Stormhouse (2011)

Stormhouse (2011)
Directed by: Dan Turner
Written by: Dan Turner, Jason Arnopp
Starring: Grahame Fox, Grant Masters, Katherine Flynn, Patrick Flynn

Stormhouse (2011)

(15) Running time: 88 minutes

Director: Dan Turner

Writer: Jason Arnopp, Dan Turner

Starring: Grant Masters, Patrick Flynn, Grahame Fox, Katherine Flynn

Reviewed by: Matt Wavish, official HCD critic

I went into Stormhouse not really knowing what to expect. The film crept out and ended up as a straight to DVD affair here in the UK and pretty much disappeared. Strange that, since the actual concept (while not exactly new) was quite interesting. An alien entity has been captured by the British military and caged in some sort of special containment. With the film being based around the military, it allowed director and co-writer Dan Turner to throw in the odd comment about Iraq, and use a possible terrorist as a way of causing a little controversy. Those particular ideas seemed unnecessary and a little too political where the film really didn’t need it.

However, not content with having a few digs at the treatment of possible terrorists (the man here is used as an ‘experiment’ with the entity) the film also briefly has a little dig at religion too. In one scene a man is about to enter the large room where the entity is being held, gripping his crucifix around his neck, then Major Anthony Lester (Masters) says to the man: “pull yourself together lad, this is a place of science!” A nice touch, but sadly something never really used again in the film.

What Stormhouse really boils down to is a very basic, and to be fair at times rather good, sci-fi horror about a hired ‘Ghost Whisperer’ called Hayley (Katherine Flynn)who can communicate with the entity. It may sound a little daft and over the top, but at times this film actually works. The film’s setting is very basic: an underground secret bunker where the military are testing the entity to see if it could be of some use. The bunker itself often becomes claustrophobic, and as with a lot of good sci-fi, a simple familiar setting is usually all you need. We don’t really leave the bunker here, and Stormhouse is all the better for it. Dark corridors, small rooms and the use of torches, flashing lights or red and orange warning lights all add up to a well crafted level of suspense and atmosphere which helps the film move along nicely. With echoes of The Exorcist, Paranormal Activity and The Squad, you’d think Stormhouse was one belter of a horror. Sadly though, you’d be wrong.

The story of a woman going into the bunker to find out what the entity wants is stretched to almost painful levels of silliness: watch how she communicates and you’ll get what I mean. The tension is built well, and often the atmosphere and use of camera angles work really well, but sadly there was no urgency here, and the film just really needed that final payoff, that final moment to truly make a scene work. See, as expected, Hayley’s communication with the entity sets off a series of events, and soldiers begin to act a little stranger than usual. Already these guys are watching Hayley as she sleeps (they haven’t seen a woman in quite some time!), but when they begin singing the French song ‘Frere Jacques’ (Brother John in English) while walking as if some force is holding them back, we know the entity might be up to no good. However, while a little spooky the first time a man approaches Hayley singing “ding, dang, dong”, the song is used far too much and becomes increasingly irritating.

However, and this is where I get annoyed, Stormhouse often shows signs of being something really special, and it is clear that the director just might come up with something great in the future. A scene where a soldier knocks on Hayley’s door, and then kicks a football at her face might sound funny, but in reality it is one of the most chilling scenes in the film. Often the film gathers suspense, or throws in an unexpected scene which makes you sit up and take notice. The increasing level of violence is promising, and Turner really does use his dark setting to its full potential. It is the budget, at times poor acting, and a struggle to really deliver and finish off a scene which lets this otherwise interesting film down. There are also scenes which may have seemed creepy as an idea, but put together become laughable. A particular scene see’s a prisoner offered up to the entity, and the entity then plays with him like a puppet. It should have been unsettling, but sadly it looks ridiculous and any menace is quickly removed.

Sadly this sums up Stormhouse: a film full of ideas and potential, it really has all the ingredients to have been a strong horror sci-fi, but there is no conviction from the cast or the director. Plus, considering the small amount of characters we need to get to know, it is only Hayley and Major Lester that we can actually connect with. Stormhouse ends up a bit of a mess, with nothing really all that memorable and it will sadly fade away into a distant memory the instant the credits roll. A good effort, with some nice touches and ideas, but it never lives up to its full potential.

Rating: