House Click Here to Visit Website
Overall Score

Video/DVD
by Roadside Attractions/Lions Gate Films Home, Ted Dekker/Frank Peretti
Starring Michael Madsen, Reynaldo Rosales, Heidi Dippod, Julie Ann Emery, Bill Moseley

Story (from website):
A riveting thriller, HOUSE puts a hauntingly familiar face on evil as you begin to realize that the only way out... is in.

In the year since their young daughter died in a tragic accident, Jack and Stephanie have built walls around their hearts that the other can't possibly penetrate. But their inner darkness is child's play compared to the evil that lurks in the walls of the House.

Imprisoned with another troubled couple in a house of true horrors, Jack and Stephanie are force to play a one-night game of life and death with a crazed murderer... and each other. When they come face-to-face with evil, they discover it is instantly recognizable.

Based on the best-selling novel by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, HOUSE is a riveting thriller that puts a hauntingly familiar face on evil. Could it be the only way out is in?

Technical Info:
“House” is definitely not a family film, and I would have to agree with the “R” rating it has received. Along with the elements of terror, it contains adult themes, satanic references and symbols and a good deal of violence and death, including violence using guns and knives. One of the female characters wears a low-cut dress revealing cleavage. While she is at the inn with one man, she flirts with Jack, who is married. She is portrayed as promiscuous, due to a past traumatic experience that plays out in the film, and there is one scene in which they start to kiss, however he does not follow through. Another scene that one might find particularly troubling is of a young boy shooting another person. The characters who are possessed by demons have black smoke oozing from them, and, in some cases, their eyes glaze over showing the demons beneath, and there are multiple satanic symbols.

Angela's Take:
“House” is definitely not a family film, and I would have to agree with the “R” rating it has received. Along with the elements of terror, it contains adult themes, satanic references and symbols and a good deal of violence and death, including violence using guns and knives. One of the female characters wears a low-cut dress revealing cleavage. While she is at the inn with one man, she flirts with Jack, who is married. She is portrayed as promiscuous, due to a past traumatic experience that plays out in the film, and there is one scene in which they start to kiss, however he does not follow through. Another scene that one might find particularly troubling is of a young boy shooting another person. The characters who are possessed by demons have black smoke oozing from them, and, in some cases, their eyes glaze over showing the demons beneath, and there are multiple satanic symbols.

Technically speaking, this film was quite impressive for a lower-budget production (estimated at $2,500,000). While there were a few obviously “fake” scenes, overall, the special effects that the story called for were very good. Unfortunately, this is the only positive quality I could find with this movie, because everything else about it was very disturbing.

Trying to give the production the benefit of the doubt, I considered that “House” was made as a secular film and not a Christian film, however whether or not one labels this a Christian film, it still has the same problems from a Christian standpoint.

First of all is the general darkness of the film. The images of violence and murder made me think upon Philippians 4:8, that we are to think about things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, whatever is admirable, and, from that standpoint, I can’t help but wonder how God would feel about entertainment that brings down the spirit and leaves a person with disturbing images and thoughts.

However, while some may be able to overlook this aspect, one simply cannot overlook the second, which is the satanic element. There are a few satanic symbols shown, the most prevalent being the Church of Satan symbol, which is the inverted pentagram and goat’s head, and it is made very clear that the evil forces are satanic. The problem with this is that, while the evil element is very clear, the good element is not clear at all, and, in explanation, I am afraid that I have to give away an important piece of the ending. The good element is portrayed by a young girl, who dies and becomes a light that destroys the evil. As Christians, we may assume that this is supposed to be a representative of Jesus Christ, however this is never made clear in the film. And while you might argue that it is allegorical, then I must ask why the evil is not as well. If there is a battle with Satan clearly on one side, then we must have Jesus clearly on the other side. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that Satan can appear to be an angel of light, so the fact that this girl turns into light means nothing, and Ephesians 6:10-18, which speaks of spiritual warfare, tells us that our weapon against Satan is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I find it very disturbing that people would treat this subject so lightly. The Bible is clear that Satan is the ruler of this world, that he is very powerful, more powerful than we are. What gives us power over him is Jesus and Jesus alone, and there are multiple examples of this in the Bible. When demons are cast out, it is always in the Name of Jesus and only in Jesus that one has the authority to do so. And we must remember what happened to the men who tried to cast out demons in the Name of Jesus ("whom Paul preaches"), who did not have the authority of Jesus to do so (Acts 19). This should be a warning to us all that demonic activity is a very serious subject, and watering down the gospel, especially in this way to make it "appealing" to the secular masses is a serious offense.

While scripture regarding light and darkness is mentioned, the film does not further explain this, and, in fact, it is quite literally the light within the girl that overcomes the satanic darkness. Of further concern, some people believe in feminine gods, and therefore could justify their beliefs through this film.

The bottom-line is that only Jesus can save us from Satan, because He is the one who defeated Satan. It is not a girl or a light; it is Jesus and Jesus alone has the power to defeat evil and to portray actual satanic elements but only allegories for Jesus is a dangerous thing to do. Furthermore, unless we can read the minds of the authors, we are truly only assuming that Jesus is indeed the allegory implied. I find it quite disturbing that the other film, Thr3e, based on the novel by Ted Dekker, has similar disturbing issues. It is always possible that a person is well-meaning and only trying to reach out to the secular community in a way that will appeal to them, but the Bible says to let our light shine before the world, not to hide our light, that the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

Additional Scripture:
John 15:17-19 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 5:15-17 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Ephesians 6-10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

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