Havenhurst (2016) User Reviews

Trust me, Havenhurst is the ideal method to get rid of an addiction.

[peterp-450-298716 · 4/10 · 11 April 2017]

"Our rules are simple. You stay sober, you lead a good life, and you don't fall back into your old habits. Then, you are welcome to stay here until the day you die. And if I don't lead a good life? Then your stay at Havenhurst would be terminated."

Are you a recovering addict and you're offered to stay at "Havenhurst" as aftercare, you'd better make sure you do not slide back into your bad habit. The result is an eviction from this gigantic baroque looking building in downtown New York. A normal eviction would involve you packing your bags and closing the door behind you in an agitated mood. If your stay is terminated at "Havenhurst", the eviction is quite painful and final. But you can be sure of one thing. You won't fall of the wagon ever again.

The person who moves to "Havenhurst" is Jackie (Julie Benz), a recovering alcoholic who's responsible for the death of her lovable daughter because of her addiction. After she gets fired from rehab, she'll get a further follow-up in this luxurious looking hotel. Apparently, a whole bunch of ex-addicts are staying there. As said before, there's only golden rule in this building. The residents shouldn't start again with their bad habits. This is explained by Eleanor (Fionnula Flanagan), landlady of this shelter. A distinguished-looking elderly woman who clearly shows her sympathy towards the inhabitants and who obviously cares about their welfare. In retrospect, she appears to be mother of two less peaceful sons. Even a link is made with the notorious Herman Mudget (better known as H. H. Holmes, one of the first documented serial killers from the 1800s).

In itself the film wasn't so bad but it wasn't really impressive either. It's a mixture of a few superficial ideas and concepts already used in other movies. The house is a maze of secret corridors and entrances in the walls, just like in "House Bound". The final destination of the victims and the denouement is again similar to "The Hoarder". The basement reminds you of "The Texas chainsaw massacre". And of course again you'll witness a little bit of detective work when Jackie realizes that some guests disappear without a trace. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of elements which aren't explained. There's the disappearance of Jackie's girlfriend Danielle (Danielle Harris). A brief event and a reason for Jackie to initiate an investigation "Havenhurst". And her relationship with the helpful agent isn't explained either in detail.

The biggest disappointment for me was the horror content of the film. You can't really call it horror because it isn't actually frightening. Gory scenes can be counted on one hand. There is only one explicit scene and it's also kind of implausible at the same time. And to be honest the physical strength of the killer who moves throughout the building via cleverly designed mechanisms, is a bit exaggerated. His new victims are hurled through the room as if they weigh nothing. At one point I thought it was a paranormal phenomenon with a superhuman strength.

And how is it that other people haven't heard that something was wrong? The walls are apparently paper thin so you can easily hear every suspicious noise or moaning. But apparently only Jackie can hear it. "Havenhurst" is no more than a thriller containing a gloomy mystery. A sort of horror for beginners. Unfortunately, there is not such a refuge in reality. Otherwise, more people would admit they have a problem so they are sure of a place in such a majestic building. Without a serial killer of course.

More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT.

Don't Get an Eviction Notice

[dcarsonhagy · 4/10 · 12 February 2017]

Imagine you are a recovering addict, either from alcohol, pills, or hard-core drugs. You finish your rehab and are sent to live in a lovely brownstone. Once you're there, you notice tenant after tenant disappearing right under your nose, and even though you try to get the police involved, they are completely disinterested. If that is the case, you are living in "Havenhurst."

Jackie has just completed her rehab (for alcoholism) and she is moved into Havenhurst. She is also looking for her very dear friend, Danielle, a photographer, who suddenly disappeared. As luck would have it, she is moved into Danielle's recently "vacated" apartment. Weird things begin to happen and she desperately tries to piece together the mystery of Havenhurst.

The few things I liked about this film were the style, the look, the story, and the pacing. However, this was all undone by unbelievable actions and non-reactions by the characters. Jackie is NEVER in a hurry. Even when gut-wrenching screams are heard coming from her next door neighbors, she manages to do the 100-meter mosey, acting neither alarmed, surprised, or even caring. This is never reported to the management and most times never to the police. The detective and police also got on my nerves. In today's times, they will investigate an ant fart, but screams, wailing, and disappearances bring about as much interest as an ad for swimwear featuring Hillary Clinton. And the ending--oh lord, the ending. All of us serious horror movie watchers know you usually just have to "go with the flow." However, I could not in this movie, and it RUINED it for me.

