I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
| Release Date (Streaming): October 28, 2016
4.4
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 38 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
10
Mixed:
15
Negative:
13
Watch Now
Stream On
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
2
dajhornSep 4, 2017
This is a horror movie made for a film festival that is all windup without a pitch. IATPTTLITH is something that a student might be forced to watch in film class at a community college.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
1
rishelr0Apr 23, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. We watched this movie as it appeared in a NY Times article on under seen horror movies on Netflix. It did have atmosphere but after 87 minutes we found ourselves wondering what the actual story was or if there was one.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
0
NathanielPrimeSep 13, 2019
This is a movie about a woman who stares at things with her mouth hanging open. Literally, that's 90% of the movie. The camera focuses on her almost all of that time, just staring at a regular bookshelf with her goofy mouth agape in anThis is a movie about a woman who stares at things with her mouth hanging open. Literally, that's 90% of the movie. The camera focuses on her almost all of that time, just staring at a regular bookshelf with her goofy mouth agape in an expression which is maybe supposed to be fear but actually just gives the impression that she is actually incredibly high 100% of the time and is trying to just figure out what regular household objects are. Interspersed with snippets of what sound like her reading a 2ng grader's attempt at writing a spoooooky book. Literally the worst movie I've seen in a decade. Before I watched it I'd sooner believe that ghosts existed than a movie this excruciatingly pointless existed.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
0
PenguinofD00mJul 16, 2019
I never review movies, but this time I just had to. I am here to warn everyone to avoid this pretentious, **** pathetic excuse for a film and to hopefully save you 87 minutes of your life. This is a glorified exercise of art(sy) directionI never review movies, but this time I just had to. I am here to warn everyone to avoid this pretentious, **** pathetic excuse for a film and to hopefully save you 87 minutes of your life. This is a glorified exercise of art(sy) direction passed for a film. Nothing ever happens. There is no suspance, there is no dread, anticipation, tension, thrill, no scare, no meaning behind the scenes. You are stuck for over a hour listening to slowly spoken minutiae going absolutely nowhere, a nevrotic lead verbousely talking to herself, seemingly overwhelmed by every tiny bit of mundane occurance which by the way make up for no less than 95% of the movie. This is not a movie, and certainly not an horror. STAY AWAY AND WARN ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND BELOVED ONES.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
1
prm1212Sep 10, 2020
A slow burn of a movie that never catches fire. The reason she doesn't turn 29 is because the movie moves so f-ing slowly..
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
1
wdstoutSep 9, 2017
This, Netflix users, is why you can not judge movies based on their cover photo. While intriguing, an hour into the film I was sure the last half hour was going to finally be where it started to pick up, but. It. Never. Does!! This was 87This, Netflix users, is why you can not judge movies based on their cover photo. While intriguing, an hour into the film I was sure the last half hour was going to finally be where it started to pick up, but. It. Never. Does!! This was 87 minutes that I'll. Never. Get. Back.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
0
Samsteal12Jan 5, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The scariest part of this movie is trying to believe this girl is 28, honestly the worst movie I have ever seen this movie makes want to shot my own horror movie on my phone and it will only take one scene for mine to be scarier and my movie would last 2 minutes, stay away from this film anyone that tells u to watch it and says it good or scary has no taste in film and u should never talk to these people again, if u take my advise your welcome and if u didn’t god help u… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
9
DominicNov 1, 2016
Beautiful, eerie, creepy, and atmospheric....this is a dreamy nightmare of a film, all lilting narration and gauzy focus. Masterfully shot, edited, and performed, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House will get under your skin andBeautiful, eerie, creepy, and atmospheric....this is a dreamy nightmare of a film, all lilting narration and gauzy focus. Masterfully shot, edited, and performed, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House will get under your skin and spread...like the black rot infecting this haunted house.… Expand
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
All this user's reviews
4
LannnNov 4, 2016
Pros: Excellent atmosphere, good performances, avoids standard horror cliches.

Cons: Never goes anywhere, explores anything, or even really settles on a message. So you're liable to feel like it's a waste of time. Overall, I'd recommendPros: Excellent atmosphere, good performances, avoids standard horror cliches.

Cons: Never goes anywhere, explores anything, or even really settles on a message. So you're liable to feel like it's a waste of time.

Overall, I'd recommend this if you're looking for something kind of diverting to have on the television while you're doing other things - the narration is creepy and solid, and it's very nice to look at. But if you want a satisfying build-up and pay-off of story, skip it.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
All this user's reviews
4
SpangleOct 28, 2016
This lovingly crafted film that attempts to be a poetic take on the ghost story, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is simply not that scary. Much of the film's big scares seem promising and director Oz Perkins' commitment to notThis lovingly crafted film that attempts to be a poetic take on the ghost story, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is simply not that scary. Much of the film's big scares seem promising and director Oz Perkins' commitment to not cheapening his product with jump scares or easy cliches is admirable, yet the film just about amounts to nothing. Admittedly, this makes sense given the nature of the story of it being a "ghost story within a ghost story". I am fine with it amounting to nothing, but in terms of being a horror film, the film simply never delivers the goods.

Starring Ruth Wilson as Lily, a hospice nurse assigned to watch over Iris Blum (Paula Prentiss), the film depicts Lily's encounters with a ghost, Polly Parsons (Lucy Boynton) that iives in Ms. Blum's home. As she comes to learn, Ms. Blum is aware of the ghost and even wrote about her in her many horror novels. The film, while also being an exploration of Lily's learning about the history of the home, is also the conclusion to a story told in the film about Polly and how she became a ghost. The film seeks to dive deeper into the ghost story, rather than relying upon a fear of the unknown. Instead, it seeks to delve into the ghost and showcase that the real horror is those things are tangible and real, not the fake. Unfortunately, the film is wrong. At least in this case.

