Director: Steve Hudgins
Production Company: Big Biting Pig Productions
Genre: Thriller
One Sentence Synopsis: A strange force from an attic changes the lives of many.
Series: Standalone
Release Date: November 12, 2016
Running Time: 1 hr 25 min
Website: Click Here
Trailer: Click Here
Reviewed by: Reverend Leviathan
Final Score: 3.5 Moons
The lives of several people take a terrifying turn after discovering the attic in an old house with a mysterious past. No one knows what’s in the attic, but you can be sure that what follows after the open house is nothing short of suspenseful.
Story
A young man is camping in the woods (later revealed as Andy played by Michael Coon) and he begins witnessing violent, horrible acts upon people. Only a little later, he realizes he’s the one performing these acts! For the first ten minutes or so I began to wonder what any of this had to do with an attic. All I’d seen so far is just the movie opening with a camera going into an attic, and then again when it switched into our next scene. It got really interesting when certain things were coming to light.
We’re then introduced to Barney (Steve Hudgins) who appears to be some sort of chemist. At home there is a young girl named Ellie (Jessica Leonard) who is in his “care.” She is completely catatonic while he feeds, “medicates” and bathes her, and also rapes her! But then something happens one day. Her nurse gets a call and rushes out of the house, spilling all of her meds. Un-medicated, she actually gets up and interacts with her surroundings as she appears to remember certain things. We see her arguing with Andy – who we recognize from the beginning – at their home. (Suddenly it became clear that the story is not being told chronologically, and also from the different characters perspectives, similar to Trick R Treat.) Ellie also remembers being invited to a club and has a very interesting sexual encounter. The club scene was weird and disturbing as hell, but in a way the girl gets what she wants.
Ending with Barney’s perspective, earlier scenes make a lot more sense now. Can’t go into too much without spoiling anything but I will try. You see Barney stalking Ellie throughout the day, witnessing her argument with Andy and following her to the club, and it’s revealed how she ends up in his possession. Finally, we’re introduced to the attic and everything becomes clear.
Jonathon Humphrey as the realtor. Did he hear something in the attic?
Presentation
Big Biting Pig strikes again with this awesome thriller. It started a little slow but my curiosity kept me watching it. By the time Barney was introduced I was very intrigued. At first I was so confused watching it but little by little everything started coming together. The way that the story unfolds reminded me of Trick R Treat and Memento, and that made it very enjoyable as I am a big fan of that style of storytelling.
The actors and actresses gave amazing performances. Jessica Leonard did a great job of portraying someone who was catatonic, and when she’s out of that state her emotions were strong. Steve Hudgins played a very good, creepy pervert. His performance gave the film most of its comical features. In a way Michael Coon played two different characters and he did that well; much more surprising for the audience.
I thought the mystery behind the attic not being revealed was a nice touch. You think that it’s revealed at one point, and that offers another laugh to the audience. There’s also a little Easter egg in the film for those who have seen The Creepy Doll. The cinematography and the house used for that was all very professional.
A clip from the disturbing sex club scene…
Gothic Fit
A dark mystery surrounds the story. What happened to these characters? How are they related? Who or what is in the attic?! I know a lot of Goths who can appreciate the type of club that Ellie goes into, and a few flashbacks might even occur. There’s also a little tongue-and-cheek humor that comes with Barney’s experience in the club.
Closing Thoughts
It Lives in the Attic keeps the audience in suspense and delivers a great story with disturbing turns and revelations.
Story: 4.0 Moons
Presentation: 5.0 Moons
Gothic Fit: 3.0 Moons
Final Score (not an average): 3.5 Moons (out of 5)
