Posthouse Review: When a father and daughter decide to edit and restore a long-lost silent film, they are probably not prepared to unleash an ancient evil that is out to get their very souls.
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Posthouse Movie Writer & Director
Nikolas Red
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Posthouse Netflix Cast
Sid Lucero, Bea Binene, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, John Patrick Petilo
The film has a runtime of 94 minutes.
Posthouse Review
In this Filipino horror film, a father and daughter find themselves warding off a demon after their work on a silent film gets them into trouble. The cinematography of the film is one of its greatest strengths and a key reason why it’s so enjoyable to watch. The camera lingers in dark corners, frames long hallways and plays with lights and shadows so effectively that it leaves you on edge throughout. It creates a pervasive sense of unease at every turn, and the claustrophobic editing makes you expect something horrible to happen in the background.
One of the film’s other interesting parts is the fact that it creates and holds on to this lingering feeling of dread throughout the runtime with ease, and doesn’t depend on unnecessary jump scares to dissipate the tension at all. Posthouse leans into dread, anxiety and the creeping horror of obsession and restoration and uses the concept of a haunted, cursed silent film to keep us entertained. Although the concept isn’t new, I think it’s brought forth well enough not to feel stale.
This is where Posthouse excels – it embraces a non-traditional way of showcasing horror that is more subtle and psychological. The discomfort, atmosphere and the emotional weight constantly feel crushing and being grounded in folklore and bringing forth the concept of the Manananggal to screen, it keeps things fresh and unique. It gives the story weight and elevates it from being just another surface-level horror flick.
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Moreover, the film features some good performances from Sid Lucero and Bea Binene, who both deliver committed and memorable performances that increase the intensity. Cyril’s gradual descent into obsession surrounding restoring this cursed film and his internal torment is brought to the screen well. The performances are also one of the reasons why the film hits viewers intensely, and Lucero, especially, is fantastic at every turn. Cyril’s internal push and pull is an interesting addition in the context of an editing job gone wrong and adds depth to the story.
However, not all about the film is great. It sometimes falters with its dialogues, and the script’s intensity can feel lacking at some points. Although engrossing, it does get a bit sluggish from time to time, and the pacing can feel uneven throughout the runtime. As with a lot of other films, the supporting cast feels underdeveloped, which is such a bummer, unfortunately.
Final Thoughts
If you love international horror films that bring something new to the genre, Posthouse is a very interesting and unique watch that will engross most viewers thoroughly. I found the film to be memorable and thoroughly enjoyable, and although it’s not perfect, the film is bold and thoughtful. Its decision to take a more nuanced and psychological route, instead of depending on cheap thrills, is one of its biggest plus points and, thus, despite some inconsistencies, it still leaves an impact.
What are your thoughts on Posthouse? Let us know in the comments below!
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Thank you Archi