A little disappointed that there was not a resemblance to Lizzie or that they couldn't even use the outside of the actual Borden house to til at. I get maybe not being able to film inside but the house they use is not even close to what Lizzie's actual house looks like- not even the same color!! The actors will ok, a little random with the story line as they just needed to build a story. Also if we're being truly accurate even though the nursery rhyme states that she used an axe to kill her parents the actual murder weapon was a hatchet. Not a true scary movie to me more of a suspense thriller.
16 Reviews
Like an axe the film just drags along
tacelano11 March 2023
There are plenty of great slow burn horror movies.
This is definitely not one of them.
I'll start with the good. Parents are clearly trying their best to carry the film, Dermot Mulroney and Leslie Bibb. The main actress is ok, which may be more of an indictment of the writing than the actress herself, since I thought she was good in Hellraiser. Practicals are good, but they use so many damn quick cuts they are normally wasted.
Everything else is pretty bad: we have the cinematography trope of "person is going crazy here's some quick cuts of blood", characters with odd motivations that don't make sense, subplots that are damn near irrelevant or exist to serve as red herrings.
By the end of the climax of the film I just couldn't care less what type of twist was coming.
This seemed like a pretty boiler plate slasher that tried and failed to be something more.
This is definitely not one of them.
I'll start with the good. Parents are clearly trying their best to carry the film, Dermot Mulroney and Leslie Bibb. The main actress is ok, which may be more of an indictment of the writing than the actress herself, since I thought she was good in Hellraiser. Practicals are good, but they use so many damn quick cuts they are normally wasted.
Everything else is pretty bad: we have the cinematography trope of "person is going crazy here's some quick cuts of blood", characters with odd motivations that don't make sense, subplots that are damn near irrelevant or exist to serve as red herrings.
By the end of the climax of the film I just couldn't care less what type of twist was coming.
This seemed like a pretty boiler plate slasher that tried and failed to be something more.
The InhabiMEHnt
Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews6 May 2023
This is very much your average, run-of-the-mill horror/thriller story. There isn't too much to say about it honestly. It wasn't exceptional and it wasn't unentertaining... it just was...
I feel like it definitely could've been a bit less predictable and that would've helped it out some, also throw in a little more spookiness. It wasn't all that scary. Also, the twist was certainly nothing to write home about either. Again, none of these things were great but also not offensive.
The best part of this movie by far was the casting/acting. I don't think it would've achieved even the moderate success that it possessed without this cast and their performances, bravo. Would recommend, but very indifferently haha.
I feel like it definitely could've been a bit less predictable and that would've helped it out some, also throw in a little more spookiness. It wasn't all that scary. Also, the twist was certainly nothing to write home about either. Again, none of these things were great but also not offensive.
The best part of this movie by far was the casting/acting. I don't think it would've achieved even the moderate success that it possessed without this cast and their performances, bravo. Would recommend, but very indifferently haha.
A bland psychological thriller lost in a sea of boredom and missed opportunities
kannibalcorpsegrinder14 August 2023
After a strange series of incidents, a young woman believes that the constant attempts to medicate her instead of letting it manifest into a repeat of the deadly family legacy as a notorious serial killer's grisly history over the town are what's starting to wield a deadly influence over the town.
Overall, this is a rather disappointing and not-that-enjoyable genre effort. About the only positive to be found here is the generally impressive build-up this takes towards the issue of mental health and insanity. There's quite a lot of work throughout here that demonstrates the wrongheaded approach that this one employs, about bottling up the emotions with medications or outside forces in the hopes that it would prevent the very real signs of stress being exhibited about what's going on which provides quite a fine starting point here. Filled in nicely with the bits about the family's legacy that continually works its way through the film managing to fill in the crucial details of what's supposedly at stake if she continues on the way is she and also providing some decent attempts at stalking that crop up throughout here, it's all pretty much the only aspects to like here. This one does manage to fall short quite heavily with some big problems. The main issue here is just how dull and uneventful this one plays out, managing to go through the motions of a story in far more time than it should due to a slew of unnecessary and aggravating subplots that serve the film no purpose at all. The constant mentions by those around her to stay in line and keep taking medication, the intrusions by the police officers who seem to leave after one piece of information so they have to keep coming back for me, and a series of side-characters that aren't important to the main storyline clog up the running time here so it's not only confusing and overlong but severely uninteresting as well. There's little reason for this one to glaze over this concept in the manner it does when it's trying to make as detailed a connection between these factors that it is, resulting in a film long of dull, bland conversations without much time for scares or stalking until the end which is all too little, too late to mean anything.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and children-in-jeopardy.