Rated "R" for disturbing images, horror violence, simulated sex, and brief nudity. I did not particularly care for it; you might. This one is a toss-up.

Welcome to Havenhurst. You won't be coming back...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 25 April 2017]

What could potentially have been a very interesting and unique horror movie, ended up being a generic storyline suffering at the hands of the writers.

The story did have potential, but writers Andrew C. Erin and Daniel Farrands might have had ideas that were great, but they just failed to transcribe those idea over into something that would translate into something great and interesting on the screen. No, the story just permeated mediocrity and half-heartedness all the way through. Furthermore, it didn't help one bit that the storyline was completely devoid of anything even remotely scary.

What did work out quite well in favor of the movie was the house and the design idea behind it. There were some very interesting ideas and concepts here that were quite nicely brought to life on the screen. But again, it just lacked that element of horror.

"Havenhurst" also had some adequate acting performances to boast it, although they were struggling with a very inadequate script, and it was weighing the actors and actresses down visibly on the screen.

For a horror movie, I will say that "Havenhurst" belongs more in the mystery genre with just a hint of thriller to it. Which are the tags of the genre here on IMDb. I just sat down to watch it because I thought it was going to be a horror movie. So I was naturally very disappointed with the end result.

"Havenhurst" is a mediocre movie that came and went without any fanfare and without leaving any impressions in the horror genre, because it just wasn't equipped with fangs or nails.

Scrapped after 70%?

[wteutonin · 3/10 · 23 April 2017]

The ending was so botched, I can't help thinking the crew itself got "evicted" half way through the filming (read, ran out of money or fell apart). Despite the weird behavior of several characters, the story had a good potential till it suddenly, stupidly, untimely took a twist that is so used and abused, it doesn't even elicit a chuckle anymore. It just made an impression that the crew abruptly pulled the plug in the middle of all the action. Movies like this make me wonder how someone gets so much money, convinces a bunch of talented people to participate (most of the actors, the operator was pretty good), and is not held accountable for making bad script decisions that inevitably cut any hope for a good payout. Anyway. If you are reading this review, be smarter than me and trust the low rating: it is not an underrated gem. You would waste your time.

Stupid "Saw"

[phenomynouss · 1/10 · 22 July 2018]

This is one of those films where it's impossible to really tell anything about it for fear of divulging spoilers, not because it's particularly heavy on nuance or story or surprises, but due to it having so little in the way of story that detailing virtually anything is bound to lead people to figure out the obvious and "spoil" a certain percentage of the film.

The biggest of these is the actual plot of the film, so much so that the synopsis tells you nothing but "MUST CONFRONT EEEVIL". The story is the owner of a boarding house is a smug, subhuman murderer whose sons mutilate and disembowel people for "offenses" ranging from domestic violence to prostitution or just getting drunk one night in your own room. It's an infuriating ideology which is even more infuriating in that they get away with it at the end because the movie just abruptly ends with them murdering the main character and the little girl she was protecting inexplicably wanting to join the murderers.

"Saw", after a bit of thinking and re-watching, is pretty stupid, but has the self defense of it being the doings of an angry, bitter, cynical man who begrudgingly gives his victims a chance of "redemption" and survival. The villain here does basically the same thing, but with no begrudging "chance" for survival or redemption or learning from their mistakes.

The razor-thin façade of "doing away with degenerates" is a laughably vulgar lie when the violence they perpetrate on their "victims" when they end up violently murdering an abusive father, as well as his wife just for being there, and then leave the preteen daughter on her own, fully aware and fully traumatized by what is happening.

There's nothing beyond an insulting façade to justify pointless murder porn, which they don't even actually indulge in to any real degree; there's very little in the way of murder and gore for a film that is so shoddily built around it.

For all the disgustingness of the film's plot and the villain's motivation, I would at least respect that the film was made to at least indulge in murder and gore for the audience into that stuff, but they don't even bother to go that far. Minimal effort was made beyond a certain point, and is probably best emphasized by the minimal effort put into its nonsensical ending.

