Review of His House
midlandsmovies • October 31, 2020
His House (2020) Dir. Remi Weekes
Moving into a new house to experience some tight-knit terrors is nothing new in the horror genre but His House, a new film on Netflix, explores the appalling backdrop of violence faced by refugees to provide a unique framework for a well-known formula.
The film begins when a couple Bol Majur (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) and his wife Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) flee war-torn Sudan with their daughter Nyagak (Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba) but during their trip across water, their youngest dies horridly. On their arrival in the UK they are given strict restrictions by an Immigration Officer (Matt Smith) and placed in a home on a dilapidated estate.
Their new abode is in a horrible condition and amongst the peeling wallpaper and filthy furniture, there appears to be a paranormal presence along with them. What His House does uniquely is that rather than limited to haunting the home, this spirit has in fact come with them from their place of origin.
The film sets the scene excellently and the swift urgency of the editing by Julia Bloch hits home its themes in a punchy but not preachy way. It also conveys the speed in which life changes but soon we enter a world of whispering walls and dark terrors. Shadowy figures, indigenously-dressed young phantoms and water-drenched ropes that manifest from the building create an unsettling set of images as it spooks and scares.
But the film never forgets its main topics of assimilation, survival and guilt. Dìrísù and Mosaku are excellent in their roles as they are terrorised by the house ghosts but also their memories and by the people they meet in the UK. Yet the film mostly tries to steer from old chestnuts.
As allthough there are definite moments of awkwardness (a doctor embarrassingly misjudges Rial’s scars), they are somewhat welcomed into the community at times via football, yet they do feel unwelcomed by some British black teens mocking African accents in a scene of awful racism.
And whilst they are hardly warmed into the area, the film focuses its camera on a spooky parable of the horrors of memory utilising the acting of its two great central performers. Asking how far people would go to flee persecution, the film has a shocking twist in the tale that reframes the story with the spectral metaphors illuminating past horrors.
There is however one line of dialogue right at the end which so obviously explains every piece of subtext and is so on the nose it may as well be the knockout punch of a heavyweight boxer. Get rid of it, it's sooooo not needed and I groaned at its unnecessary inclusion.
His House is not perfect but is a great addition to a narrative that so could have easily been just another haunted house genre flick. With deep musings on terrible deeds and accepting responsibility for actions, the excellent debut directing from Weekes has created an exceptional movie with real chills, tremendous acting and deep ideas where menacing memories inhabit both your home and your head.
★★★★
Michael Sales
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Pete Key, Jai Blanks and Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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