Overall, this is a rather disappointing and not-that-enjoyable genre effort. About the only positive to be found here is the generally impressive build-up this takes towards the issue of mental health and insanity. There's quite a lot of work throughout here that demonstrates the wrongheaded approach that this one employs, about bottling up the emotions with medications or outside forces in the hopes that it would prevent the very real signs of stress being exhibited about what's going on which provides quite a fine starting point here. Filled in nicely with the bits about the family's legacy that continually works its way through the film managing to fill in the crucial details of what's supposedly at stake if she continues on the way is she and also providing some decent attempts at stalking that crop up throughout here, it's all pretty much the only aspects to like here. This one does manage to fall short quite heavily with some big problems. The main issue here is just how dull and uneventful this one plays out, managing to go through the motions of a story in far more time than it should due to a slew of unnecessary and aggravating subplots that serve the film no purpose at all. The constant mentions by those around her to stay in line and keep taking medication, the intrusions by the police officers who seem to leave after one piece of information so they have to keep coming back for me, and a series of side-characters that aren't important to the main storyline clog up the running time here so it's not only confusing and overlong but severely uninteresting as well. There's little reason for this one to glaze over this concept in the manner it does when it's trying to make as detailed a connection between these factors that it is, resulting in a film long of dull, bland conversations without much time for scares or stalking until the end which is all too little, too late to mean anything.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and children-in-jeopardy.
I hate to dump on a young actress..
smoke014 November 2022
..but this girl almost ruined the new Hellraiser for me and now this movie didn't do her any favors either. The film is an extremely tame horror movie that can be shown uncut on any children's channel, with the only real horror being the lead actress. I really want to like her but I just can't, I don't know if it's her delivery or her mannerisms or her look or just her acting in general but I cannot watch anything else with her in it, at least if it is as mediocre as this film. This is just another cookie cutter horror movie that had potential and just failed to deliver; if you know your budget is low, at least go for good FX and lots of gore, the sillier the better. And, better luck next time, Odessa, I really do want to see you in something I can like in which I can also like you.
Mundane...
paul_haakonsen23 October 2022
I had not heard about this 2022 horror movie titled "The Inhabitant" prior to stumbling upon it and sitting down to watch it. Of course with it being a horror movie that I hadn't already seen, then I had to watch it.
The storyline in "The Inhabitant", as written by writer Kevin Bachar, was sort of bland and mediocre. Sure, "The Inhabitant" was a watchable movie, but you're not in for a horror feast here. The movie is very mundane and forgettable. And while I did manage to sit through the 97 minutes that the movie ran for, I was only mildly entertained.
The cast ensemble in the movie was okay, and there were some familiar faces on the cast list with the likes of Leslie Bibb and Dermot Mulroney.
Visually then you're not in for a grand cinematic experience. But then again, "The Inhabitant" is not really a movie that requires a whole lot of special effects or CGI to function.
For a horror movie then "The Inhabitant" felt monotonous and sort of bland. It is definitely not a horror movie that I would suggest horror fans to rush out and get to watch. Nor is it a horror movie that I will ever return to watch a second time. I am sure that newcomers to the horror genre might get a kick out of this movie.
My rating of director Jerren Lauder's 2022 horror movie "The Inhabitant" lands on a four out of ten stars.
The storyline in "The Inhabitant", as written by writer Kevin Bachar, was sort of bland and mediocre. Sure, "The Inhabitant" was a watchable movie, but you're not in for a horror feast here. The movie is very mundane and forgettable. And while I did manage to sit through the 97 minutes that the movie ran for, I was only mildly entertained.
The cast ensemble in the movie was okay, and there were some familiar faces on the cast list with the likes of Leslie Bibb and Dermot Mulroney.
Visually then you're not in for a grand cinematic experience. But then again, "The Inhabitant" is not really a movie that requires a whole lot of special effects or CGI to function.
For a horror movie then "The Inhabitant" felt monotonous and sort of bland. It is definitely not a horror movie that I would suggest horror fans to rush out and get to watch. Nor is it a horror movie that I will ever return to watch a second time. I am sure that newcomers to the horror genre might get a kick out of this movie.
My rating of director Jerren Lauder's 2022 horror movie "The Inhabitant" lands on a four out of ten stars.
The one who takes the ax goes out of mind
olcayozfirat7 December 2022
Horror movie of 2022. It is so heavy and boring that I could watch the movie in 3 days by taking a break every day. The audience already knows what will happen from the beginning. Even the acting was unprofessional. An ordinary movie about the cursed family, with a so-called mysterious murderer with an axe, and a leading role with strange facial expressions. It means there is fear when you show two drops of blood. In the movie, the family is so disconnected. Until the middle, I watched the father as a stepfather and the mother as an aunt. I have brainstormed for nothing. The kind that can be said to be disliked even if it is a daughter or a son.
There is no sex or nudity in the movie.
There is no sex or nudity in the movie.
a little...
ops-5253513 October 2022
Bit of scare jumping you will achieve if youre a wipsy tipsy woozie that hides behind the pillow to protect your own insanity. You will also be able to acclaim a newborn horror diva, playing the tara caracter, the most saffire blue eyes and a curled up scare crow like hairdo, that reminds me of my wife in her best moments(shes all white now...)...
but a horror classic this film will never become, i like the abruption of silence and gory scenes that hits you, and i clap my hands together for a decent horror soundtrack, but the story is very bad told, the plotspeed far too slow, and the ilitterate logic that makes classic horrormovies classics lacks from a -x, so chop your eating sticks, and headon for something else if youre hungry for horror, a tiny little recommend from the grumpy old man, the inhabitant will be inhibited for further analysis, maybe they make a spinner...
but a horror classic this film will never become, i like the abruption of silence and gory scenes that hits you, and i clap my hands together for a decent horror soundtrack, but the story is very bad told, the plotspeed far too slow, and the ilitterate logic that makes classic horrormovies classics lacks from a -x, so chop your eating sticks, and headon for something else if youre hungry for horror, a tiny little recommend from the grumpy old man, the inhabitant will be inhibited for further analysis, maybe they make a spinner...
All the Modern Dat Tropes You'd Expect - and that's all
rebeltaz-1870527 August 2023
This is a Lizzie Borden knock off written for a, ahem, modern... audience. It's got everything... panda love; unrequited girl love; strong, independent, dont-need-no-man women... about the only thing it DOESN'T have is any entertainment value.
The few males that are in this are there as nothing more than ancillary afterthoughts. They don't speak, except when spoken to, and even then, it's only as subordinates.
The girl is seventeen, yet she goes off to a bed and breakfast to spend the night with her darker boyfriend. The lady running the place doesn't bother asking for ID.
Her female friend is so jealous of the girl being with a boy instead of her that, when she's not playing with herself under the covers and rubbing up on a dress, she takes to cutting.
The husband of the murder victim (this happens in the first few minutes, so no spoiler) couldn't care less that his wife is missing/dead.
Oh, there is a ghost... I think? But the ghost/spirit/whatever has absolutely NO bearing on the story whatsoever. Just another character thrown in as an after thought.
All of this and what really bothered me so much is that for the first ten minutes, there is not a single word of dialog. But then again... after listening to the dialog that WAS there... maybe the whole movie would have been better off if it'd ALL been silent. :shrug:
Do yourself a favor and skip this. There are plenty of GOOD Lizzie Borden movies out there.
