THE HOUSE AT HALLOW END (2024)

4 stars

Signature Entertainment. Digital. 20th October

This was originally titled The Beldham – a folkloric character, a bird-like crone who feeds on the souls of infants. A kind of witch.

Single mother Harper (Katie Parker) has a new baby Christine. Sadie (Patricia Heaton), her mother, has retired. Frank (Corbin Bernsen), Sadie’s gentleman friend, is driving Harper and her new baby to the house her mum has bought, which she plans to renovate and flip. Harper is going to help her.

Harper gets settled with her small infant. Oddly one of the doors upstairs doesn’t open. The first sign something is off? She is also surprised to meet Bette (Emma Fitzpatrick) a live-in home aide, as she didn’t know her Mum needed assistance.

But soon odd things start to happen – alone, Harper is shocked by a cawing crow that appears out of nowhere and just as suddenly is gone. Later she sees something odd on the baby monitor. She is understandably rattled.

As she gets to know Bette, an extra pair of hands around the house, the home help confirms that she feels an “energy” about the dwelling.

Is what Harper experiencing real? Or a result of post partum depression? The strange goings-on are emphasised by the edgy music score. As much a horror film as a study of a woman suffering from episodes of psychosis. There are strong all round performances – with lead actress Parker especially good at capturing the anguish of her character. Writer/director Angela Guiner builds a sense of unease with effective use of sound effects and flashes of startling imagery without going too over the top. There is a touch of THE BABADOOK about it. The initially confusing but clever twist at the end – that I didn’t see coming – may well annoy some viewers.

Steve Kirkham