Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- foreboding
- claustrophobic
- late night horror marathon
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's carefully sustained suspense, subtlety, and affectionate 1980s horror revival, while noting familiar themes and deliberate pacing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Samantha's babysitting night spends much of its runtime developing unease through silence, isolation, and ominous discoveries.
The film uses period technology, production design, framing, sound, and genre conventions to evoke early-1980s horror.
The Ulmans' apparently mundane home and babysitting arrangement conceal a ritualistic cult plan.
Samantha continues working alone in the remote clients' house as increasingly alarming details undermine her sense of safety.
Films like The House of the Devil, and why
Rosemary's Baby
shares slow-burning occult horror, domestic isolation, and a young woman confronting a sinister household
The Omen
shares retro horror aesthetics, escalating suspense, satanic ritual themes, and foreboding suburban spaces
The Sentinel
shares patient suspense, vulnerable protagonists, isolated homes, and 1980s genre atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Ti West
- Release Date
- 2009-10-30
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (885)
Cast
- Jocelin Donahue
- Tom Noonan
- Mary Woronov
- Greta Gerwig
- AJ Bowen
- Dee Wallace
- Heather Robb
- Darryl Nau
- Brenda Cooney
- Ti West
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Bloodstream
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The House of the Devil about?
- A cash-strapped student accepts an isolated babysitting job and finds herself trapped in a carefully staged occult nightmare.
- What is The House of the Devil like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The House of the Devil as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The House of the Devil violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The House of the Devil as graphic.
- What did critics think of The House of the Devil?
- Critics broadly praised the film's carefully sustained suspense, subtlety, and affectionate 1980s horror revival, while noting familiar themes and deliberate pacing.
- Which films are like The House of the Devil?
- Films with a similar feel include Rosemary's Baby, The Omen, and The Sentinel.
- How long is The House of the Devil?
- The House of the Devil runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch The House of the Devil?
- In United States, The House of the Devil streams on Amazon Prime Video, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Bloodstream.
