Rebecca Hall Owns Every Moment in The Night House

There is nothing worse than losing a loved one as your mind swirls for days sifting through every second and moment, while wading through items hope to find anything that’ll allow you to connect just one more time.  But, what happens when you discover deep dark secrets you had no idea were lurking beneath the surface.

Reeling from an unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) retreats alone inside their lakeside home Owen (Evan Jonigkeit) had built. As she desperately tries to keep it together, these really strange dreams begin happening involving disturbing visions of a presence who has a ghostly allure. So, needless to say, against advice of her friends, peers and constituents, Beth begins digging around for answers and what she finds is not to be believed.

The Night House is an acting tour de force for Rebecca Hall, who illustrated earlier this year with her critically praised Sundance hit “Passing,” that her multi-hyphenate talent runs deep. She turns in a solid performance with this twisty, topsy turvy psychological thriller that only will have you recall Elisabeth Moss in “Invisible Man” and Michelle Pfeiffer in “What Lies Beneath.”  Watching her experience real time grief as she engrosses herself in old wedding videos, while throwing out old pictures, clothes or anything that remotely leaves a memory of Owen behind is a wild ride.  Hall’s mental and physical commitment it takes to pull off this role is a feat not for the faint of heart and she pulls it off in spades.  Baby, that scene where she rips this condescending Mom a new one over her son’s grades is one for the history books.  Or, where she confronts a young woman in a book store isle.  I was like…get it girl!!!!

The sound department (some of whom ironically also designed for Invisible Man) worked overtime creating and solidifying illusion of mind tricks using no sound except within the house with creaking floors and doors, gunshots or their song that gets mysteriously played at all hours.  Using a Blood Moon to preside over the action is powerful, as are creepy Caerdroia maze blueprints and voodoo doll.  The Night House will have you wondering what is real  or imagined while simultaneously feeling some type of way the next time you hear someone earnestly communicate, “I’m sorry for your loss…”

You will gasp and hop in your seat a little, but will mostly find yourself wondering about the things you miss, the things you don’t and grabbing a glimpse of just how deep rooted grief can take hold of your unconscious mind and spirit.