Well made/acted directed but a terrible ending

[derekjager · 5/10 · 23 February 2017]

This has a great premise, is well acted and directed but there are a couple really awful moments. As a reminder, if a monster/psycho is stalking you and you manage to knock him out/down, KILL HIM! Don't get up and run. I know this is a horror film but it happens a couple times so it really ruins any realistic momentum.

Finally, that ENDING! Ugh! After all we go through, the little girl escapes, returns to the apt--and decides to "join the family"? No reason given, and then it's over. Really a disappointment.

Havenhurst: Nice jigsaw with a couple of pieces missing

[Platypuschow · 6/10 · 31 December 2017]

Julie Benz & Danielle Harris in the same film? Yes please, I thought when the credits began but alas it wasn't meant to be. Harris may possibly have been there as a favour to someone as her total screen time is barely 60 seconds.

Havenhurst is a gigantic apartment building for people to put their lives back together. It's full of former alcoholics, drug addicts and various criminal types and that's where our heroine moves in seeking her missing best friend.

If you play nice it's a great place to live but should you return to your old ways you'll find yourself in a world of trouble.

Julie Benz is an incredible actress, a tour de force and is always fantastic to watch. It's rare to see her as the leading lady so it was nice to see her get her chance here. She does a brilliant job and the movies concept is actually quite intriguing especially near the end where a big twist occurs.

I walked away from this feeling that something was missing, maybe the delivery wasn't on point, maybe it was too short or maybe the finale didn't appease me. Regardless Havenhurst is a decent enough watch and could potentially see a sequel or even a franchise.

The Good:

Julie Benz

Great twist

Very original

The Bad:

Awful cover

Feels incomplete somehow

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Julie Benz doesn't age, seriously it's getting ridiculous

Danielle Harris may well have been in the movie more than I realised, she's just so tiny maybe I missed her

Should've hired Mudgett as the writer

[S_Soma · 3/10 · 18 February 2017]

HAVENHURST takes not only its inspiration but it's foundation from the real life historical details surrounding Herman Webster Mudgett, a.k.a. H. H. Holmes, "one of the first documented serial killers in the modern sense of the term".

Taken as a whole, what is so incredible about the original, real, Mudgett story is that, if you were to read it as a novel rather than as an account of recorded historical facts, you simply wouldn't believe it. Mudgett comes across, literally and completely unbelievably, as an antebellum comic book supervillain. Dashingly handsome, obviously a genius, a graduate of the University of Michigan's Department of Medicine and Surgery at age 23, he was possessed of an infinite supply of charm, intelligence, chutzpah and urbanity that allowed him to charm anyone and apparently pull off any con. Turning his collection of deceptive skills to good use, he was seemingly able to generate large sums of money at will.

But what's a supervillain without a lair? By the age of 28, Mudgett had amassed enough fortune to build a massive hotel building, a three- story block-long affair that was nicknamed "The Castle" simply because it was so enormous (for the time). While the street-level floor housed conventional commercial shops, the upper 2 floors "… contained his personal office and a labyrinth of rooms with doorways opening to brick walls, oddly angled hallways, stairways leading to nowhere, doors it could only be opened from the outside…", and so on. Like Capt. Nemo, he never allowed any one individual to gain significant knowledge of any large part of the construction project. Reads like a Stan Lee origin story, doesn't it?

Within the walls of The Castle, in the middle of Chicago no less, "somewhere between 9 and 200" people were killed as part of a variety of for-profit schemes involving life insurance scams, skeletal models for medical schools, and model organs. To help with operations, he invented his own alarm systems to monitor people moving about within his building.

The Mudgett story goes on and on in this same vein. If you saw it as a movie, you simply wouldn't believe it. It's just too outlandish. And you need to keep in mind that he accomplished all of this and was dead by execution by the age of 34. Even the account of his own hanging is excessively ghoulish.

As part of the Mudgett story, it's known that it had been his intent to build more than one hotel. This intention provides the foundation for the movie HAVENHURST; HAVENHURST is another one of Mudgett's "specialty hotels". For the purposes of the movie, it's a different family running it and their motivations are different from what Mudgett would understand, but it's pretty much "second verse, same as the first".

The connection to the original Mudgett story serves to highlight two points. Firstly, truth really is stranger than fiction. The original Mudgett story is intrinsically more fantastical and made even more so by the fact that it is entirely real. The writer of HAVENHURST basically goes head-to-head on the story and simply can't create a fictional story that can stand on the same playing field with the historical one.

And secondly, a basic movie through-line composed primarily of slicing and dicing people, for whatever reason, is just not enough to carry a movie. HAVENHURST does draw a little extra spark from its roots in appalling historical facts but then just falls flat. It's all been said and done far better by Mudgett himself in the real world before the movie even begins. The movie literally depends on its audience being completely ignorant of the historical facts surrounding the Mudgett story in order to have anything to serve up to the audience; if you know the Mudgett background, HAVENHURST is simply a tiresome exercise in tiptoeing through the intestines. Having to depend upon audience ignorance in order to have something to give is a bad plot strategy.

While they can't save the movie from its own intrinsically limited playbook, Julie Benz and Fionnula Flanagan, who were also together in the TV series DEFIANCE, do provide some quality acting to help relieve the boredom. Ms. Flanagan has been providing quality acting since 1965, if memory serves, and it's interesting to see how much atmosphere she's able to create in what is otherwise a vacuum of interest.

And lastly a note for the makers of HAVENHURST... You should at least do 10 minutes of research if you're going to make a movie based upon historical facts, people, and events. You want to exploit historical facts, not trip over them. Mudgett took pains to provide soundproofing in his kill rooms. Some of his methods of killing could take days and probably involved lots of screaming. Having eerie screaming from behind walls and echoing up as the victims disappear down hidden chutes as a primary scare effect just conflicts with historical facts. You certainly wouldn't have heard them in a Quality Mudgett Hotel.

Bust the Deal, Face the Wheel

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 16 July 2017]

The film opens with Danielle (Danielle Harris) and her boyfriend doing lines in a half-way house that looks like a Stephen King hotel. Soon she meets someone in an elevator almost as ugly as Steven Tyler and disappears from the script. Her alcoholic friend Jackie (Julie Benz) occupies the same room after rehab. The room appear to be a combination of "1408" and "Hold That Ghost" (both films I recommend). Things are not quite right and Julie becomes curious involving a little girl (Belle Shouse) and a police officer friend (Josh Stamberg).

This was a nice flat in the middle of NYC. Something like this would rent for millions. I know I wouldn't screw up. What happens in the film is that it goes from what appears to be a decent ghost horror thriller and morphs into a dumb slasher. At this point any mystery is immaterial. The script just died. Acting was phoned in. Soft 3 stars.

Guide: F-word, sex, nudity (Jennifer Blanc-Biehn again)

Awful, awful, awful!

[mannin11 · 1/10 · 12 February 2017]

It all starts with the script -- and this one stinks. Seemingly inspired by the true story of H.H. Holmes, the Torture Doctor of Chicago, who murdered anything up to 200 people, most of them in his mansion/castle full of blind corridors, rooms that could only be opened from the outside, equipped with secret gas lines, and a basement used for dissection, Havenhurst bears many similarities. The movie opens with a great hook but alas, after that it's all downhill. A dopey story that is annoying more than scary, there are good actors in this movie with nothing to do but react to manufactured scares lifted from so many other (better) movies. A great musical soundtrack that is wasted on this inane story. The viewer wants so much to become immersed in the story but the only reaction is how soon does this godawful thing end? The one rave review which this movie gets on IMDb would appear to have been written by someone connected with the production who also knows of a bridge in Brooklyn that is for sale. With so many low budget horror movies being released, there are far better choices than this flick to spend one's money on.

Botched.

[fedor8 · 1 August 2020]

This could have been a very good movie, because "haunted edifice" films are rare and far more fun than the milked-out haunted house genre, plus the basic set-up wasn't bad.

Unfortunately, the film-makers - once again - decided that horror film fans are complete idiots who can and should be served nonsense and then expected to eat it up without complaints. Well, screw that: I have plenty of complaints.

1. Each flat has HUGE cameras watching the tenants, yet the tenants don't notice them: mind-bogglingly dumb.

2. Already 15 minutes into the plot we are told half the story, which deflates the sense of mystery: from this point onward we know that tenants that go back to their old habits get killed. The only thing left to find out is how and where they get killed - and that's just not enough; for me at least. I'm not one of those empty-headed serial-killer torture-porn viewers whose peanut-sized sociopathic brains are content to watch torture with zero plot. There was still a plot, but it was paper-thin, and the viewer was nearly always ahead of the main character and her often predictable investigation.

3. The little girl disappears despite being under the watch of a brigade of cops (all of whom seem skeptical and disinterested and can hardly wait to leave). This would be acceptable if the premise was supernatural, but it isn't. Hence it's a really dumb plot-device.

4. Which brings us to the movie's biggest flaw perhaps: it refuses to be a supernatural horror despite its OBVIOUS supernatural nature. Mrs. Mudgett's bald-headed green-painted son has the strength of five elephants - quite literally. This made me logically assume that there was some kind of a demon involved in all this. Nuh-huh. He is supposed to be a regular guy i.e. this is yet another dumb thriller trying to sell us the usual modern-thriller nonsense that a mere mortal - just because he is evil - can have some kind of superhuman cryptonite powers, which include the ability to throw people around like tennis balls and to materialize on top of elevators with no aids whatsoever. Hence we are supposed to accept the fact that Mudgett junior is mega-strong simply because... his ancestor was a mass-murderer? Does this mean that Hitler's hypothetical children would all have the strength of 50 Tolkien trolls? Too cretinous.

5. The downer ending is supposed to be a "twist". These dummy horror film-makers don't seem to be aware that MOST modern horror films have downer endings, hence that only an "upper" ending would be the real surprise and would constitute a breaking away from the cliche.

6. The cops don't have a search warrant - after a victim calls the cops from the crime scene AND suggests that there may be mass-murder perpetrated in the hotel? Really? So when do cops get a search warrant? When 1000 witnesses send irrefutable footage to the police? Would that suffice? No?

7. That plot-twist with the girl joining the killer clan is too dumb for words. That kind of absurd garbage logic can sink a film all on its own, without the help of the stuff I mentioned previously.

8. The notion that a torture clan would make the decision to kill based on some morality principles is asinine. Contemporary writers are so desperate and confused.

The movie lies to us about Webster Mudgett. He was a real 19th-century serial-killer but not of 200 people who were slaughtered in an elaborately constructed large abattoir. He was proved to be the killer of no more than 9 people, and the whole torture hotel story is pure fabrication, propagated by dozens of badly researched sensationalist crappy exploitation books. Kind of like this movie.

The Inquisitor's Rehabilitation

[DBlackthorne · 9/10 · 11 November 2016]

At first quick glance, one might expect The Bramford of Rosemary's Baby infamy was being flown over upon demon wings, but then it is realizes]d that this is yet another impressive Gothicesque building arising stoically into the darkly clouded sky, so named Havenhurst.

If one could imagine an organization like AA punishing drunks for intoxication, or torturing junkies for getting high, all the while being observed on hidden cameras for any sign of an offense, it aptly captures the general plot herein, while a huge goon dishes out the discipline, or so-called "tough love" onto a bloody silver platter complete with viscera, of the offenders who are quite literally turned inside out.

A pretty brunette named Jackie seeks refuge at this deadly rehab center for her alcohol addiction after losing her daughter in a car accident. Signing her lease, she essentially commits her life to this lethal institution, incrementally learning its deadly secrets from its history with the nation's very first serial killer, H. H. Holmes, the plethora of secret hatches which Havenhurst is honeycombed with, escape routes, false walls, and observations holes, all overseen by the mysterious Eleanor who reminds Me of one Dorothea Puente, and her two faithful killer sons Ezra & Jed. One in charge of maintenance, the other of executions, or ridding this veritable murder castle of unpleasant offensive elements. The place is like a maze reminiscent of The 7th Guest, as every darkened hallway, elevator, and room carries own puzzle, levels of Hell creating one monstrous edifice seeped in blood.

Once in awhile, one must ask oneself if these revenants to-be residents are deserving - and actually in the majority of cases, they certainly are, case in point a rotten couple of lushes mentally and emotionally abusing their daughter Sarah, whereupon it becomes physical, her friend Ezra steps in to terminate the problem, then eventually turns on Jackie when she violates the rules with her compulsive embibement.

Overall, with shades of Nightmare on The The 13th Floor and tie-ins with the true crime case history of Holmes, even including influences of The Cecil, Havenhurst is sure to chill for claustrophobic, voyeuristic, sanguinous thrills. ∞

The Gothic Apartment

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 19 January 2017]

A troubled young woman takes up residence in a Gothic apartment building where she must confront a terrifying evil.

