House by the Lake

Last updated
House By the Lake
Directed by Adam Gierasch
Written byJosh Burnell
Produced by Jace Anderson
Brian Cooperman
Mike De Trana
Gary King
Starring James Callis
Anne Dudek
Michael Bowen
Amiah Miller
Natasha Bassett
CinematographyMitchell H. Anderson Jr.
Edited byAndrew Cohen
Josh Ethier
Music byAdam Barber
Production
company
Anvil Entertainment
Release date
  • October 10, 2017 (2017-10-10)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

House By the Lake is an American horror film directed by Adam Gierasch and written by Josh Burnell. The film stars James Callis, Anne Dudek, Michael Bowen, and Amiah Miller. It was released on October 10, 2017.

Contents

Synopsis

Scott and Karen are a couple who have been experiencing trouble in their marriage. The two are advised to try and mend their marriage, particularly as the strain seems to have been having a strong impact on their young, autistic daughter Emma. The family decides to travel to a remote lake house to get away from it all and their issues, also hiring a new nanny named Gwen. This seems to do little to help the couple and as tensions in the house grow, Emma begins to mention making a new friend she calls the Fish Man. Her parents and nanny assume that Emma is referring to a new, unusual imaginary friend, however strange occurrences start making them question whether he is real or imaginary. They also grow concerned when Emma begins to change, as she her prior fear of water begins to lessen, she is suddenly able to breathe underwater, and mentions that the Fish Man is going to return for her.

Cast

Production

In August 2015, it was announced that principal photography on the film had begun in Big Bear Lake, California. The film was being directed by Adam Gierasch, based on the script by Josh Burnell. [1] The film would star James Callis, Anne Dudek, Michael Bowen, and Amiah Miller. Mike De Trana would produce the film through Anvil Entertainment along with Gary King and Jace Anderson. [1]

When writing the script Burnell researched autism in order to ensure that the film's portrayal of Emma was genuine; one of the aspects incorporated into the film was that the actress portraying Emma would not make eye contact with others. [3]

Release

House by the Lake was released to video on demand and streaming on October 10, 2017. [4]

Reception

Dread Central rated House by the Lake at 3/5 stars, praising the performances, location, and atmosphere of the film. [5] Shariq Ansari of High on Films also reviewed the film, praising its ending and writing that "The movie also does a great job in establishing a role reversal, its only motive. The parents, who are supposed to be Emma’s guardians, not only on the basis of biology, turn into the spectres of this film." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scream queen</span> Actress known for her work in horror films

A scream queen is an actress who is prominent and influential in horror films, either through a notable appearance or recurring roles. A scream king is the male equivalent. Notable female examples include Barbara Steele, Sandra Peabody, Linda Blair, Felissa Rose, Olivia Hussey, Marilyn Burns, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Neve Campbell, Daria Nicolodi, Dee Wallace, Isabelle Adjani, Sarah Paulson, Vera Farmiga, Jamie Lee Curtis, Taissa Farmiga, Maika Monroe, Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Sophie Thatcher, Samara Weaving, Heather Langenkamp, Shawnee Smith, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Melissa Barrera, Debbie Rochon, Tiffany Shepis, Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer, Katharine Isabelle, and Linnea Quigley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felissa Rose</span> American actress (born 1969)

Felissa Rose Esposito, better known as simply Felissa Rose, is an American actress and producer. Rose has amassed over 150 film credits, and is best known for her work in the horror genre, for which she is recognized as a "scream queen".

<i>Autopsy</i> (2008 film) 2008 American film

Autopsy is a 2008 American horror film directed by Adam Gierasch. It premiered on August 24, 2008, in the United Kingdom at the London FrightFest Film Festival and was selected as one of After Dark Horrorfest's "Eight Films to Die For". The films stars Michael Bowen, Jessica Lowndes, Ashley Schneider, Robert Patrick and Jenette Goldstein. Filming took place in Louisiana. The film received a mostly positive critical reception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Crampton</span> American actress

Barbara Crampton is an American actress and producer. She began her career in the 1980s in television soap operas before starring in horror and thriller films. In 2024, Crampton was inducted into the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards' Monster Kid Hall of Fame.

<i>The Outing</i> (film) 1987 American film

The Outing is a 1987 American supernatural slasher film directed by Tom Daley, and starring Deborah Winters, James Huston, Andra St. Ivanyi, Scott Bankston, and Red Mitchell. It follows a group of teenagers spending the night in a natural history museum who are stalked by the spirit of a malevolent djinn released from an ancient lamp.

<i>Rock n Roll Nightmare</i> 1987 film by John Fasano

Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare is a 1987 Canadian direct-to-video horror film directed by John Fasano, and stars heavy metal musician Jon Mikl Thor, Jillian Peri and Teresa Simpson.

