The Entity (1982)
Directed by Sidney J. Furie
A single mom is raped by an invisible force. Her psychiatrist believes the experience stems from childhood trauma, while she knows something supernatural is at play.
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What critics compared The Entity to
With definite nods to Suspiria (1977), The Entity (1982), and What Lies Beneath (2000), The Night House is a creepy suspense thriller that is ultimately too twisty for its own good.
Her arc from distraught widow to survivalist detective grounds the film's more confusing parts in a stark, emotional reality, especially when Beth experiences an encounter with an invisible partner, a daring, jarringly sensual segment recalling Barbara Hershey's sexually abusive phantasm in 1982's "The Entity."
With a bit of It Follows, a dash of The Babadook, and a hint of The Entity, herein lies a thriller that dares to personify depression itself, giving form to concept that isn’t just a metaphor.
For now, her talents will remain in horror’s pantheon of stellar performances next to The Changeling ‘s George C. Scott and The Entity ‘s Barbara Hershey.
From constant references to Pabst and Riefenstahl to pieces of score from Dimitri Tiomkin ( The Alamo ), Ennio Morricone (multiple Italian scores, The Battle Of Algiers ) and even snatches of music lifted from more recent horror movies like The Entity and Cat People (David Bowie’s song Putting Out Fire ) to hints of every war movie ever made, Tarantino once again insists on wearing his cinephilia on his sleeve.
But, while QT fans are still waiting for a film that doesn’t rely so heavily on past movie references (the score lifts from Kelly’s Heroes, The Entity (!) and Cat People (!!)), this is assembled with too much class to be anything other than a success.
The narrative is a mix of Sleeping with the Enemy , The Entity and Hollow Man .
No one will listen to Cecilia, and everyone thinks she is suffering a mental breakdown – until she either is left with “no choice” but to learn to live with her persecutor’s domineering aggression (like the protagonist of Sidney J. Furie’s in many ways similar The Entity , 1982), or else start to turn the tables on her oppressor and take back some control (in the process perhaps becoming a monster herself).
Wilson and Byrne make a believable stress-fractured couple, even if their performances lack the harrowing psychological detail of the genres best (like 1982's The Entity with Barbara Hersheywho appears in Insidious in the poorly established part of Joshs mother).
As if knowing we need this outlet, on the heels of one of the film's most terrifying shock-cuts, Wan introduces a pair of nerdy ghost-hunters that Josh and Renai bring in, at the behest of Josh's mother (Barbara Hershey, solidifying the film's tonal bond with 1982's The Entity by her mere creepy presence).
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Jennifer Kent’s feature debut is wholly inventive and original, while still calling to mind Drag Me To Hell , The Entity , Repulsion , The Shining , and Carrie .