An Average Movie-Goer’s Review
No spoilers! If you would like spoilers – check out the Spoiler post
I love horror movies and if I’m going to watch them anyway, why not write an entertaining/funny review from the POV of an average movie-goer and not a professional critic.
Today we’re looking at 2021’s A House on the Bayou
A couple in a struggling marriage take their daughter to a house on the bayou for a vacation but quickly encounter two strangers who are more dangerous than they appear.
Is A House on the Bayou Scary?
A House on the Bayou is not scary but the main antagonist does a great job of being creepy. So overall you won’t leave A House on the Bayou scared of much unless you have a habit of inviting creepy strangers over for dinner despite the huge red flags warning you not to do it.
A House on the Bayou No Spoiler Review:
A House on the Bayou is okay and it’s almost good but sporadic bad acting, dumb character choices, and contrived plot devices keep it in the okay range. I honestly liked the main idea of the story but the execution ruins the overall experience. Unfortunately, the movie can’t commit to a reason for the events of the film for most of its run-time and that ruins a lot of the horror and tension it could have had.
The acting is pretty good for the most part but there’s a specific scene where you realize that one actor is trying really hard and the other just doesn’t care. These two characters are in a lot of scenes together and you can’t help but notice the difference.
I hate to say it but I feel like Paul Schneider is miscast in this movie, and while that’s not entirely his fault because of the dialogue, his acting doesn’t mesh well with what’s going on. There is a scene where I think he does an amazing job but the very next scene ruins what I hoped was going to continue. Basically, if you’ve seen other Paul Schneider roles, you know he does a great job playing characters but doesn’t do his best work playing a boring everyman.
By the way, Jacob Lofland does a great job as Isaac, sure some scenes feel like he’s trying too hard to be creepy or edgy but you can’t help but enjoy every scene he’s in.
Overall I recommend A House on the Bayou if you’re into stories of supernatural urban legends, looking for a movie to watch that isn’t entirely horror, and you won’t be paying too much attention.
Cast IMDB