The few males that are in this are there as nothing more than ancillary afterthoughts. They don't speak, except when spoken to, and even then, it's only as subordinates.
The girl is seventeen, yet she goes off to a bed and breakfast to spend the night with her darker boyfriend. The lady running the place doesn't bother asking for ID.
Her female friend is so jealous of the girl being with a boy instead of her that, when she's not playing with herself under the covers and rubbing up on a dress, she takes to cutting.
The husband of the murder victim (this happens in the first few minutes, so no spoiler) couldn't care less that his wife is missing/dead.
Oh, there is a ghost... I think? But the ghost/spirit/whatever has absolutely NO bearing on the story whatsoever. Just another character thrown in as an after thought.
All of this and what really bothered me so much is that for the first ten minutes, there is not a single word of dialog. But then again... after listening to the dialog that WAS there... maybe the whole movie would have been better off if it'd ALL been silent. :shrug:
Do yourself a favor and skip this. There are plenty of GOOD Lizzie Borden movies out there.
Not a bad film, could have been better.
Horror_Flick_Fanatic11 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Not a bad film for what it is. Jump scare slasher films really aren't my cup of tea. I like horror stories that build up but have solid stories from the get-go. This one has a couple of sentences during the opening credits and then it's just a bunch of premonitions flashbacks and jump scares. However, even though jump scares aren't my thing, I think in this film there was something different and effective about them. I did flinch a few times where I normally wouldn't. Not sure if the timing and music score was exceptionally well done. The camera work was well done too. I also felt the young actress, Odessa A'zion gave a pretty good performance. She really carried most of the film on her shoulders. I am surprised she isn't credited more prominently on the IMDB page for this film. She is the main character after all?
I can't give this film more than a 6 because it has plenty of flaws, but it did have potential to punch above its weight. If only they spent more time developing the story more than it has. The character dialogue was good and some of it was funny and witty. The casting was a dice throw. Some actors worked well for their part, others I thought were misplaced. I think Leslie Bibb was missed cast for this particular role. But when she turns evil, just partially makes up for the acting earlier in the story.
Anyway, I think a 6 or 6.5 is generous.
EDIT: 12/1/22 I see someone on IMDB realized their mistake and updated the page for this movie because Odessa A'zion finally gets her name in the list of casted actors. That certainly wasn't the case when I first wrote my review, thus, why I mentioned it. Her name was completely absent from the page entirely.
I can't give this film more than a 6 because it has plenty of flaws, but it did have potential to punch above its weight. If only they spent more time developing the story more than it has. The character dialogue was good and some of it was funny and witty. The casting was a dice throw. Some actors worked well for their part, others I thought were misplaced. I think Leslie Bibb was missed cast for this particular role. But when she turns evil, just partially makes up for the acting earlier in the story.
Anyway, I think a 6 or 6.5 is generous.
EDIT: 12/1/22 I see someone on IMDB realized their mistake and updated the page for this movie because Odessa A'zion finally gets her name in the list of casted actors. That certainly wasn't the case when I first wrote my review, thus, why I mentioned it. Her name was completely absent from the page entirely.
A bit of a let down.
deloudelouvain7 November 2022
I can't say I was thrilled about this movie. I was hoping for something better to be honest. Lizzie Borden, it's an interesting legend with plenty of material to make a good movie of but here it just fell short. The production could definitely be better. The acting was decent but also not mesmerizing, definitely not award winning actors here. As for the horror parts it's pretty basic, not really scary unless you're really easily scared. As for the story they want to keep you guessing but you quickly figure the whole thing out so no surprises in the end. The Inhabitant is watchable but it isn't a movie you will remember in the future.
Casting is everything!
waltyounger3 November 2022
The Inhabitant performances are terrific. Odessa, Leslie, Dermot and even Lizzie Broadway in a support role are fantastic. And Mikhail the neighbor is very creepy. But the best might be the caretaker lady at the Borden house! Would have given it a 10 but I don't think Lizzie Borden had such striking looks. Still, the script is very smart with unpredictable twists and turns. And gave these actors so much subtext to work with. Very effective sound design throughout helps keep things straight. Loved the mystery moving inside and out of the main characters head. The gore is subtle, quick and effective.