Director Andrew C. Erin (Embrace of the Vampire) brings us this film from a screenplay co-written with Daniel Farrands (Amityville: The Awakening). We also get music from tomandandy (Mothman Prophecies, The Strangers and a couple Resident Evil films), some of the best in the business. Farrands may be best known for writing "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers" or for being involved in various documentaries about 1980s film franchises. He would appear to love that 1980s slasher feel, and (if so) it definitely comes through here. Although ostensibly a haunted house story, this is really a slasher at heart.

The film opens with a pulse-pounding score, superior gore effects and a dazzling cameo from horror goddess Danielle Harris. Unfortunately only a cameo rather than anything approaching a "supporting" role, but the rest of the cast is just great. We have powerful acting from Julie Benz (Dexter, Buffy, Two Evil Eyes), and an evil maternal instinct from Fionnula Flanagan (The Others, Trash Fire).

What sells the film more than anything is the cinematography, as the colorization is rich, and provides a nice palette against which to tell a moving story. The apartment offers up the best possible use of space -- sometimes overly spacial and intricately ornate, sometimes claustrophobic, and with a few nods to other horror classics such as "The Shining" and even "Psycho". The exterior aerial shots look great, and it left me wondering if this is a real building or if some crafty CGI is used.

In recent years, public discourse was concerned about the so-called surveillance state, and those fears come to life here. We even have secrets behind the walls (reminiscent of "Crawlspace") and a plot twist that ties this (fictional) film to the upcoming (factual) "Devil in the White City". Although this story of murder and disappearance could be in any era, this surveillance aspect makes it especially timely, even if not intended by the writers.

I highly recommend "Havenhurst". Though it seems to have been pushed back a year, it will be an early strong contender for great horror films of 2017. The film should be available widely starting on February 10, 2017.

Dull haven

[TheLittleSongbird · 3/10 · 21 May 2018]

'Havenhurst' drew me into seeing it, with a cool poster, an intriguing idea and as someone with a general appreciation for horror. That it was low-budget, which from frequent personal experience is rarely a good sign due to that there are so many poor ones out there, made me though apprehensive.

Found the film to be very weak, its worst elements being pretty awful, with a lot more wrong than right. 'Havenhurst' is not great, or good, has a fair share of problems (fairly big ones too) and doesn't do enough with its potential, which was hardly small. There are however a few decent, even good, qualities in 'Havenhurst'.

Lets start with the positives. The scenery is atmospheric, likewise with the very nice way it's shot. The music is suitably spooky and quirky and doesn't distract at all from the atmosphere, while not exactly enhancing it.

Julie Benz does her best, although her terrible material defeats her and would be beneath even the worst actresses.

However, the story does feel over-stretched and some of it feels vague, under-explained. The more 'Havenhurst' progressed, the duller, more predictable, more senseless and less scary it got, and too many characters are too sketchy and with nowhere near enough to make one want to endear to them. Their irritating and illogical decision making and behaviours insult the intelligence. Making the film feel bland and forgettable with not enough heart put into it.

Acting is not good aside from Benz.

Dialogue can be stilted and rambling while the pace is uneven, dragging in a lot of the second half and never is it exciting. Found the supposedly shocking moments not surprising or scary and the supposedly creepy atmosphere dreary, due to the excessive obviousness and the lack of tension and suspense, and the ending is badly bungled for reasons too numerous to list, just felt muddled and anti-climactic.

In conclusion, very weak but not unwatchable. 3/10 Bethany Cox

predictable

[trashgang · 5/10 · 9 February 2018]

This could have been a Gothic horror but sadly it fails. It all starts promising with the dissapearance of a tenant. But once her best friend starts to investigate this flick has nothing really to offer.

It never becomes scary or bloody or at such a house even creepy. I admit, the beginning do shows some red stuff and in the basement there's a gory shot but overall something is missing to make it worth searching out. And the acting was okay but being low profile on the horror it makes it after a while hard to sit through. All characters and cliches are in this flick but it doesn't work out, it's all predictable.

