Housewife

One star for a decent score and Argento-esque visuals. Beyond that, I have to admit, I watched the entire thing (resisting the urge to leave many times) because I wanted, hoped for, the ending to bring something in some redeeming way. Instead, I was disappointed. The movie was difficult to watch all around but not because of horror elements - it's hard, for one thing, to feel invested in a story when you can't empathize with its protagonist - or survive the terrible acting. I also felt like some of the plot devices relied on clichéd, stereotyping and didn't make sense in any narrative or metaphor driven way. I'm sure there are some who'd argue otherwise, and they are welcome to their opinions, but overall, Housewife was just a huge turd.

The movie starts well with what looks like an engaging and strong story, then gradually fades to the point of just wanting it to end as soon as possible. Technically the film was fine, as was the acting as far as I am concerned - the story and the way it was told are the problem. All of a sudden it goes from being a logical progression into some kind of disjointed mess of editing that throws the viewer out of it, then desperately tries to win them back. One to miss and/or forget.

A month or two back during a film festival, this was the film I was most looking forward to seeing. From the director of the Turkish horror "Baskin", a film I liked well enough, inspite of a few weak spots and stretched out storytelling. Anyway it was Can Evrenol's audaciously hypnotic vision, and explosively violent and nerve wracking horror set-pieces from his debut feature that had me curious to what he would do next. Housewife follows his previous film's story structure very much to a tee... in rocking your senses. A gothic, slow-grinding fable of mind-bending subconscious dreams fusing together with stark, cold reality. This gradual build-up of cultish zealotry, underlining sexual yearning and haunting dreamlike visions implodes into a sinuously conniving final third of occult debauchery, doomsday preaching and cosmic horror of Lovecraftian proportions. However, while the backend imagery are creative and striking - the jubilee of violence are not as gory, nor even as rampant. There's still a frenzied craziness in what is happening in its climax. Steering closer to something startlingly bizarre, yet stylishly disciplined in its fiendish acts. Still, in saying that, their are few disturbing illustrations and the odd graphic jolt, but here, Evrenol used the surreal story to build towards and complement the delirious horror scenes than the other way around. In some ways I might actually prefer "Housewife". In how it went about setting up and delivering on it's one, two punch. It flows better, and the shocks don't have a tacked on impression. Think of the suspicious, and paranoid build-up of a Polanski film, where instead it's very dark, and surreal in its laborious reality morphing into a disorientating dreamscape. Is it all in her head, as nightmares never felt so real? We watch the female lead stumble through a daze of confusion and fear, thinking her troubles, and past demons are cured when she seeks guidance from a necromantic showbiz psychic (perfectly done by David Sakurai) who believes he is destined to help her, but it's just the beginning of things to come as he starts getting into her head. The path that's chosen for her, from possible pacts made by her own family, or tainted blood, shows these deities never forget. The fervid opening of the film, which grabs you by the throat squeezing real tight, sets up the inherited guilt and fear stemming from her childhood that haunts her throughout adult life. The crafty camerawork, moody lighting and wailing synths/ambient pianos play a big part in shaping the swirling discomfit. Or I can see it being labeled as glossed up trash. Where I think the film is let down, similar to Baskin, is the depth of its story and emotional engagement of its characters. This is mainly pointed at Clementine Poidatz and Ali Aksoz's characters, as Sakurai's presence needed to be mystifying. Possibly even having the Turkish actors speaking English rather than their native tongue can come across looking uneven, or stiff in their emoting delivery. While it does have a streamlined narrative with what seems like a lot going on, everything does comes across distant and less than skin deep. At times it did some things differently with its fascinating mythos, but the typical genre staples found in these cult stories can make its way into the story, for better or worse. "Housewife" again shows the director's ambitious visionary prowess, and an ability to formulate reactions from his spectacular bookended set-pieces, whereas the spotty material might have its issues, it still showed glimpses that this latest effort is a step in the right direction. I'll probably end up liking this more than most would.

I saw this at a festival in Portugal and I was very disappointed. I really liked the directors previous film, but this was very poor. Very disappointing. As the other reviews have said, the acting is I incredibly bad, I really found it hard to make it to the end of the film, and then a really unrewarding ending finished off a boring film. It may seem harsh to give it 1/10, but its a wasted 80mins for a previously promising director, I had to give it 1/10. Bad film.

...how does she poop? In the tub? That sounds messy...

Feels like a * project by the end. Probably just really wanted Holly naked in multiple scenes (despite living in constantly snowing scenery) and peeing in bathtubs. The symbolism wasn't lost on me but it was distorted by unnecessary plodding scenes and events that don't seem to correlate. Bad acting for many of the characters.

Really disappointed after enjoying the previous film from the director. I really tried to enjoy it, but the acting was so bad I couldn't get into the film. Also the severe lack of any story ark made it a really tiring watch. I repeatably checked my watch so see how long I had left. Hopefully his next film actually has a story. If you want to see it, I recommend saving it until your next hangover so you can watch it in bed without using your brain.

I saw this only cos i had enjoyed the director's Baskin but this movie is one helluva jumbled mess. It started off very well and the dreams n hallucinations sequences are terrifying but the ending ruined everything. There is no explanation about the lady from the portrait or the amulet. Sex scenes are added but none of em is erotic enuff. The lead actress is skinny n her * ain't good. The skin peeling scene is totally uncalled for. The director is obviously inspired by David Lynch, Lars von Trier, H. P. Lovecraft n 60s satanic cult movies bit somehow he never succeeded.

I've never seen such stupid movie, none of the plots are ever explained. Why did anyone do anything they did? I spent so much time in this hoping that there will be even something in the end. No. Is it a thriller? No. A waste of time and money. It has been a while since I have seen such a stupid shitty movie.

Hated the characters, wooden acting, there was zero chemistry between anyone in the film, the characters were underdeveloped, and the plot was weak - plus a story was non existent. Unnecessary violence which I say from being a fan of the horror genre. Nothing in the film served any purpose to further a story or lack of story, apart from a desperate attempt to shock the audience. Personally I think this is one of the worst films I have seen in a while.