Hamilton House Review // An Indie Comedy For The Horror Fan

Hamilton House is a perfect indie comedy for horror lovers looking to stray outside the genre. Written and directed by Jordan Rowe, this quirky flick effortlessly draws you in during its short 83-minute run time. If you’re a fan of horror and you’ve ever struggled to make ends meet, this film might hit a bit close to home. It does so in a nonconfrontational way, though, so as not to scare you away.  

Reality Bites

In an apartment full of struggling creatives, no one seems to be able to get ahead. Not for lack of trying either. Zach (Elijah Lawrence) is a huge fan of horror director Gunther Lazlo (Jack Dimich), who has just moved into the neighborhood. Zach convinces his girlfriend, Vivienne (Julia Whitcher), and two roommates that putting on a haunted house in their apartment for Halloween is the way to grab Mr. Lazlo’s attention. He instantly becomes fixated on the idea that this will be their way of being “discovered”.

Hamilton House doesn’t take the approach that if you build it, they will come. Instead, it takes a much more realistic tone in that if you try to do something in ten days, it may not go to plan. Where many movies try to convey this in a much more serious light, Hamilton House delivers it with a lighthearted, balanced approach, pulling you a little closer to the story. That gentle tug brings familiarity to a new story. You want to sit closer to the screen and get to know the characters better.  

While you can only pack so much story into an 80ish-minute long movie, I would have enjoyed exploring Zach and Vivienne’s relationship further. It didn’t make or break the film, but it would have helped answer some questions about some of the decisions they made. Of course, that could just be me being nosey. Who am I kidding? Of course I’m being nosey. After watching the movie, though, I did learn that writer/director Rowe had to, unfortunately, make script cuts due to production costs. Hearing that definitely answered many questions. 

Hit or Miss?

If you’re a fan of legit indie comedy, you will definitely enjoy Hamilton House. It has its moments that don’t exactly land. All movies do for me. For example, why must we always find a way to vilify a woman wanting a career? Then we have moments that totally deliver, showcasing the incredibly talented actress Sara Padgett, who plays roommate Bella. Like seriously, that scream, girl. You got real talent! Hamilton House is a great movie for anyone who enjoys horror and wants to have a little fun outside the genre. Go ahead, check it out. I won’t tell anyone.