Never justifying its already short length, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is an exercise in atmospheric tension. It is in this arena that Perkins does battle and he dominates the competition here. Utilizing a truly haunting score, great visuals, and an everlasting sense of dread that captures every ounce of weight in this home, Perkins knows atmosphere. He delivers this atmosphere and stretches it out over 90 minutes of slow burn horror. Typically, this sounds appealing to me and I do love a good slow burn horror movie with great atmosphere. Yet, this particular film just drags. It hits the halfway point and then just decides to repeat scares, visuals, and creepy voiceovers. In the way it is constructed, the film honestly feels as though it is only 40 minutes in length, with the final half dedicated to telling the same story, but in reverse order and slightly altered to display the difference between then and now.

Written poetically, the writing aspires to be something the film is ultimately not. Hinting at being a deeper explanation of the emotional torment a soul experiences that could cause them to stay in a home, the film instead opts to not explore this. Instead, it is largely just 80 minutes of scary music, tension, and Lily trying to get a television to work until OH MY GOD A GHOST. Then back to fixing the television again. Though the initial and closing voiceovers certainly try to hint at discovering the secrets buried within the walls of a home, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the Home never justifies that pretty thing still living in the home beyond vague mold and a death. If dying a violent death in a home is enough for the soul to remain confined within its walls, then I feel like I knew this already based on other horror films. Essentially, though it sounds as though it is trying to take a poetic and exploratory approach to the haunted house film, Oz Perkins' work merely treads the same ground as past works.

As a whole, there is a lot to like about I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House. Filled with tension and a good scare, as well as capable acting performances, the film will certainly work for many. Though I love a good slow burn horror film, this one does not quite fit the bill and lacks any sort of pay-off, both as an exploration of the genre and as a horror film.… Expand
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
All this user's reviews
2
kuehnauOct 30, 2016
The story has atmosphere and for awhile you'll watch this movie simply out of pure curiosity. Unfortunately the pacing is so slow, it quickly becomes tedious watching this movie.
3 of 7 users found this helpful34
All this user's reviews
8
TheQuietGamerOct 29, 2016
The strength of Oz Perkin's horror gem is in it's ability to make you as paranoid and uncomfortable as it's easily frightened main character, played by Ruth Wilson. It doesn't do so with big shocks, jumps, or any of the cheap scare tacticsThe strength of Oz Perkin's horror gem is in it's ability to make you as paranoid and uncomfortable as it's easily frightened main character, played by Ruth Wilson. It doesn't do so with big shocks, jumps, or any of the cheap scare tactics you'll find in mainstream horror films clogging up theatres today. Instead it relies on silence.

It's a gorgeous movie. The camera angles are immaculate, showing just enough to keep you edge with what you can see and constantly pondering about what you can't. It takes the time to earn your fear. Perkins plays off of the natural uneasiness of darkness and shadows. The movie works it's way under your skin by toying with the typical setups modern horror has made us accustomed to. It sucks you into it's admittedly bare bones narrative with it's hauntingly beautiful narration. The writing itself feels like poetry.

If you're looking for big thrills and chills I recommend going elsewhere. This is a slow movie. One with only one real scare (oh, but what a scare it is). The rest is just suitably creepy to the point where it will make your skin crawl. It's proof that the best horror doesn't have to jump out at you. Horror can be still. Silent. It can work it's magic on you by simply making you feel uncomfortable and isolated. Essentially, it can make you scare yourself.

And yes, it is a beautiful movie with some of the most haunting cinematography I have ever witnessed. Those monologues are a thing of grace. Packed with themes that will stick with you long after watching. Oz Perkins has created something deeply affecting and just f*cking terrifying. It's both a horror film and a work of art.

8.5/10… Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
All this user's reviews
5
ninosanNov 1, 2016
An atmospheric movie that gives a intense sense of uneasiness and dread, but never gets "too good".
The story is very hard to follow, and gets dull after some time.
Watch if you like slow paced movies and cryptic thrillers.
1 of 5 users found this helpful14
All this user's reviews
7
JJJOct 11, 2017
Score for beautiful craftsmanship in movie making. Best word to describe this movie is ... Creeeepy. Don't expect a big payoff or revelation because I'm not sure it's there. Best to watch alone, at night, with lights out. You have to be inScore for beautiful craftsmanship in movie making. Best word to describe this movie is ... Creeeepy. Don't expect a big payoff or revelation because I'm not sure it's there. Best to watch alone, at night, with lights out. You have to be in the right mood and not looking to numb out on gory horror. It's a quiet movie, subtle and beautiful. It's slow but not cheap. There is an originality to it, which I appreciated. I haven't been scared or creeped out by a movie in many years. It didn't scare me, but for a short time after watching it, I felt like I was being watched.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
4
HermesRatatoskrJan 6, 2020
Because I think 'The Blackcoat's Daughter' is the best horror film of the last ten years I was eagerly anticipating this.
Unfortunately it was a disappointment. It's beautiful to look at and the sound design is great, but it wastes itsBecause I think 'The Blackcoat's Daughter' is the best horror film of the last ten years I was eagerly anticipating this.
Unfortunately it was a disappointment. It's beautiful to look at and the sound design is great, but it wastes its talented cast in almost a series of tableaux with very little substance.
The lack of jump scares is commendable, the sparse narrative is not a problem, but the posturing ultimately wears thin.
Osgood Perkins is an exciting horror director, but this is not a success.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
4
JLauSep 27, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wordy, monologuey, uneventful film about a live-in hospice nurse who dies from fright at seeing a ghost.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

68 Critic Reviews

4.4 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL