Housebound Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A rebellious woman gets grounded in her own house and must team up with her mom and the quirky security guard to fight the house’s dark secrets, proving that family is the best weapon against evil… and bad interior decorating.

🍿 Housebound: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Kylie’s House Arrest

Kylie Bucknell, a troubled young woman with a history of petty crime, finds herself under house arrest after a botched ATM robbery. Her sentence requires her to return to her childhood home, a prospect she dreads. Living with her mother, Miriam, a well-meaning but overly talkative woman, exacerbates Kylie’s frustration.

Haunted House Suspicions

Miriam is convinced their house is haunted, attributing strange noises and occurrences to a restless spirit. Kylie initially dismisses her mother’s claims as fanciful superstitions. However, as Kylie begins to experience unsettling events herself, she starts to question her skepticism. Whispers, bumps in the night, and unexplained phenomena challenge her rational explanations.

Paranormal Investigation

Amos, the security guard responsible for monitoring Kylie’s house arrest, is also an amateur paranormal investigator. Intrigued by the alleged hauntings, Amos offers his assistance to Kylie and Miriam. Together, they begin to delve into the history of the house, uncovering unsettling secrets and a possible connection to a past tragedy.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Kylie Bucknell (Morgana O’Reilly): A rebellious young woman forced into house arrest at her childhood home, where she confronts both her dysfunctional family and a potential haunting.
• Miriam Bucknell (Rima Te Wiata): Kylie’s well-intentioned but loquacious mother, convinced their house is haunted and often irritating to her daughter.
• Amos (Glen-Paul Waru): The security guard and amateur paranormal investigator who helps Kylie uncover the secrets of the house.
• Dennis (Cameron Rhodes): Kylie’s social worker, who’s involved in a plot twist at the end of the movie.
• Graeme (Ross Harper): Kylie’s stepfather, a quiet man who lives with Kylie’s mother Miriam.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Amos: “You know, the closed mind is the worst defense against the paranormal, Kylie. What are you gonna do against a hostile spirit? You just gonna crack jokes?” – Amos, the security guard and paranormal enthusiast, expresses his concern about Kylie’s skepticism towards the supernatural.
• Kylie Bucknell: “No, I am going to smash it in the face.” – Kylie’s response to Amos highlights her pragmatic and confrontational approach to dealing with potential threats.
• Amos: “You cannot punch ectoplasm.” – Amos attempts to correct Kylie and educate her on the nature of dealing with spirits.

💰Box Office

• Budget: NZ$350,000
• Domestic Gross: None
• Worldwide Gross: $241,347

💥 Housebound Reviews

Personal Review

I went into Housebound expecting a standard haunted house flick, but boy, was I wrong! The mix of horror and comedy is perfect, never leaning too heavily in either direction. The characters are quirky and lovable (even the ‘unlikeable’ Kylie), and the plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. That corkscrew scene? Absolutely bonkers! I found myself genuinely caring about these characters, which is rare in horror movies. Definitely a new favorite!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of horror-comedy movies.”
  • “Viewers who enjoy films with plot twists.”
  • “People looking for a unique and original horror experience.”
  • “Fans of New Zealand cinema.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Gore”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Disturbing themes”

Professional Reviews

• KillerReviews.com: “Housebound may be a bit uneven as it switched from ghost story to violent cat-and-mouse murder solving, but it has just enough of everything to ensure that audiences are provided with valued entertainment. Johnstone keeps everything from falling under the weight of the ridiculousness of the events and the Toronto After Dark Film Festival crowd laughed and cheered in all the right places.
• IMDB: “Housebound is really something. It’s part ghost story, part People Under the Stairs, part murder mystery, part slapstick comedy and part family drama. The dialog, facial expression and spot on timing of the action keep this mash up of genres amusing every step of the way. Just when you think you know which way it’s heading, it either makes fun of the standard clichés or skips them entirely, casting us into a twist and turn that starts it all over again with an entirely new plot development.
• IMDB: “Housebound is a very pleasant surprise comedy horror gem from New Zealand, but with nicely done scares and a creepy atmosphere to go with the chuckles, which come mainly via hilarious interactions with the dysfunctional trio. It also turns into a surprisingly layered film plot wise with some twists & turns in the third act to keep things nicely interesting.

Audience Reactions

The humor is dark, sarcastic, and consistently funny, making it a great horror-comedy.: Viewers consistently praise the unexpected twists and turns that keep the film fresh and engaging.

Rima Te Wiata’s performance as the quirky mother is a standout, bringing much of the humor and heart to the film.: The acting is highly praised, with particular attention given to the chemistry between the leads.

Overall Consensus: Housebound delivers a unique blend of horror and comedy, surprising viewers with its clever plot twists and well-developed characters. While some find the initial setup slow, most agree that the payoff is well worth the wait.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Gerard Johnstone originally conceived ‘Housebound’ as a straight horror film but gradually incorporated comedic elements during the writing process.”
• “The film was shot in chronological order to help the actors track their characters’ emotional journeys as the mystery unfolded.”
• “The relatively low budget of NZ$350,000 required creative solutions for special effects and set design.”

🖥️ How to Watch Housebound?

As of October 2024, ‘Housebound’ is available for streaming on several platforms. You can find it on Shudder, AMC+, and possibly through rental or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Availability may vary by region, so check your local streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Housebound, you might like these similar films:

• Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010): A horror-comedy that balances scares with genuine humor and a similarly quirky tone.
• What We Do in the Shadows (2014): Another New Zealand horror-comedy with a unique and offbeat sense of humor.
• Shaun of the Dead (2004): Balances horror and comedy while focusing on ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.

🛒 Housebound Related Products

• Housebound [Blu-ray]: Own the twisted horror-comedy on Blu-ray! Perfect for rewatching and dissecting every hilarious and horrifying moment. A must-have for any horror fan’s collection.
• New Zealand Horror Film Collection [Digital Content]: Explore other Kiwi horror films from the region that brought you Housebound.
• Corkscrew Weapon Keychain: A keychain inspired by the iconic corkscrew weapon from Housebound. A perfect novelty gift for the film’s fans. Show your love for one of the best scenes in the movie!
• Haunted House Board Game: Gather your friends and try to survive a night in a haunted house! Work together to survive or die trying.

🎧 Soundtrack

Housebound features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Angel” – performed by Space Waltz

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Homebound – Short Film

Ever wonder what a full short movie looks like? This one is pretty good, worth watching.

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This video explains the movie, a quick recap! Easy to digest and makes it a fun experience to share with your friends!

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