Eh..... No
trailerfreak4 July 2023
Bad acting and very silly. I feel bad for Dermot Mulroney for taking this role. Spend your time elsewhere as this was a waste of my time.
The rest of this review is just to fill up space as 600 characters is longer than anyone should spend on watching this movie. There is no need for any more words or comments for this movie. It is so hard to find anymore words to describe this movie other than boring, done before, and wishing it was over. I mean seriously, who has 600 characters to write about this movie. Heade my warning and save yourself. Go do laundry. Do the dishes, clean out your junk drawer... anything but watch this movie.
The rest of this review is just to fill up space as 600 characters is longer than anyone should spend on watching this movie. There is no need for any more words or comments for this movie. It is so hard to find anymore words to describe this movie other than boring, done before, and wishing it was over. I mean seriously, who has 600 characters to write about this movie. Heade my warning and save yourself. Go do laundry. Do the dishes, clean out your junk drawer... anything but watch this movie.
Unexpected
bakeradam-7731925 October 2022
Not what I expected at all. This was startling. It had me jumping off my couch. But the scares were combined with strong performances from the entire cast. Kevin Bachar's script was unpredictable but effective at every turn. The story unfolded as sort of a slow burn and rose to a rousing crescendo. The riveting original score and sound design was chilling. I'm perplexed that Hollywood spends tens of millions to make tired old rehashed stories when modest budget films like this are out there. If Hollywood would only put their money behind something original like this. I think part two can't be far behind.
Very clever approach
fordgriffin-6206724 October 2022
This is a terrific film. More thriller than horror but very effective with stellar performances. Challenges the entire horror genre with a smart balancing act of leaning towards a mental health crisis amid a haunting - with the central character- played by the outstanding Odessa A'zion. An incredibly fresh and original take on the Lizzie Borden lore. Very impressed by the filmmakers for how they handled this material. The entire cast shines here, I just wish they did more with the boyfriend, played by the charismatic and uber-talented Michael Cooper Jr. The sky is the limit with this kid! The sound design and score was particularly effective. This film was even better the second time I watched it!
A Solid Psychological Horror with Artsy Camera Work
lizhalexander7 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Just finished watching this on Hulu a few moments ago.
My first impressions, especially without reading other reviews: This is a really good, solid psychological horror. It's definitely slow in places, but the payoff is well worth it IMHO. While it may not break any conventions as far as the story itself goes, the characters were great, and the camera work was, at least, an interesting and cool departure from the normal.
That being said, this *does* get melodramatic in parts. The scene where the Main Character's best friend has a deep breakdown after having a normal conversation with her on the phone was a bit much. Huge, secret lesbian crush or not, it just seemed to come out of nowhere, complete with razor blade cutting. Very weird, but not having been a teen lesbian myself, maybe this will strike a cord with someone, I don't know.
Perhaps others who saw this movie saw the twist way before I did, but I also wasn't *looking* for a twist. It was neat, but nothing that hadn't been done before.
That being said, there were a few things that I doubt are true to reality. First, if a family knew it was descended from Lizzie Borden, I doubt they would have to look up information online about the Lizzie Borden house, especially given how big it is. I would also expect the descendants to be the ones running it, but what do I know? Maybe there are too many descendants by now, I haven't a clue. It would be one thing if they never knew....but they made it clear from the beginning that MC's fam DID know.
BTW, the security at the mental hospital must be abysmal for the MC's aunt to have kept getting out over and over again. I mean, just truly bad.
At the very end, when MC's little brother sees Lizzie herself in the back of the car, I was okay with it. Usually, I hate that kind of thing - demon/ghost/monster/etc. Isn't REALLY gone! But, since we're dealing with things like mental illness and possession inherited from family, and there was no real attempt to exorcise the demon or mental illness or whatever it was for EVERYONE, it makes logical sense that she/it/etc. Would move on to the next available member. What was doubly interesting was that, all through the movie, it's implied that this thing only manifests in the *female* members of the family. At the end of the movie, it makes it clear that it isn't, that that's a false assumption by the family members.
