Liminal Scares: How 'House of Leaves' Redefined Modern Horror

Table Of Content

• ‘Infested’ Review – One of the Best Spiders Attack Horror Movies in Years
• Easter Bloody Easter Trailer Sees Monstrous Rabbit on the Rampage
• Will There Be a House of Leaves Movie Release Date & Is It Coming Out?
• The Rosie Project – Summary & Ending Explained
• More To Read
• House of Leaves – Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Johnny Truant, a drug-addicted tattooist, finds a manuscript about a possibly fictional documentary called The Navidson Records. Arriving at the house to help Navidson measure its dimensions, Tom is said to have improved the family's relationships and mood during his presence. The explorations, already challenged by the maze's inhospitable, vast, and ever-shifting nature, finally led to disaster when one of the crew turned on the rest. After several ordeals, one explorer was killed and another rescued, but the house itself then transformed in a hostile fashion, killing Navidson's brother Tom and forcing the family to frantically escape. While this movie doesn't look downright terrible, it treads a lot of familiar territory covered by a variety of horror movies that came before it.

‘Infested’ Review – One of the Best Spiders Attack Horror Movies in Years

After watching this trailer, one has to wonder whether this is getting sent to VOD because of theaters being shut down, or is it just getting dumped there because it doesn't look very good. It seems odd that there was no marketing until just now, less than two weeks before release. But that could very well be due to the coronavirus pandemic holding up any marketing plans until they figured out what to do with the movie.

Easter Bloody Easter Trailer Sees Monstrous Rabbit on the Rampage

'House of Leaves changed my life': the cult novel at 20 - The Guardian

'House of Leaves changed my life': the cult novel at 20.

Posted: Thu, 02 Apr 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The plot revolves around a young couple, Will Navidson and Karen Green, who move into a seemingly ordinary house with their two children. However, the house proves to be anything but ordinary, as its interior dimensions begin to shift inexplicably, creating mysterious and terrifying spaces. As Navidson documents these anomalies through a series of film recordings, a documentary is born, but its disturbing nature takes a toll on the family’s sanity.

Will There Be a House of Leaves Movie Release Date & Is It Coming Out?

I also have to admit that it’s a story that’s stuck in my head long after reading it. Though Pelafina's letters and Johnny's footnotes contain similar accounts of their past, their memories also differ greatly at times, due to both Pelafina's and Johnny's questionable mental states. Pelafina was placed in the mental institution after supposedly attempting to strangle Johnny, only to be stopped by her husband. Johnny claims that his mother meant him no harm and claimed to strangle him only to protect him from missing her. It is unclear, however, if Johnny's statements about the incident—or any of his other statements, for that matter—are factual.

The existence of this tangled tome and his attempts to explore how and why it exists take a toll on Johnny. His real-life mental and physical deterioration is juxtaposed with Navidson’s deterioration in the documentary, all the while through the lens of this dead man named Zampanò who, somehow, made all this up. With every page of House of Leaves, the voices are decreasing in stability and reliability which, in turn, makes the reader increasingly unsettled.

Since then, the buzz about a possible adaptation of House of Leaves, whether in the cinematic or television format, has circulated online. The album Haunted also draws heavily from the novel, featuring tracks called "House of Leaves", "Exploration B" and "5&½ Minute Hallway", and many less obvious references. The video for "Hey Pretty" also features Mark Danielewski reading from House of Leaves (pp. 88–89), and in House of Leaves, the band Liberty Bell's lyrics were also songs on Poe's album. Zampanò's text emphasizes Karen's psychological state well beyond the scope of the film. Zampanò cites research and medical records as evidence that Karen radically transformed her personality while in high school to become indifferent and aloof, and also that Karen suffered from chronic claustrophobia. Pelafina, more commonly referred to as simply "P.", is Johnny's institutionalized mother who appears in the appendix to the text.

Rewriting the novel: a Q&A with author Mark Danielewski - The Verge

Rewriting the novel: a Q&A with author Mark Danielewski.

Posted: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The Rosie Project – Summary & Ending Explained

Truant also writes about his childhood living with an abusive foster father. Even as he grows increasingly unstable, Truant remains steadfast in his editorial work, neglecting all else. Karen separated from Navidson, departing to New York City with their children.

Its intricate narrative, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout work in contemporary literature. While its unconventional style may not be for everyone, those willing to navigate its twists and turns will find a deeply rewarding and haunting reading experience. At its core, “House of Leaves” explores the nature of perception, the unreliability of narrative, and the impact of psychological trauma.

Again, it’s a wee tough to explain, but still a surprisingly accessible read. But for those looking for a terrifying book unlike any other, "House of Leaves" is a creative magnum opus that must be seen to be believed. For some it is the story of a man going crazy, for others it's a story about the perseverance of love against horrifying odds. Whole passages appear upside down and backward, stretching all over the page and forcing the reader to physically engage.

As Truant begins to do the editing, however, he begins to lose the tenuous grip he has on reality, and his life begins to erode around him. He stops bathing, rarely eats, stops going to work, and distances himself from essentially everyone, all in pursuit of organizing the book into a finished work that, he hopes, will finally bring him peace. The Whalestoe Letters, a compilation of letters written by Truant's mother Pelafina during her committal at The Three Attic Whalestoe Institution, are published both as an appendix to House of Leaves and as a standalone book with additional content.

The story told within "The Navidson Record" is the centerpiece of the plot, with the family living their daily lives, occasionally exploring the darkened hallways that lead into an endless labyrinth of corridors and staircases. Some call it a horror novel, others call it a love story, but if you ask me, "House of Leaves" is nothing short of a terrifying masterpiece. The addition of Arocena’s stunning illustrations, some of which are integrated into the text, creates a unique reading experience. The artwork has a painterly quality to it but is made digitally using vectors.