subtitles for the film in a white font. They are well timed and easy to read. Oddly, the subtitles have all names including captioning of song titles and band names in lower case.
Extras
(1) Audio commentary by writer/director/editor Ti West, producers Larry Fessenden and Peter Phok, and second unit director/sound designer Graham Reznick This crew commentary might seem like a more technical one, though it is more of a lighthearted jokey commentary along with behind the scenes information. Discussed about are the technical choices in framing, zooms, using 16mm film, the costume choices, the locations, the music and effects, and much more. Although it is labeled as the first commentary on this disc, it was actually recorded in October 2009, a month after the West/Donahue commentary and on all other DVD and Blu-ray releases is listed second. in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles (2) Audio commentary by writer/director/editor Ti West and actress Jocelin Donahue This commentary with West and Donahue has both technical information as well as information about the performances. Discussed are changes made from script to screen including the opening sequence, the inspirations for the story, about Wallace, Noonan and other actors, shooting in the cold winter, the vintage clothes and props acquired, the music choices, and much more. in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "Tones of a Dark Past" 2024 Video Essay with writer and critic Heather Drain (25:44) This new and exclusive interview with Drain has her discussing the film's 1980s American setting and its time of limited communication and the Satanic panic, the music choices made in the film, and more. While this is labeled a "video essay" it is basically a solo interview with Drain addressing the camera directly without prompts and also done unscripted. Usually video essays are written works read aloud with visual guides such as clips from the film or other images being discussed, but this is not particularly the case here. There are some interesting information to be heard such as some examples of real life Satanic panic situations that led to some tragic and sometimes odd outcomes. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "In The House of the Devil" featurette (13:35) Presented here is edited behind the scenes footage shot by Graham Reznick, who worked as second unit director, a sound designer, additional composer, as well as providing the radio DJ's voice in the film. Included are set constructions, special effects work, make-up and hair designs, and B-roll footage. It's light on dialogue and interviews, but there is some interesting footage to be found in this way too short featurette. in 1080i60 AVC MPEG-4, in 1.80:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "Behind The House of the Devil" featurette (4:40) This promotional featurette includes interviews with the cast and crew discussing about the film without major spoilers along with clips from the film. Discussed are about the characters, the 1980s setting, the horror aspect, and more. A slightly condensed version of the featurette is embedded below, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. in 1080i60 AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles Deleted Scenes (6:42) Presented here are two scenes, three sequences. First is a single uncut 360 shot of Samantha on the payphone talking to Megan about securing the apartment, while the next is a single shot of Megan on the opposite end of the phone while in bed. Finally there is a dialogue free sequence with the mother in the attic. The three scenes have timecode marking visible and the sound is not fully mixed. in 1080i60 AVC MPEG-4, in windowboxed 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "House of the Devil" 1896 short by Georges Méliès (3:17) Pioneering French magician and filmmaker Georges Méliès started making films in 1896, and "Le Manoir du diable", also known as "House of the Devil", "The Haunted Castle", or "The Devil's Castle" was one of 78 short films he directed that year. It is also significant that the three minute short is considered one of the first horror films, as it features the Devil, a bat, and phantoms with the usual visual editing trickery that he was known for. The film was considered lost for decades, but a copy was miraculously found in New Zealand and identified in 1985, and to this day is the only surviving copy of the film. The transfer here is not particularly great, looking similar to the numerous copies of copies available on the Internet, as the film is in the public domain and as it looks, has not been given a proper restoration. The black and white image here is quite blurry with lots of scratches and other damage to be seen. There seems to be some digital softening applied, and it is not particularly good. In addition, there is no music included for this presentation. The short has been embedded below. in 1080i60 AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1 Trailer (2:00) The effective original US trailer is presented here. It has also been embedded below, courtesy of GlassEye Pix. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles The film was first released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States by MPI, which had the two commentaries, two featurettes, and the trailer. Also note there was a limited edition DVD+VHS release by MPI available. There are other releases from other countries available, but they were missing the "Behind The House of the Devil" featurette. This Australian release has all the extras found on the US DVD and Blu-ray and adds an exclusive interview and the Méliès short. The new interview is fair, but does not feel like something enough for an upgrade for people who have a previous Blu-ray edition, and the Méliès short has not been restored. A new UK Blu-ray release from Second Sight was just announced for a 2025 release, which is scheduled to include the two commentaries, the "In The House of the Devil" featurette, the deleted scenes and trailer, and adds new interviews with Ti West, Jocelin Donahue, AJ Bowen, Peter Phok, Jeff Grace, Graham Reznick plus a new documentary entitled "This Night Changes Everything: The Making of The House of the Devil". Other notable clips: An interview with West and Donahue from MovieWeb An interview with West and Donahue from FearNet "One Thing Leads to Another" music video by The Fixx "Regulate" music video by Warren G & Nate Dogg (please listen to the crew commentary for context)
Packaging
The disc comes packed in a standard clear keep case with reversible artwork, using the original poster art. The only difference with the opposite side is the lack of the MA 15+ rating logos. The inlay states region B only but the disc is in fact region ALL. It is also available with a limited slipcover exclusively at the Umbrella Web Shop. It is also available in a Collector's Edition limited to 1500 copies, exclusively at the Umbrella Web Shop which also includes: - A 48 page book with behind-the-scenes, experiences and art - Classic poster artwork rigid case - Classic poster artwork slipcover - 8 artcards - A3 reversible poster The slipcover and the slipcase both have differing alternate artwork used for the original film's promotion. No new artwork was created for the packaging of this release. The booklet includes essays, starting with "Tell Truth and Shame the Devil: Ti West, Dark Nostalgia and the Satanic Panic" written by Gavin Baddeley on the film, connections to West's subsequent works, and the continued notion of the "Satanic Panic". This is followed by "Rosemary's Babysitter: Ti West's Horror at an Hourly Rate" by Nadine Whitney on the film and others with similar themes. Then there are notes on the "House of the Devil" 1896 short by Georges Méliès by Jack Sargeant. Finally there is "Everything Old Is New Again: Ti West, The House of the Devil, and Vintage Horror" by Travis Johnson on the genre and nostalgia. The eight artcards have three original poster designs plus five promotional stills. The foldout poster has two designs, one being the main burning house artwork and the other being the green artwork. The poster is folded and housed in the keep case which is covered by the slipcover. This along with the booklet and artcards fit into the side of the rigid slipcase. 
The keep case inlay and the back of the slipcase mistakenly spell producer Peter Phok's name as "Peter Phox". We admit on our site for the longest time his name was also incorrectly spelled that way and it has been corrected. The back of the slipcase has another slight error with the tagline. On the keep case inlay and the slipcover it has the tagline, "Talk on the phone. Finish your homework. Watch TV. Die." But the card on the back of the slipcase says "Talk TO the phone. Finish your homework. Watch TV. Die."
Overall
"The House of the Devil" is a great homage to 80s horror with fantastic performances and a slow building tense story that never overstays its welcome. The Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray release has a solid transfer, all the extras found on the previous DVDs and Blu-rays and adds two new extras. It is not particularly a recommended upgrade for people who had a previously released Blu-ray edition as the two additional extras are not significant enough, though for newcomers it comes highly recommended.
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