MusicChat It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.
Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Radu Stan All over the Internet I've seen countless awards for this movie, a lot of positive reviews about it and this is completely baffling for me, going as far as to make me think that I've seen a different movie. I can't understand how is this production so praised, when almost every tense moment was nothing if not predictable, when the acting of most of the actors was not only visibly uninspired, but also irritating (I could barely stand the scenes where Jennifer's mother was featured). Besides this, I cannot cope with the fact that I have watched a ghost movie WITH NO ACTUAL GHOST featured in it. Also, the ending, with the "energy" explanation is so far-fetched and rushed, I felt it ruined the already bad impression I've had. The death of her husband was completely unnecessary, it felt misplaced, not to mention the almost full recovery of Jennifer from it in a matter of days. The plot in its entirety was a generic haunted house story, with no original aspects save for the actors, basically I felt as if I was watching another episode of "A Haunting", although I am inclined to appreciate the show a lot more for ACTUALLY FEATURING GHOSTS in it. I tend to believe the movie was biased for being successfully funded through Kickstarter. Other than that, there is a single way to describe this production : Unconvincing and generic.
Erik Vanlier Review by Golden State Haunts and EventsAaron and Austin Keeling have created a creepy and atmospheric haunted house movie with "The House on Pine Street". In the movie, seven months pregnant Jennifer (Emily Goss) has moved to a Kansas house with her husband Luke (Taylor Bottles) which is a step up from their apartment in suburban Chicago. It turns out the move was facilitated by Jennifer's overbearing mother Meredith (Cathy Barnett) who wants Luke to do more with his life than be a bartender and wants the baby to be born in a more rural environment. Meredith imposes herself by throwing a housewarming party and inviting her own friends including Walter (Jim Korinke) a so-called psychic who states that the house has weird energy. Absent from the party is Jennifer's friend Lauren (Natalie Pellegrini).Jennifer receives weird stares from the people in the neighborhood as if they're holding a secret. She starts to experience weird events in the house such as seeing someone in the bathroom, having the crockpot lid move on its own and hearing weird noises coming from the attic. The film was shot in an 1800's house that is supposedly actually haunted and the cinematography uses the environment to perfection. Jump scares aren't something you'll find in this movie, but rather a slow buildup and tension.When Lauren comes to visit the house we're introduced to her toddler son who is very creepy. He stares and talks to only something he can see. Experiencing paranormal events herself Jennifer is very concerned and her and Lauren hold a seance. Things only get worse but Luke and Meredith think that Jennifer is going crazy and having a mental breakdown. Jennifer didn't want to leave Chicago and isn't happy that she's having the baby. In fact we find out that she tried to self abort.Emily Goss portrays Jennifer with a genuine feel that makes you empathize for the character. You're left wondering if she's really going crazy of if the house is actually haunted.
dougray30 I was one of this film's Kickstarter backers, so I had the privilege of watching it on DVD before it is available to the general public. I don't want to go into the plot because I detest spoilers. This was a first-time feature film, with a relatively small budget, but you wouldn't know it by the quality of the finished product. The acting is spot-on, the direction good, the sound quality is flawless (which, if you watch a lot of lower budget films, you know sound is often a disaster). Excellent cinematography, terrific casting, and the editing is first-rate.Watching a film like this at home on DVD is not the same as in a crowded theater. I didn't find "The House on Pine Street" to be a SCARY film. I did enjoy it, and found it to have a few scares within. Mostly it is higher on the creepy factor, with a sense of unease woven throughout. They avoid the most obvious clichés, and the well-rounded characters give the film a depth that is sadly missing from many of its kind.I recommend The House on Pine Street as a thinking person's horror movie. You won't jump out of your seat (well, maybe once or twice), and you won't see blood spurting everywhere. Plenty of other films to take care of those needs. THOPS doesn't try to be anything it's not; it ignores the standard definitions of genre and does its own thing, successfully.
heymundy I was very fortunate enough to catch a viewing of this movie at the 2015 Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose.The result of recent graduates from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and the University of Kansas, "The House On Pine Street" (THOPS) tells the story of Jennifer (Emily Goss), who is seven months pregnant, and her husband Luke (Taylor Bottles). They both leave their hometown in Chicago in favor of a rental in Kansas, where Jennifer soon begins to experience paranormal activities. Of course, she is the only one to witness these strange occurrences, which adds a strain to her marriage and further complicates an already broken relationship with her mother, Meredith (Cathy Barnett). As Jennifer struggles to figure out what is going on, both in the house and with herself, she encounters creepy twins, odd neighbors and house guests, and scary doors. Yes, these doors are scary.The production of THOPS is very eerie, which makes it a great addition to the library of horror films. Everything from the cinematography and lighting to the sound bites and music used all blends together perfectly for an engaging and startling experience. The actors all shine brightly (Barnett does an excellent job playing a seemingly villainous mother while Bottles portrayal of a husband that doesn't quite understand his wife's crazy antics is spot-on), but the true star of it all is Emily Goss. Goss gives a captivating and haunting performance as the main star of the show, and handles the spotlight with ease. Since I had an opportunity to speak with her briefly after the screening, I was very impressed with how "normal" Goss appeared to be, which made me appreciate even more how perfectly she was able to get into character for the role of Jennifer.What I really enjoyed most about THOPS was its realistic portrayal of what would happen to someone encountering these paranormal activities. So many films have done the same thing over and over, but THOPS doesn't follow that typical formula
which I unfortunately can't really further elaborate on, since I intend for this review to be spoiler-free. Sorry to be a tease! For a film that was mostly self-funded and crafted by a group of talented young adults all under the age of 25, the result is truly remarkable. You can see it in the film's execution that everything the team has learned from their respective schools have been applied, to giving its audience the best possible viewing experience.I believe this is the first feature film debut from the Keeling Brothers, and I'm sure it is only the beginning of a great future for the duo, as well as the actors (most notably Emily Goss) and the rest of the crew and staff. I highly recommend you check out THOPS in the event it plays at a theater near you. It is a very enjoyable experience, and when you remember that everyone who worked on the film are all recent college graduates, it will hopefully inspire you to do something just as great with your life! Also, if you're like me, be forewarned – you may never look at doors or babies playing with Lego blocks the same again!
