‘Once you’re in there’s no way out’
The Domicile is a 2017 American supernatural horror film co-produced, written and directed by Jared Cohn (Devil’s Domain; Hold Your Breath; Little Dead Rotting Hood; 12/12/12). The Traplight Pictures production stars Steve Richard Harris, Demetrius Stear and Katherine Flannery.
Plot:
Russell Brody, a one-time successful playwright, works diligently on a follow-up play that could land him back in the spotlight he so dearly craves. With a baby on the way, however, and a strained marriage, stress, and frustration become focused. When his wife accidentally stumbles down the stairs and dies from her injuries, Brody’s mental state goes from bad to one of utter despair.
In a bid to help his friend regain his sanity, Brody’s co-writer David Stanley suggests he revisits Lucy, his former mistress. The ghost of Brody’s dead wife awakens to the sordid details of his unfaithfulness, enraging her supernatural spirit to haunt him in every horrifying way imaginable.
At first, Brody thinks he’s hallucinating and hearing things in his head, the result of his state of mind and alcohol. But as things intensify, his grip on sanity quickly slips away, and he starts to go mad.
Appearing in every shadow, and provoking him relentlessly, the ghost cranks up her onslaught, making his life a living hell. Brody reaches his breaking point when the ghost possesses his former mistress, and he’s forced to confront the scorned entity…
Reviews:
Cohn succeeds best with his direction and visuals, managing to squeeze out some decent atmosphere with a well-photographed film that handles the ghostly tropes effectively […] The Domicile certainly believes in its story, taking itself very seriously but there’s no investment in any of the characters and some ‘scary’ moments often inspire unintended laughs. An earnest attempt, however this is one ghost story that fades quickly.” That Moment In
“When combined with the sly, quiet commentary on the struggles of being creative Cohn administers into the labor, which will assuredly appeal to artistic-minded spectators everywhere, Cohn’s latest works just as well as a psychological drama as it does an outing in fear. The result of these high-caliber qualities is an exceptional example of modern day horror.” A Word of Dreams
“The ghost makes numerous appearances throughout. So many so that their impact becomes lessened with every appearance. That lady just needs to calm down. Take a time out and choose her moments carefully rather than showing up every five seconds. I can’t attach myself to any character in the story and as a result similar to Circus Kane, I don’t care if they live or die.” Back to the Movies
“Would you rather see an original effort with imaginative personalities, thoughtfully composed moments, and memorably frightful surprises? Or something flatly functional with rushed writing, inert energy, and a comically awful effect of bloody babies ripped from a womb? The Domicile has one of those two options covered.” Culture Crypt
“It’s this kind of assembly-line horror flick that cheapens the genre and makes the rest of the competent filmmakers look dumb for making them, and the viewers look dumb for watching them […] The Domicile feels like the outlines of four other movies thrown together and filmed over a weekend. The script makes very little sense and raises more questions than it answers.” Nerdly
“While there are brilliant moments of unapologetic gore at the movie’s end, the execution of the various plot points tying together feels awkward […] Overall, The Domicile is a quality supernatural horror film with an excellent cast, although some of its limitations hinder the movie’s ultimate effect.” TN Horror
“On a technical standpoint and as far as ticking off almost every expected beat of the genre, The Domicile musters a pass, but emotionally it falls short, and doesn’t do enough to demand investment from the viewer […] The scares don’t hit the mark enough. The atmosphere is there, the setting, the set ups and the photography, but the delivery of fear just falls short.” Flickering Myth
“I appreciate that writer/director Jared Cohn tried to do something different than the horror movie norm. By the films end the most interesting character is abandoned and the black shadow is overexposed. We’re left with an unsavory character and no real desire to see him survive.” Without Your Head
Cast and characters:
- Steve Richard Harris … Russell Brody – Death Pool; Little Dead Rotting Hood; 12/12/12
- Demetrius Stear … David
- Katherine Flannery … Estella Brody – Zombie Pizza
- Sara Malakul Lane … Lucy – Sunchoke; Pernicious; Sharktopus
- Amanda Ruth Ritchie … Samantha
- Julian Bane … Officer White
- Todd Carroll … Julian
- Kelly Erin Decker … Mental Institution Orderly
- Cara Mitsuko … Grace
- Tom Newth … Mental Institution Orderly
- Angela Nicholas … Bonnie
- David Palmieri … Officer Thompson
Filming locations:
Pasadena, California
Technical details:
82 minutes