<i>Night of the Demons</i> (2009 film) 2009 American film

Night of the Demons is a 2009 American horror film and remake of the 1988 film of the same name. It was directed by Adam Gierasch, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jace Anderson, and stars Edward Furlong, Monica Keena, Bobbi Sue Luther, Shannon Elizabeth, Diora Baird, and Michael Copon.

<i>Frozen</i> (2010 film) 2010 film by Adam Green

Frozen is a 2010 American psychological horror survival film written and directed by Adam Green, and starring Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers, and introducing Emma Bell in her film debut. It tells the story of three friends stranded in a chairlift after a day of skiing, forced to make life-or-death choices in order to survive and get down.

<i>Hatchet II</i> 2010 American film

Hatchet II is a 2010 American slasher film written and directed by Adam Green. It is the sequel to Hatchet and the second installment in the titular film series. Picking up right where the first film ended, Hatchet II follows Marybeth as she escapes the clutches of the deformed, swamp-dwelling killer Victor Crowley. After learning the truth about her family's connection to the hatchet-wielding madman, Marybeth returns to the Louisiana swamps along with an army of hunters to recover the bodies of her family and exact the bloodiest revenge against the bayou butcher.

<i>Fertile Ground</i> (film) 2011 American film

Fertile Ground is a 2011 horror film directed by Adam Gierasch. The film was released as part of the After Dark Originals line on January 28, 2011 and stars Leisha Hailey as a pregnant woman who finds herself subjected to several strange supernatural occurrences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dread Central</span> American website

Dread Central is an American website founded in 2006 that is dedicated to horror news, interviews, and reviews. It covers horror films, comics, novels, and toys. Dread Central has won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Website four times and was selected as AMC's Site of the Week in 2008.

<i>Shadow People</i> (film) 2013 film written and directed by Matthew Arnold

Shadow People is a 2013 American supernatural horror thriller film written and directed by Matthew Arnold in his feature directorial debut. It stars Dallas Roberts, Alison Eastwood, Anne Dudek, and Mattie Liptak.

Adam Gierasch and Jace Anderson are American husband-and-wife filmmakers, known for their work in the horror genre. Adam Gierasch is also known as an actor and director, and he released his directorial debut Autopsy in 2008.

<i>We Are Still Here</i> (2015 film) Film by Ted Geoghegan

We Are Still Here is a 2015 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Ted Geoghegan and starring Andrew Sensenig and Barbara Crampton as grieving parents who find themselves the focus of an attack by vengeful spirits.

<i>The Burning Dead</i> 2015 American film

The Burning Dead is a 2015 American horror film directed by Rene Perez, written by Jeff Miller and Jason Ancona, and starring Tom Downey and Moniqa Plante.

<i>House of Demons</i> 2018 American film

House of Demons is a 2018 American horror film directed and written by Patrick Meaney that follows four estranged friends who reunite to spend the weekend at a remote house that was once home to a Manson Family like cult. It stars Amber Benson, Kaytlin Borgen, Morgan Peter Brown, Taliesin Jaffe, Tiffany Smith, Jeff Torres, Whitney Moore and Dove Meir. The film was released on February 6, 2018 by Smith Global Media and Sony Home Entertainment.

<i>My Best Friends Exorcism</i> (film) 2022 film by Damon Thomas

My Best Friend's Exorcism is a 2022 American supernatural comedy horror film directed by Damon Thomas from a screenplay by Jenna Lamia, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Grady Hendrix. The film stars Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Rachel Ogechi Kanu, and Cathy Ang. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on September 30, 2022.

<i>Hold Your Breath</i> (2024 film) Film by Karrie Crouse and Will Joines

Hold Your Breath is a 2024 American psychological horror-thriller film directed by Karrie Crouse and Will Joines, and written by Crouse. It stars Sarah Paulson, Amiah Miller, Annaleigh Ashford, Alona Jane Robbins, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

Dead Souls is a 2012 film directed by Colin Theys, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Laimo.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sneider, Jeff (August 19, 2014). "'Battlestar Galactica,' 'Mad Men,' 'Breaking Bad' Actors Join Horror Movie 'House By the Lake'". thewrap.com. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ Barkan, Jonathan (July 3, 2017). "Creature Feature House By the Lake Gets Trailer". Dread Central . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  3. ↑ Bonges, Jennifer (2017-11-08). "Q & A With 'House by the Lake' Director Adam Gierasch". PopHorror. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  4. ↑ Gingold, Michael (2017-09-14). "Adam Gierasch invites you to "HOUSE BY THE LAKE" next month; trailer and poster". Rue Morgue. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  5. ↑ Boiselle, Matt (2017-10-23). "House By The Lake (2017)". Dread Central. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  6. ↑ Ansari, Shariq (2017-12-02). "House By The Lake [2017] : A Lovecraftian Take On Broken Relationships". High On Films. Retrieved 2025-01-30.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.