I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A timid nurse walks into a haunted house, gets spooked by wallpaper, and literally dies of fright, proving that some jobs are just not worth the risk.

🍿 I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction: Lily’s Arrival

Lily Saylor, a hospice nurse with a nervous disposition, arrives at a secluded New England mansion to care for Iris Blum, a reclusive horror novelist suffering from dementia. The house is old and filled with shadows, immediately creating an unsettling atmosphere. Lily narrates from a point beyond her own death, revealing that she will die in this house before her 29th birthday, foreshadowing the events to come.

The Haunting Begins

As Lily settles into her role, strange occurrences begin: unsettling noises, apparitions, and an inexplicable mold growing on the walls. Iris often mistakes Lily for Polly, a character from one of her novels, “The Lady in the Walls.” Lily learns that Polly was a young bride murdered in the house in the 19th century. The line between reality and fiction blurs as Lily’s imagination and the house’s history begin to intertwine.

Unraveling the Mystery

Lily starts reading Iris’s novel, hoping to understand the house’s mysteries and the connection to Polly. The novel tells the story of a young bride, Polly Parsons, who was brought to the house in 1812, only to be murdered shortly after. The narrative deepens the sense of dread and isolation, as Lily increasingly feels trapped within the house’s history. The mold on the walls grows, mirroring Polly’s presence and the decay of the past.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lily Saylor (Ruth Wilson): A gentle hospice nurse hired to care for Iris Blum, who becomes increasingly disturbed by the house’s secrets.
• Iris Blum (Paula Prentiss): An elderly horror authoress with dementia, haunted by her past and the secrets within her home.
• Polly Parsons (Lucy Boynton): The ghostly figure of a young woman murdered in the house, whose story haunts its inhabitants.
• Mr. Waxcap (Bob Balaban): Iris Blum’s lawyer, representing her legal affairs.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lily: “I have heard myself say that a house with a death in it can never again be bought or sold by the living. It can only be borrowed from the ghosts that have stayed behind.” – Lily reflects on the nature of haunted houses and the spirits that linger within them.
• Lily: “For those who have stayed, their prison is their never seeing. And left all alone, this is how they rot.” – She describes the tragic fate of ghosts trapped by their inability to move on from their past.
• Lily: “From where I am now, I can be sure of only a very few things. One of those things is my name.” – Lily’s opening narration foreshadows her impending death and fading sense of self.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Reviews

Personal Review

I went into this movie expecting jump scares, but what I got was something completely different. It’s not a thrill-ride; it’s more of a slow descent into unsettling dread. The house itself feels like a character, with its creaky floors and gloomy shadows. I especially loved the ending, where everything comes full circle, leaving you with a lingering sense of unease. If you’re looking for something atmospheric and thought-provoking, this might be your kind of movie.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of gothic horror”
  • “Viewers who appreciate slow-burn suspense”
  • “Those interested in psychological thrillers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy atmospheric films with a focus on mood”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Occasional frightening images”
  • “Themes of death and haunting”
  • “Psychological distress”
  • “Slow pacing may not suit all viewers”

Professional Reviews

• Collider.com: “Osgood Perkins delivers a visually stunning and atmospheric ghost story. While the pacing is deliberately slow, it creates a palpable sense of dread and unease, reminiscent of classic Gothic horror. The performances are nuanced and the cinematography is hauntingly beautiful, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of slow-burn horror.
• MovieWeb: “Perkins’ sharp turn from previous projects is a welcome surprise. ‘I Am the Pretty Thing…’ is a masterclass in minimalist horror, relying on atmosphere and psychological tension rather than jump scares. The film’s strength lies in its ability to create a haunting and unsettling experience, rewarding patient viewers with a lingering sense of unease.
• IMDB reviewer: “Slow and stylish. The movie is pure poetry, and that will be either your style or the movie will bore you. This movie focuses on atmosphere, visuals and character than most traditional ghost stories. If you want a scary movie avoid, if you want a moody experience, give it a try.

Audience Reactions

The poetic narration and visuals created a haunting atmosphere that stayed with me long after the movie ended.: Many viewers appreciated the film’s unique take on the haunted house genre, praising its slow-burn tension and artistic cinematography.

Ruth Wilson’s performance as the nervous nurse was captivating and added to the overall sense of unease.: The acting was solid, especially Ruth Wilson’s portrayal of a vulnerable and easily frightened character.

Overall Consensus: A visually stunning but slow-paced gothic horror film that favors atmosphere and psychological tension over traditional scares, dividing audiences with its deliberate pacing and ambiguous narrative.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Oz Perkins included a song performed by his father, Anthony Perkins, called ‘You Keep Coming Back Like a Song,’ as a tribute.”
• “Another nod to Anthony Perkins is a clip from the film ‘Friendly Persuasion,’ which starred his father.”
• “The ghost’s dress and hairstyle are from the 1850s-1860s, even though the backstory says she was murdered in 1812, creating a historical inaccuracy.”

🖥️ How to Watch I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House?

As a Netflix original film, “I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House” is primarily available for streaming on Netflix. Availability might vary depending on your region. Check your local Netflix library to see if it’s currently streaming. There are no current options to purchase it digitally or physically.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, you might like these similar films:

• The Others (2001): Shares a similar atmosphere of gothic horror and explores themes of isolation, ghostly presences, and unreliable narration within an old house.
• The Haunting (1963): A classic haunted house movie focused on psychological horror rather than jump scares, with a character sensitive to the supernatural.
• The Witch (2015): Slow-burn horror that emphasizes atmosphere and historical setting, with a focus on the psychological disintegration of the characters.
• The Shining (1980): Explores themes of isolation, psychological breakdown, and the disturbing history of a place, using slow pacing and unsettling imagery.

🛒 I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Related Products

• The Haunting of Hill House (Blu-ray): A modern masterpiece of gothic horror, echoing the themes of isolation and psychological dread found in ‘I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House.’ Experience the Shirley Jackson adaptation.
• Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems: Delve into the classic works of Edgar Allan Poe. The edition features haunting stories that touch on similar themes of isolation and psychological terror.
• Victorian Gothic Home Decor Set: The Victorian Gothic Home Decor Set captures the eerie atmosphere of the haunted house in the film, it helps bring the film to life.
• Custom Portrait (Ghostly Style): Immortalize yourself or loved ones in a ghostly art style inspired by the film’s haunting aesthetic, perfect for personalized gifts.

🎧 Soundtrack

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “You Keep Coming Back Like a Song” – performed by Anthony Perkins and Urbie Green & His Orchestra

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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