October 29th 2024.
Let me tell you about one of my all-time favorite horror movie discoveries - Hell House LLC. Now, I've seen my fair share of scary films, but not many have been able to paralyze me with fear like Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor did. From the moment I stumbled upon the first installment on Shudder a few years ago, I was hooked. I often debate whether or not to cancel my subscription to the horror streaming platform and save a few bucks, but then a film like Hell House comes along and pulls me right back in.
Released in 2015, the first Hell House was a rare gem that I wish I had found sooner. It had everything I love in a horror movie - a group of friends making questionable decisions, a creepy setting (in this case, an abandoned hotel), and of course, clowns. Now, I have a genuine fear of clowns, so the fact that I enjoy films like Hell House and Terrifier will always be a mystery to me. But when I found out that Hell House was also a found footage film, I couldn't grab my snacks and hit play fast enough. And just like that, I was hooked.
The film follows a documentary crew as they visit the scene of a haunted house tour five years after 15 people were killed there. As they try to uncover the truth about what really happened, the footage they capture is both terrifying and chilling. From creepy props to strange noises, dark basements, and the most terrifying clown I've ever seen, Hell House LLC had me on the edge of my seat.
It's always a satisfying feeling when you stumble upon a great film, and Hell House LLC was no exception. Especially considering its low budget, it was a solid and well-executed movie. Of course, I can't help but rave about the original and how deliciously good it was, so it was a bit disappointing when the sequels - Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel and Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire - failed to recreate the same level of terror. That is, until the release of the fourth installment, Origins: The Carmichael Manor, last year.
I'll admit, after the decline in quality and storytelling of the previous sequels, I didn't have high hopes for a third sequel. But as a fan of the franchise, I felt obligated to watch it. And I'm so glad I did, because Hell House LLC Origins completely restored my faith in the found footage genre. Despite taking place in a new and unfamiliar setting, Origins felt surprisingly familiar to the original. The scares were just as harrowing, and the story was stripped back, allowing for true fear to manifest organically. Plus, it gave a well-fleshed-out backstory to one of the main villains of the series - something that many sequels fail to do.
As a fan of found footage films, it's always disheartening to see the subgenre executed poorly. But with Hell House LLC Origins, it felt like a breath of fresh air. For a while, it seemed like found footage was struggling to reclaim the magic it had in the 2000s and 2010s. Of course, we can't talk about found footage without mentioning the films that paved the way for Hell House - gems like REC, Creep, Lake Mungo, and The Visit, not to mention the forefathers of the genre, The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. And while there have been some recent successes, such as Host, Superhost, Late Night With the Devil, and Searching, they have been too few and far between for my liking.
The formula for a good found footage film may seem simple - find a creepy location, film selfie-style, and press record - but it can be done so poorly, as we've seen many times in the past. It's the truly great ones that make it look easy, and Hell House LLC Origins did just that. These days, it's rare to see a found footage film that really gets it right. But the fourth installment of Hell House shook things up for horror fans who were not expecting it to be as great as it was. It proved that there is still plenty of steam left in the found footage subgenre.
So, have you seen Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Trust me, it's a terrifying experience that you won't soon forget. And if you have seen it, I'd love to know your thoughts. What other found footage horror movies do you enjoy? Let's discuss in the comments below. And if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, don't hesitate to get in touch with our entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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