His House
Two refugees from South Sudan end up in an English townhome, but ghosts from their past have travelled with them. In addition to the traditional tropes of these movies (jump scares, creepy specters, unexplained hallucinations) the only thing that sets this thriller apart is a cursory nod to their issues as exiles and the flawed immigration system. Even if you’re into message movies, that’s not sufficient to make the trite frights worth a watch.
(2 / 5)
The Haunting of Bly Manor
This followup to The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting places two children in the titular manse with an assortment of caretakers….some of whom may be phantoms. The dull pacing makes the occasional moments of fear less effective, although there are some worthwhile moments. The cast is fine with Henry Thomas creating an enjoyably weird benefactor. Otherwise, it’s a lot of slow going for a few minor frights. (9 one-hour episodes)
(2.5 / 5)