This film has a 5.4 rating on IMDB, three stars on Amazon, and a 33% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. Honestly, I’m baffled by those sub-par numbers. For once, I’m closer to being on the side of the Tomatometer, which has The Deep House at 74%.
The film follows a young couple who post videos of themselves exploring abandoned buildings. (As a side note, check out The Proper People on YouTube if you want to see a real version of this—they’re great!) This couple, Ben and Tina, travel to France to explore some old houses under a lake. The houses had ended up in their current state when the lake had been created several decades prior. However, unbeknownst to Ben and Tina, the ruins had become a tourist destination, and them exploring the spot would not be a unique experience for their social media followers.
But then they run into the mysterious, creepy—albeit cliché—old man who knows of a house bellow the water in a different part of the lake, a house free of tourists. Naturally, they’re more than willing to have this codger lead them to it.
Up to this point, it’s a pretty standard opening for a horror flick. Nothing special. It’s when they go below water that the fun really starts. There is a genuine dread and authenticity right from the start. And once they enter the house—holy hell—do things get claustrophobic and anxious.
Yes, some of the underwater set does not appear to have deteriorated as a decades-long submerged house should. Yes, the Ben character (played by Mick Jagger’s son James) is a bit annoying, the way he’s willing to do anything to ‘reach a million views.’ And, yes, the information dump near the end is a bit silly.
But…the build-up of fear and intrigue is brilliantly executed. My wife and I were sitting on the edges of our seats for much of the movie, as the couple weaved from one water-filled room to the next, with their discoveries becoming more sinister by the moment. And what they find in the basement—talk about creepy as fuck!
PC3’s Horror and Exploitation Movie Scale of Awesomeness!
Gore - 1
Special Effects - 6
Nudity/Sexuality - 1
Wow Factor - 6
Acting - 5
Fear Factor - 8
Story/Plot/Originality - 6
Cinematography/Atmosphere - 8
Sound/Music - 5
Fun Factor - 6
The Deep House receives a total PHEMSA score of 52. Keep in mind the PHEMSA is not like your run-of-the-mill rating system. Just because it doesn’t have a super high score, does not mean it’s not a good movie. Instead, the PHEMSA shows you where the goods are. If you’re in the mood for a uniquely scary, atmospheric picture, then this one is for you!
And if underwater horror is your thing, you may like my short story “The Order of Org” from 5 Tales of Tantalizing Terror. You can find it here!