Review of the house
The House, Netflix's first year-end release, is a stop motion miniseries that tells three stories set in one large home. Each short is helmed by a different director, but they all share an uncanny sense of dread and spookiness.
Nexus Studios' latest anthology, The House, is another in a long list of projects from the UK-based company. (The same company that brought you Billie Eilish’s animated special Happier Than Ever). The House's three chapters of half an hour each focus on different aspects within the house at separate times.
Chapter one is set in 1900s. It tells the story of a poor family who moves into a house that seems to bring evil luck and bad luck to its inhabitants. It's a slow-burn tale that evokes a Wes Anderson feel, with a stop-motion aesthetic that's just as evocative of the Fantastic Mr. Fox, Salad Fingers and Ray Harryhausen films that it draws influence from.
The House is more than a dark comedy. It's an arthouse miniseries that challenges you to think. The House does this in a surprising and often rewarding way.
This piece of cinema is creepy, funny and hopeful. And it's certainly worth a watch, with its engrossing story beats and modern stop motion animation.
The House is visually stunning stop-motion film. Each chapter has beautiful detail, from flocked figurines for the second story and felt characters for the first.
The House's look is a throwback to 1980s Epoch Sylvanian Families and is a welcome sight to stop-motion animation fans. The first chapter features felt characters that create a sense of dread. While the second chapter has lifelike characters that are sure to delight stop-motion film fans, it also adds a touch of comfort.
The House doesn't have everything. Despite its stunning visuals and well-written scripts, it's not perfect. It's not able to overcome minor weaknesses in its stories. These often substitute the surrealist for more logical elements. Additionally, the ending is unsatisfying and uneven due to the use of sarcastic humor at just the right moment. It's still worth a look for those who love dark comedy and stop-motion animation, particularly those who like Tim Burton, David Firth, and Wes Anderson.