Gore 0,5/5 Nudity 0,5/5 Effects 2,5/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5

A 2016 horror yawner

[dogma-53668 · 1/10 · 18 November 2019]

This is neither a horror movie or a thriller it's just boring. I only accept you till the end because I wanted to be able to write this review. there's really nothing to review there's nothing surprising or original it's just a Time waster. I guess pretty much just once through grunting and screaming but there's no feeling to any of this. whoever wrote produced or directed needs to find a new job. Perhaps working in the public laundry field folding clothes. Definitely a waste of money.

What a nightmare!

[xerodroid · 2/10 · 23 May 2018]

Just awful! This movie was just hard to watch, easy to predict and what a waste of such a great cast and potential! It breaks my heart such wonderful actors had their great careers besmirched by this pile of stinking awful! Just a waste of time, don't even bother, if any movie deserves a total remake, it's this one!

By no means a terrible film, just not all that inspired.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 17 February 2017]

Havenhurst is a sprawling Gothic building that has been turned into a halfway house for recovering addicts. Its latest tenant is Jackie (Julie Benz), an ex-alcoholic who discovers that her new abode harbours a horrifying secret: it was once home to one of America's first serial killers, H.H. Holmes, and someone seems to be following in his bloody footsteps.

To be honest, there's not a whole lot of originality going on in Havenhurst, the plot taking the well worn 'creepy old house with a secret' format (complete with hidden passageways and trapdoors) and adding a little Saw-style punishment for good measure, as meted out by cold-hearted landlady Eleanor (Fionnula Flanagan) and her sons whenever their tenants fall off the wagon.

Despite a strong central performance and just a smidge of gruesome gore, the film never really delivers the chills, failing to get the pulse pounding with its hackneyed attempts at eerie atmospherics (the whole building could do with better lighting) and predictable jump scares (I lost count of how many times a creepy figure would suddenly rush past the camera in the foreground or behind a character).

In short, Havenhurst is by no means a terrible film, just not all that inspired.

5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for bumping off Danielle Harris, horror's most over-rated scream queen, as soon as possible.

How Bad Was This Film.... Let Me Count The Ways.

[LordCommandar · 1/10 · 12 February 2017]

Let me start off by saying that the only reason I gave this film a go was because I like Julie Benz from the Dexter series. I find her to be very attractive in a naive kind of way in her role from the series. But omg, how bad was this film, let me count the ways. Number one, Benz plays a recovering alcoholic who moves into the building (the title of the movie) only to learn that that whoever breaks the rules while living there of their past lifestyles, (hence drinking again) will pay a severe penalty for it. The film is just plain awful, Benz has no range of character the story makes absolutely, no sense, and the whole time I just ended up screaming at my 70in TV, from scenes where she clearly had the upper hand and because of a very poor script, she winds up doing something stupid to get caught. I so hate that. Stay clear of this of this one, its only make you mad at how bad a writer can be and how bad writing results in bad acting.

Why all the swearing? Spoils it for me.

[rocknrelics · 6/10 · 12 August 2019]

OK, I know I'm not the age range this is probably aimed at, but this could have been a good little film, but the constant swearing really put me off. It didn't add anything, just made me dislike the characters.

Do not bother

[Nconiendo · 1/10 · 22 June 2017]

This was Dreadful in every way except the set design. I love Juli Benz but this movie was not good enough for someone with her talent. Terrible script, the worst directing actors I have seen in years so much so that I can't believe these actors - some of which are well known - allowed it. Each take felt like the first, and were over acted, cheesy, and painful. The scream queens are in this (actresses who often do B horror movies) but they have gotten a lot older and yet were still playing younger parts and dying in horrific, ridiculous ways. Stay away from this one, there are so many other films that are more worth your time.

A very well made horror film - and I don't say that lightly

[jtindahouse · 8/10 · 18 February 2017]

I rarely write spoiler filled reviews, however for 'Havenhurst' I decided I simply had to to do it justice. I was quite blown away by this film. It started out with a very generic opening scene that we've all seen a thousand times before, and I thought to myself "here we go again." But then as things began to move along I found myself more focused than I usually am while watching a horror movie. Usually the story is so mundane that I find myself drifting off into other thoughts and really struggling to focus. 'Havenhurst' didn't have me doing that. By about the 2/3 marks though I would still have considered it only a slightly about average horror flick. Then the final third commenced and I was absolutely hooked.

