House of Ashes is a 2024 horror film about a grieving widow who must survive psychological and supernatural terror while under house arrest. The plot was inspired by “far-right US politicians waging war on the female body.”
The movie was directed by Izzy Lee from a screenplay co-written with Steve Johanson.
The Nihil Noctem Films production stars Fayna Sanchez (Creepshow; Tenants), Vincent Stalba (Lessons in Chemistry, I Saw the Light), Lee Boxleitner, Mason Conrad, and Laura Dromerick, with cameos from genre filmmakers Joe Lynch (Suitable Flesh; Wrong Turn 2: Dead End) and Mick Garris (Masters of Horror; Sleepwalkers).
Plot:
Still reeling from a miscarriage, Mia grieves her husband Adam, found dead at the veterinary clinic they owned. She’s been acquitted of Adam’s death, but is under public scrutiny and must serve a house arrest sentence due to living in a state where miscarriage carries heavy punishment.
Enter Marc, an old friend who loves and protects Mia. Not long after he moves in, the new couple endures challenges: things go missing and they’re attacked by an unseen foe. Mia is sure that the culprit is a supernatural entity, but Marc is convinced that humans are the problem. A security expert by trade, he installs a home surveillance system to help keep them safe — but soon finds out that this is an issue he can’t fix. Under all these pressures, Mia must call on her buried strength to move on with her life — or risk death herself…
Reviews:
“The film shifts easily from reality to nightmare to daymare to night terror to something else entirely. Mia, thanks to the fine performance by Fayna Sanchez, is never entirely sure if she’s having a lucid dream or if her reality is cracking all around her. The uncertainty and the unease contribute to making House of Ashes a compelling trip into terror, beyond nightmare territory, and way beyond jump scares.” Dallas Film Now
“House of Ashes, a supernatural thriller, kept me engaged throughout. Izzy Lee’s wonderful feature debut is a testament to her talent as a filmmaker, especially considering the film’s independent nature. Fayna Sanchez steals the show with her captivating and powerful performance.” Fears Mag
“While House of Ashes is a bit unpolished, we have to celebrate a writer-director unafraid to really get into the nitty-gritty of reproductive health in the genre. As someone tired of movies about abortion that never use the word, and movies that almost take aim at the patriarchy before quietly changing course, this opening and this ending feel like a breath of fresh air. Horror Press
“Featuring a strong supporting cast and cameos by genre favorites Joe Lynch and Mick Garris, House of Ashes delivers a tense blend of psychological and supernatural horror. With stunning cinematography by Sophia Cacciola and a haunting score from Antoine Lamothe, this feature is a must-see for fans of genre-defying horror…” Nighttide Magazine
“Punkish, even at times cartoonish, and beautifully stylised in its lighting, House of Ashes is a peculiar ghost story which never forgets its opening premise. For it is patriarchal oppression that put Mia under house arrest in the first place, and it is also patriarchal oppression which will try to keep her under its thumb of gaslighting, abuse and literal toxicity at home, so that she becomes as much a disempowered, if not quite disembodied, figure in her own place as her phantom roommate.” Projected Figures
“No matter what you think of House of Ashes this is a victory for Lee [She] made a small, uneasy horror thriller around poignant and topical issues regarding a woman’s autonomy. Some of the the villains are obvious and others not so much. You just need some time to suss them out. That’s the joy of storytelling.” Screen Anarchy
Trailer:
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Notes:
Not to be confused with the 2021 survival horror video game.
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