We all know we shouldn’t go investigate the creepy house in the middle of the woods, but watching someone else do it is quite entertaining. This is the crux of House on Eden; the new found footage Shudder film from first-time Canadian writer-director-producer-actor Kris Collins, of TikTok and YouTube fame. Collins plays a fictionalized version of herself along with her two friends, producers Celina Myers and Jason-Christopher Mayer. In the film, the fictionalized trio is a group of paranormal investigator YouTubers heading to film their new video. Initially, the plan is to visit a cemetery before Kris suggests they go visit the little documented but seemingly truly paranormal “House on Eden”. The group begrudgingly agrees to visit the location, and upon arrival, things quickly escalate out of control.
Thematic Confusion
Perhaps House on Eden‘s weakest point is that it’s unclear what the film exactly attempts to say. From a plot standpoint, there is some intentional obscurity on what is actually happening at the house. However, it’s not exactly clear what, if anything, the film is trying to explore in terms of theme. There is some notion of feminism and what a woman’s role is and how she’s expected to act. Yet, it’s not explored enough to feel like an overarching theme. Maybe, then, the film is about friendships and how those can be exploited and manipulated by people working in bad faith. This is probably the film’s biggest throughline, but even then, it feels so underdeveloped. Ultimately, House on Eden feels more concerned with scares than anything else, which is fine and pretty typical of the genre.
Scares on Eden
Speaking of scares, House on Eden is generally pretty good about them. Most of them rely on mood and tone as well as the anticipation of something going wrong. There are relatively few jump scares, and the ones that are present don’t come across as cheap. In terms of escalation, it takes a while for things to truly pick up. Of course, the third act is full of horror and scares and madness. Even though the Shudder film clocks in at just under an hour and twenty minutes, it takes a while for things to actually happen. This is somewhat frustrating as it does feel a bit like a cycle of repeating the same few acts over and over until it’s time for the film to end. Thankfully, it does just enough to keep it varied and not boring. One particular scene involving cat balls is quite effective.
The House itself is a classic horror film location as an abandoned house in the woods. Yet, instead of being fully run down, it’s in perfect condition. This makes it somewhat atypical for many haunted houses to be either in “perfect” locations but the house itself is in ruins, or the location and home are in the same state. Again, it’s not totally unique; although, it does help the film stand out a bit compared to the many others that flood the genre.
Characters and More
The actors in this film are all YouTubers playing fictionalized versions of themselves, which can very easily go wrong. Fortunately, everyone here feels pretty genuine. They aren’t award-worthy performances, and at the same time, they are not annoying. This is likely not true of all YouTubers, but perhaps the act of performing and putting on a persona can translate to a successful film character. While they may all fit into archetypal roles in the Shudder film, that works to its advantage, since Collins is still clearly trying to figure out how to fit bigger ideals in their work. Keeping it basic with the characters means that the other elements can falter some but the film can still remain entertaining.
The Verdict on House on Eden
House of Eden does nothing new with found footage, which is both its strength and its weakness. As the latter, it quickly becomes clear how the film will play out. And there is a ceiling to how scary and entertaining the found footage medium can be. However, it’s clear that Collins has a deep love for the genre and realizes the bounds she is working in. Collins knows there’s no point in reinventing the wheel with found footage and simply executes it to the best of her ability. For a first-time filmmaker, it’s a solid debut. Should Collins decide to direct more, I would be more than happy to watch!
Score: 3/5
House on Eden comes to theaters starting this Friday, July 25th, and will stream via Shudder at a later date!
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