His House
Wunmi Mosaku tries to build a new foundation in His House.
If these walls could talk, they’d scream.
What’s His House About?
After fleeing violence in South Sudan, barely surviving a perilous raft trip over the sea, and losing their daughter over the course of the journey, Rial and Bol (Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu) finally arrive in England. Their reward for finally reaching a country that offers them refugee status is underwhelming.
Shuttled off to a decrepit public housing residence, the two are given strict instruction on where to go and how to behave while the government determines whether or not they can stay. Their case worker eyes them suspiciously, and hopes they’re “the good ones”. The neighbors view them as trash, come to steal their benefits and tax money.
But still, it’s better than an active war zone, isn’t it?
Bol throws himself into assimilation. He wants to prove he’ll be an ideal English citizen. Rial, however, clings to their culture, as it provides her at least some comfort during this isolating experience. But culture might not be the only thing Rial has trouble letting go of.
There seems to be something living in her walls. Rial notices eyes watching her in the cracks. She hears screams in empty rooms. Bol notices it too, but tries to ignore it.
As the cracks in the walls widen, the eyes watching them become harder to ignore. Can Bol and Rial make this house their own? Or does it already belong to someone else?
What Makes His House Good?
One of the best films of 2020, His House is criminally underseen and underappreciated. The Netflix film is a stirring look at immigration crises, racism, trauma, and the decisions we make that haunt us, His House covers a lot of territory in only 93 minutes. And while His House has a lot to say on a myriad of topics, it never loses the slow-churning fear that builds as Bol and Rial uncover what lurks in the foundation of their house.
Director Remi Weekes knows how to frame a scene to send chills down your spine. This is a movie where there’s always something happening in the frame. You’ll find yourself squinting at shadows and trying to peer around corners to see if something’s coming. He and cinematographer Jo Willems create some absolutely stunning images that are both terrifying and heart breaking to behold. It’s one of the most viscerally upsetting movies I’ve ever screened, without ever resorting to excessive gore.
The film is bolstered by an absolutely knockout performance by Mosaku. She is a magnetic screen presence and her suffering as Rial is deeply felt. Rial is a woman tortured by the things she had to do to save herself, and clinging to a culture and a life that she no longer recognizes. It’s a heartbreaking performance, and one that should be seen and celebrated.
Verdict
A film that draws from the horror all around us, His House is a must see.
His House is rated R and available on Netflix.
