Housebound | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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Where to Watch Housebound What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Related Movie News Photos Housebound References

96%

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45 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A would-be thief (Morgana O'Reilly) is remanded to the custody of her estranged mother (Rima Te Wiata), who turns out to be correct in her assertion that evil spirits are afoot in their family domicile.

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Housebound

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Alternately hilarious, gross, and simply diverting, Housebound is the rare horror-comedy that delivers on both fronts.

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Critics Reviews

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Aja Romano

Vox

Housebound is writer-director Gerard Johnstone's only feature film, but its unique tone has the confidence of an established, more experienced screenwriter

Jan 12, 2021

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

O'Reilly is terrific as the sneery discontent at the centre of the madcap maelstrom, while Rima Te Wiata walks a wonderfully fine line between pathos and aggravation as the long-suffering/insufferable mum whose forced smile is about to crack.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 5, 2015

Full Review

Kate Muir

Times (UK)

Housebound does ghosts in the walls with the same wacky panache as the recent Wyrmwood did Aussie zombies.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 2, 2015

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Common Sense Media

Combining a ghost hunt and murder story with a craftily wry sense of humor and genuinely likable, broken characters, this horror/thriller has good scares and atmosphere, but it also has heart.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 23, 2023

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

What starts as a relatively conventional horror-comedy eventually pivots into something genuinely creepy, though without betraying its established blend of scares and laughs.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 20, 2023

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

A perfect marriage of horror and comedy, Housebound is an outstanding debut feature for writer/director Gerard Johnstone.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 31, 2022

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Glenn B Good movie, because it was not made in Hollywood. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review Clarissa M Perfect example of how great storytelling, good pacing, talented actors, and well-delivered comedy can make the most basic and universal premise in horror (haunted house) a thrilling and refreshing watch Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review Audience Member This movie is the epitome of why i couldn't sleep alone in the dark or walk home alone at night as a kid Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/03/24 Full Review C A Didn't think it was going to be as good as it turned out to be. I enjoyed it very much. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/24 Full Review Johnny D This movie is awesome. It kicks off with a great attention-grabber, and then Rima Te Wiata's expert comic relief keeps you entertained while the other characters are introduced and developed. And what great characters they are! Ross Harper gives a fine performance, but Morgana O'Reilly and Glen-Paul Waru are the real show-stoppers here. Man, they're hilarious. And then I absolutely loved how the ghost angle plays out. The whole plot, silly as it is, ends up being really gripping. This film somehow serves up genuine suspense, while somehow being hilarious at the same time; and by the end I was thoroughly satisfied. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/10/23 Full Review Emilliano S Watchable, decent Kiwi horror comedy. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Housebound

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Cast & Crew

Gerard Johnstone Director Morgana O'Reilly Kylie Bucknell Rima Te Wiata Miriam Bucknell Glen-Paul Waru Amos Cameron Rhodes Dennis Millen Baird Officer Grayson

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Housebound

Housebound (2014)

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Synopsis A would-be thief (Morgana O'Reilly) is remanded to the custody of her estranged mother (Rima Te Wiata), who turns out to be correct in her assertion that evil spirits are afoot in their family domicile.

Director: Gerard Johnstone
Producer: Luke Sharpe
Screenwriter: Gerard Johnstone
Distributor: XLrator Media
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 49m