I started watching Housebound expecting a horror movie–but what I got was so much more. Don’t get me wrong, it is a scary movie: it has creepy talking dolls, a haunted house, hands that reach out from nowhere, and people under the stairs. But what differentiates Housebound from all other horror films is the amount of fun in this movie. The tone remains scary, but there are scenes of almost screwball comedy, scenes of full satire, and scenes of pure absurdity. It sounds like a weird mix, but it works so damn well. But despite the humor, it never compromises a genuinely scary movie.

The film opens with the spitfire Kylie and an unnamed male accomplice trying to hijack an ATM machine… using a sledgehammer and then explosives. Yet, things go sour, and Kylie is arrested and ordered to live in her childhood home with her mother for a eight months. Yet, the house appears to be haunted, and to make things worse, Kyle is forced to wear an ankle monitor that will alert the police if she goes past the front lawn. Here begins her stay, in which she must unravel the secret to the house and her own past.

The acting is superb. Kylie (Morgana O’Reilly) is not your average damsel. She can kick ass and has a mouth on her. She doesn’t fit any horror stereotypical tropes either. She’s a burglar and fearless at that. Where a normal person would hear a noise in the basement and hopefully not go down there, Kylie goes head first. These create some of the most tense moments of the film: Kylie sneaking into places where she shouldn’t be. Her mother (Rima Te Wiata) is another standout of the film. She is endearing, talkative, and quite the optimist. She has also always believed the house to be haunted–a fact that Kylie blatantly mocks. This bickering between mother and daughter sets of some of the best scenes of the movie and shifts to bring real heart to the film when Kylie realizes her mom may be right.

The house is as much a character as any of the people in the film. Filled with useless knick-knacks (watch out for the 3/4th scale Jesus) and dark flowered wallpaper makes the hallways and rooms feel cramped and narrow. Shadows and off-angled shots also help bring the house to life–resulting in a locale that the audience never quite become accustomed to. Outside the house feels the same: overgrown grass, knotted trees, and a bearded neighbor with a fascination of burning things. Typical horror location right? Well now we add in the scenes: a talking teddy bear that follows you to the shower; a stealthy mission to retrieve dentures from inside the mouth of potential murders; and a fight sequence using an egg whisk, cheese grater, and laundry hamper over the head. These scenes are what differentiate this movie and make it memorable. Any movie can craft a haunting atmosphere with horror element, but how many can you count that do it with a perfect blend of scares and inane moments? I can’t think of many.

So what are you waiting for? Housebound is on Netflix now and deserves a watch! Let’s hear what you thought in the comments!