Coincedentally, this is the second film in a row I've watched (I won't say the name of the other film so as not to spoil that one) where the theme has been someone working within the walls of a house/building with the intention of killing people. And even when I was watching the first of those two films I was thinking that this is becoming quite a common trend in horror movies lately. Rightly so too, because it a very creepy subject. Afterwards you can't help but look at your own walls, or attic, or basement in a different and uncomfortable way.

The ending to 'Havenhurst' is what absolutely sold it for me. The whole time I had thought the young girl was a very suspicious character, but I couldn't quite put my finger on how they were going to link her in. They did it masterfully. I was also incredibly pleased to see that they didn't feel obliged to give us a happy ending. Happy endings are the death of horror films in my opinion, they simply should not exist. 'Havenhurst' ticked that box too.

In a world that is severely lacking in good modern horror films, 'Havenhurst' is a breathe of fresh air. It's creepy, will keep your attention, has some genuinely tense and uneasy horror scenes, a well written story and a brilliant ending to top it all off. What more could you ask for? A sequel, perhaps.

Julie Benz is great - Movie has promise but not quite there

[leahpardo · 6/10 · 1 May 2017]

Julie as per usual is awesome and conveys everything you want her too. I would have enjoyed a bit more back story about the relationship with her character and her daughter, as I felt that could have been explored more.

The film itself has the promise of a great horror but is lacking in areas and the ending felt too quick.

It Should Be Havenhurts

[shawnblackman · 5/10 · 26 August 2017]

A woman is in a sobriety program after her drunk driving ended up killing her daughter. She moves into a huge Gothic style apartment where other addicts reside trying to better themselves. If anyone has a slip and falls off the wagon the house removes them fast. She tries to find out where the house takes these people who are never seen again.

This is loosely based on a late 1800's serial killer H.H. Holmes who built a murder house and claimed to kill over 200 people but was closer to 10 in reality. The house in the flick does have some cool trap doors and hidden rooms where some sick surgeries take place. There are some good gore effects but they are only utilized a couple of times. Not much time is spent giving any background to the story or even the characters really, which makes you kind of step back a bit, instead of immersing yourself into the story. I didn't like the ending but a sequel could fix everything.

5 twitching torsos out of 10.

A case study in unrealized potential

[mojo-47492 · 4/10 · 22 November 2017]

I watched this one despite its weak rating because I really liked Julie Benz and Fionnula Flanagan in "Defiance". But even they couldn't haul this one over the finish line. What's so sad is that there was real potential here, given the historical connection the writers were going for. The matriarch of the clan is presumably descended from the infamous H. H. Holmes (actually named Herman Webster Mudgett) whose murderous exploits are usually connected to his "castle" in Chicago in myth and lore (though the murder that sent him to the rope had nothing to do with the castle and took place in Philadelphia). Given the bizarre stories surrounding Holmes, there was almost limitless potential in a story inspired by his life. Instead, we find ourselves caught midway between Halloween and House of 1000 Corpses, dialed down for a mainstream audience.

The entire synopsis of Havenhurst could be summed up as "Almost, but not quite". Character development was sacrificed on the altar of interminable, plodding setup of ... interminable plodding conclusion that employs the same devices as every other slasher flick, but with less of the gratuitous gore that usually comes with the genre. And that's a shame, because there was real potential in these characters. Benz seemed to be reprising her role in Defiance, but lacked the grim determination (and pragmatism) of her character there. Flanagan was as despicable and loathsome as you'd expect, but was handicapped by dialogue that read like daytime TV and a script that had her filling in the blanks so you had some idea what you were seeing. The kid could have been a multi-layered composite, but all that was lost in trying for the "surprise" ending that surprised nobody. Even the detective that spent most of the film investigating the place (off the books, but on the clock of course) phones it in when he arrives on scene for the second time with a whole precinct in tow, takes a quick tour, doesn't even bother questioning the suspect and then leaves quietly despite being told not half an hour before that "there's a secret room in the basement with all the evidence you need". And apparently there was no budget for extras either, because despite being in a building with a minimum of 11 floors, with multiple rooms on each, in the largest city in the country we never see ANY of the residents other than the ones who are about to get killed. Granted it adds to the creep factor, but the only reason I can see for this omission is that it saves them having to explain why nobody has reported the bloodcurdling screams at all hours of the day and night before now.

All in all, a great concept that failed in its execution.