As for why the 'crazy' aunt was going to their house to begin with: I can only assume that it was to low-key stalk her sister who was the actual culprit of so much horror. As for why she reacted the way she did towards MC earlier in the movie, I assume it's either the illness, or the fact that she was locked up with other mentally ill people (which can make a sane person crazy), or both.
Or maybe she was lonely, I don't know. What's *really* mystifying is how she got to the house so fast, when it takes so long to drive there. That's the weirdest part. Oh well. Maybe by the time she got there, it was like 2 in the morning, who knows.
Anyroad, I really liked this. My only complaint is that the camera work got a little *too* artsy at times, so that it was somewhat difficult to tell what was going on. That, and right at the beginning of the trailer, it gives away a huge spoiler, which I wish these trailer companies would stop doing; it's very, very irritating for a suspenseful movie.
This IS a slow movie, though, so if you are more of an action and thriller and blood and gore fan, you're going to HATE this. If you like spooky slow-build psychological flicks, then this is right up your alley!
My first impressions, especially without reading other reviews: This is a really good, solid psychological horror. It's definitely slow in places, but the payoff is well worth it IMHO. While it may not break any conventions as far as the story itself goes, the characters were great, and the camera work was, at least, an interesting and cool departure from the normal.
That being said, this *does* get melodramatic in parts. The scene where the Main Character's best friend has a deep breakdown after having a normal conversation with her on the phone was a bit much. Huge, secret lesbian crush or not, it just seemed to come out of nowhere, complete with razor blade cutting. Very weird, but not having been a teen lesbian myself, maybe this will strike a cord with someone, I don't know.
Perhaps others who saw this movie saw the twist way before I did, but I also wasn't *looking* for a twist. It was neat, but nothing that hadn't been done before.
That being said, there were a few things that I doubt are true to reality. First, if a family knew it was descended from Lizzie Borden, I doubt they would have to look up information online about the Lizzie Borden house, especially given how big it is. I would also expect the descendants to be the ones running it, but what do I know? Maybe there are too many descendants by now, I haven't a clue. It would be one thing if they never knew....but they made it clear from the beginning that MC's fam DID know.
BTW, the security at the mental hospital must be abysmal for the MC's aunt to have kept getting out over and over again. I mean, just truly bad.
At the very end, when MC's little brother sees Lizzie herself in the back of the car, I was okay with it. Usually, I hate that kind of thing - demon/ghost/monster/etc. Isn't REALLY gone! But, since we're dealing with things like mental illness and possession inherited from family, and there was no real attempt to exorcise the demon or mental illness or whatever it was for EVERYONE, it makes logical sense that she/it/etc. Would move on to the next available member. What was doubly interesting was that, all through the movie, it's implied that this thing only manifests in the *female* members of the family. At the end of the movie, it makes it clear that it isn't, that that's a false assumption by the family members.
As for why the 'crazy' aunt was going to their house to begin with: I can only assume that it was to low-key stalk her sister who was the actual culprit of so much horror. As for why she reacted the way she did towards MC earlier in the movie, I assume it's either the illness, or the fact that she was locked up with other mentally ill people (which can make a sane person crazy), or both.
Or maybe she was lonely, I don't know. What's *really* mystifying is how she got to the house so fast, when it takes so long to drive there. That's the weirdest part. Oh well. Maybe by the time she got there, it was like 2 in the morning, who knows.
Anyroad, I really liked this. My only complaint is that the camera work got a little *too* artsy at times, so that it was somewhat difficult to tell what was going on. That, and right at the beginning of the trailer, it gives away a huge spoiler, which I wish these trailer companies would stop doing; it's very, very irritating for a suspenseful movie.
This IS a slow movie, though, so if you are more of an action and thriller and blood and gore fan, you're going to HATE this. If you like spooky slow-build psychological flicks, then this is right up your alley!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
