If I have learned anything from Chris Gore at Film Threat, it’s that you cannot judge an independent film the same way that you do a big studio film. The Haunting of the Murder House is the perfect film to illustrate that point. Directed by Brendan Rudnicki, and written by Rudnicki and Kellan Rudnicki, this is a hybrid found footage film that follows the story of four live streamers that broadcast from an infamous murder location only to fall prey to the trappings of evil. We’ve seen most of this before. But the Rudnicki team does everything possible to soar above their limitations, to entertain, and more importantly scare. The result is an earnest effort that isn’t always successful, while still commanding your rapt attention.

The film starts with a cold open in which Officer Reynolds (Brent Downs) arrives at a home to find a clown-masked murderer in the process of dispensing his final victim. That situation resolves and we then jump forward to Kai (Tyler Miller) and Harper (Sarah Tyson). The pair left their day jobs in search of fame and fortune through streaming. The two host a show that investigates paranormal locations in hopes of capturing evidence. The two decide to visit this storied murder location and have recruited poor intern Dylan (Dylan DeVane) to join them. Their producer Kel (Kellan Rudnicki) is just outside in a broadcast van as the three “investigators” spend the night in this locked-down/abandoned murder scene. Kai and Harper’s goal is to break streaming records by provoking the bad mojo in a murder scene with Zak Bagans tactics. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t go well.

The Haunting of the Murder House isn’t a good film, but an earnest one. There is a true desire to frighten and honestly, there are a few scenes that made even this jaded horror fiend jump. As the paranormal personalities wander through the pristinely drywalled interior of an “abandoned” location it takes a suspension of disbelief to go along with the story. Yet, you want to.

The Haunting of the Murder House does everything that an ambitious, independent, found-footage hybrid horror movie can do to keep the audience guessing and engaged. They were more successful with the latter. Why? Simple. The Rudnicki’s understand horror and the mechanics therein but they have yet to perfect their formula. There are some glorious build-ups that run too long. There are also a handful of audio jumpscares that come off as cheap and expected. Still, we look at the framework and see that there is an understanding of the formula.

Not a failure, The Haunting of the Murder House is an admirable effort that is shackled by budget and, well, budget. This is Redbox or Prime worthy but the team behind it needs a few more allies to give us something that will mess us up a bit.

6 Out Of 10