Tribeca/New Video
Director: Philip Gelatt
Writer: Philip Gelatt (screenplay)
Stars: Alexandra Chando, Patrick Breen and Nina Lisandrello
(From imdb.com)

What they say: Meet the Smiths parents, Marilyn (Betsy Aidem) and Matt (Richard Bekins, Limitless), and teens, Gloria (Alexandra Chando, As The World Turns), 16, and Quentin (Charlie Hewson, Holy Rollers), 18 – a family full of secrets who keep themselves to themselves. When a sweet-talking Texan (Patrick Breen, Eli Stone, Radio) first arrives on the doorstep of their back-road Midwestern home, his calm, outgoing nature and particular brand of neighborly Christian philosophy seems to be just the remedy the Smith family needs. As the stranger s true motivations come to light, however, he emerges as a cold, driven killer, who thinks he has been sent straight from God to serve punishment upon the family for their past.
What follows in this tightly wound and visceral horror/thriller is a desperate game of cat and mouse between the stranger and his prey. Will he succeed in his goal to bleed them of their sins or will the family s haunted past prove to be even more deadly than he bargained for? THE BLEEDING HOUSE is a terrifying portrait of how the sins of one can stain an entire family.

What I say: As much as I love in your face extreme horror, sometimes it’s the quiet little films you have to watch. Stuff like Session 9 and The Changeling (1980) is much more frightening as it messes with your head, your imagination does most of the heavy lifting. The Burning House is one of those films.

This film just drips with atmosphere. While definitely a slow burn, once the film gets going, it’s truly a disturbing masterpiece. Family dynamics can be an awkward thing, add a stranger to the mix who wants to “help” and you have problems. It does have that classic 70’s and 80’s vibe to it, and that is welcome.

The tragedy that hides in the families past is kind of telegraphed but the journey to discovering that is compelling enough. The actors all do really well, I’m sure Patrick Breen got a lot of attention as the stranger but the other cast members do fine as well.

Extras include an alternative ending and deleted scenes.

Film: 8/10
DVD: 8/10
Recommended!