House on Rodeo Gulch

The first thing I'll say is that I'm not going to spoil a single thing about this film because everyone deserves the chance to see it as I did - without a clue to the answer of the mystery. I actually had very little idea what kind of a film I was in for with "House on Rodeo Gulch". Yes it was made on a lower budget than what the big studios would spend but the story and acting are what carries this through.

I love nothing more than a well created mystery where the audience is left in the same confused state as the main character/s which in this case are a young teenage daughter and her new step mom living together for the first time after the mother's wedding.

The script is the star of the show never giving away more than needs to be told or shown adding mystery to the audience. Both women are likable and as the story unfolds we find out the daughter, having come from a military father is really kickass when the stakes are down.

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this film. I think it helps when you go in with no real expectations and then just out of nowhere you find yourself enjoying the hell out of it. As previously stated I won't give anything away. All that's really left to say in that case is see this film.

This is a great little movie for a small independent film company. If you looking for blood and gore, this is not your type of film.

As a woman I was intrigued by the mother and daughter relationship and how the elements in the story brought them closer together as the movie moved on. The acting was very good and I was especially surprised how the young girl took charge of the situation. I assume having grown up in a military family helped her out. She was outstanding. As for the Reverend, he and his assistant did a great job. This movie had me interested all the way through and I'm going to recommend it to my friends.

House on Rodeo Gulch is a psychological thriller set in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz, California. And the first thing that you will notice when watching this is how beautifully this is shot. I know I really appreciated some of the angles, and scenery, really beautiful area.

The film follows a mother and daughter after they move into this beautiful house, nothing could possibly go wrong could it, well just when you think everything is perfect life has this annoying way of turning everything upside down. As things start to happen in the house, we are at first led to believe it is the paranormal, but as the story unfolds, the truth turns out to be just as if not more terrifying. So is there anyone out there who can help? Perhaps the next door neighbour, a respectable Reverend, with a big old cross dangling from his next. Surely he cant be involved right?

There is even a scene that I personally would consider the perfect embodiment of one of my own biggest fears, I wont spoil it, but lets just say after I finished watching the film, I will be checking things even closer than usual. And that is the point about this film, it does well when it comes to making you think.

That's not to say the film is without humour, it has some good moments which made me laugh, not to mention some perfectly acceptable and enjoyable gratuitous moments with the stunningly gorgeous Megan Jay Simrell running about in her underwear.

I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable old fashioned psychological thriller, with some stand out moments, and some creepiness that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

I watched this on a Saturday night all alone in the dark, my advice to you is perhaps leave one light on. Just in case. Oh and never mess with a cute girl in her underwear, you never know where she might be concealing her gun.

I give this film a decent 8/10.