Housebound

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Housebound

Released Oct 17, 2014

1h 49m

Comedy

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

73%

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5,000+ Ratings

A would-be thief (Morgana O'Reilly) is remanded to the custody of her estranged mother (Rima Te Wiata), who turns out to be correct in her assertion that evil spirits are afoot in their family domicile.

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Critics Consensus

Alternately hilarious, gross, and simply diverting, Housebound is the rare horror-comedy that delivers on both fronts.

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Aja Romano

Vox

Housebound is writer-director Gerard Johnstone's only feature film, but its unique tone has the confidence of an established, more experienced screenwriter

Jan 12, 2021

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

O'Reilly is terrific as the sneery discontent at the centre of the madcap maelstrom, while Rima Te Wiata walks a wonderfully fine line between pathos and aggravation as the long-suffering/insufferable mum whose forced smile is about to crack.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 5, 2015

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Kate Muir

Times (UK)

Housebound does ghosts in the walls with the same wacky panache as the recent Wyrmwood did Aussie zombies.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 2, 2015

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Creating a funny, believable situation only to interrupt it with sudden spikes of fear is a tough trick to pull off, but Johnstone and team make it look spookily easy.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 31, 2024

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Common Sense Media

Combining a ghost hunt and murder story with a craftily wry sense of humor and genuinely likable, broken characters, this horror/thriller has good scares and atmosphere, but it also has heart.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 23, 2023

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

What starts as a relatively conventional horror-comedy eventually pivots into something genuinely creepy, though without betraying its established blend of scares and laughs.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 20, 2023

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Glenn B

Good movie, because it was not made in Hollywood.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

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Clarissa M

Perfect example of how great storytelling, good pacing, talented actors, and well-delivered comedy can make the most basic and universal premise in horror (haunted house) a thrilling and refreshing watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/30/24

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Audience Member

This movie is the epitome of why i couldn't sleep alone in the dark or walk home alone at night as a kid

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/03/24

Full Review

C A

Didn't think it was going to be as good as it turned out to be. I enjoyed it very much.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

Johnny D

This movie is awesome. It kicks off with a great attention-grabber, and then Rima Te Wiata's expert comic relief keeps you entertained while the other characters are introduced and developed. And what great characters they are! Ross Harper gives a fine performance, but Morgana O'Reilly and Glen-Paul Waru are the real show-stoppers here. Man, they're hilarious. And then I absolutely loved how the ghost angle plays out. The whole plot, silly as it is, ends up being really gripping. This film somehow serves up genuine suspense, while somehow being hilarious at the same time; and by the end I was thoroughly satisfied.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/10/23

Full Review

Emilliano S

Watchable, decent Kiwi horror comedy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/12/23

Full Review

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Gerard Johnstone

Director

Morgana O'Reilly

Kylie Bucknell

Rima Te Wiata

Miriam Bucknell

Glen-Paul Waru

Amos

Cameron Rhodes

Dennis

Millen Baird

Officer Grayson

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Synopsis

A would-be thief (Morgana O'Reilly) is remanded to the custody of her estranged mother (Rima Te Wiata), who turns out to be correct in her assertion that evil spirits are afoot in their family domicile.

Director: Gerard Johnstone
Producer: Luke Sharpe
Screenwriter: Gerard Johnstone
Distributor: XLrator Media
Production Co: Semi-Professional
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 49m

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