Rent House on Elm Lake (2017)

Evil has a new home ... - House on Elm Lake review by NP

This 2017 film is a remake of an earlier picture shot three years earlier, with this later version enjoying more of a budget. It’s good, solid stuff. Directed and co-written by James Klass, the cinematography treats us to many slow-moving establishing shots and interesting, often unsettling angles. It isn’t ground-breaking – the story has been done often before in various shapes or sizes.

I like the leads – they are very naturalistic and personable. Prolific actress Becca Hirani/Fletcher in particular, makes a good impression as cheery, dare I suggest sexy, Hayley, slowly affected by what’s going on in her new dream house. Images of a naked old man, possibly over-used, are nevertheless creepy: kudos to Tony Mendez as Elliot. Faye Goodwin as daughter Penny bares a passing resemblance to a young Linda Blair, and Andrew Hollingworth impresses as husband Eric.

Penny’s babysitter’s not much cop. She follows a recounting of the house’s grim past to Penny with a cheery, ‘Anyway … bed-time!’ Initially, I had a problem with the comparative tender ages of mum and dad to have a grown-up child, but this is explained.

‘Elm Lake’ is not without problems – the voice modulation is repetitive and overdone and the pacing is often sluggish. The messy finale in particular would have been far more effective with a little pruning. A mixed bag perhaps, but the good far outweighs the bad. My score is 7 out of 10.