The House on Mansfield Street

The Idiot Plot Definition Originated by SF author James Blish and popularized by film critic Roger Ebert during his review of the remake of Narrow Margin, this trope is a term for a Plot that hangs together only because the main characters behave like idiots.

This perfectly fits this movie. It had some effective moments but the main character is such an idiot that you can't take it seriously.

The movie is about a Nick a man who moves from London to the outskirts to start a new life. He's a documentary filmmaker and is filming his move into a new cottage. And per usual things get creepy. The only other character in the film is his neighbor Emma who gives him a "good luck " charm as a welcome to the neighborhood gift. As the film progresses Nick finds strange things happening in the house and things intensifies throughout the film.

The main problem is Nick. He's a complete moron. He's constantly saying his mind is playing tricks on him but he has the activity on film. He never calls the police, or leaves the house. And the dumbest thing is no matter what insanity is happening it's like he has a bed time and has to go to bed every night no matter what is happening in his house.

The acting is not bad and as a found footage film it works well at times but he's just so stupid!!!

At only 77 minutes It's worth a watch but just remember if Nick wasn't a total idiot the film would be 17 minutes long.

I actually don't understand the hate for this film, granted it wasn't amazing but it kept my interest for the whole time. The main actor was OK, the woman not so good and they seemed really awkward and unnatural together, but not the worst acting I've ever seen. I do like British horror though so maybe I'm biased. Don't know what else to say really but I have to add more characters before it will let me save this review which is irritating. Apparently this was made on a 500 quid budget which actually made me up my rating from a 6 to a 7. Some creepy bits in it and worth a watch if you have Prime and don't want to pay for a British found footage.

I knew from the start it wouldn't be a masterpiece. This movie looked like another copy of Paranormal Activity and that's exactly what it was, which I have to admit, is one of my guilty pleasures.

Contrary to all the bad reviews, I think it's actually not that bad. Acting is decent, so is directing. The only problem is the story, it starts well and there are a few good ideas along the way, but it lacks refinement and the ending is disappointing. The author should have spent more time on the script.

That being said, making that movie with only a few hundred pounds and basically no one is pretty impressive. It may look easy but it's not.

-2 Boring but short thankfully.

-1 Ending is no payoff. Story is silly and not original at all.

A terrible "film"... not worth the time. The fact the "ghost" is wearing a hoody is beyond a joke. Awkward acting and pointless plot. Do not bother!!