The Beach House horror/mystery movie directed by Jeffrey A. Brown and starring Liana Liberato, Noah Le Gros, Jake Weber.

Quite unexpected

The Beach House follows a college couple, Randall and Emily, as they travel to his family’s Beach House. It starts out fine at first, but after some fun time, they realise that there are other guests in the house. Although initially awkward, the other couple knows Randall and invite them for dinner. After wine runs out, Randall suggests that they should all have some edibles (chocolate infused with marijuana). After they all have it, they start to trip, which is different for everyone. Things, however, do not go as they planned.

I expected The Beach House to take a different turn. When Mitch and Jane, the older couple, start to see a weird phosphorescent effect in the air and water, I presume it’s just them tripping on the weed. However, the second half was totally not what I had expected. The movie starts off rather slow but then picks up the pace all too quickly, only to become a nightmare for Emily and Randall and the audience.

The movie has major The Mist vibes. There’s something lurking in the fog and the water, and it’s changing people into zombies (I think). It’s all very mysterious and ambiguous though, and we are not really given an explanation for what is going on. In this case, it’s fine, because the transformations due to the infection, I presume, is pretty cool and disgusting. However, if you’re expected bucket-loads of gore, there aren’t any. There are some cool practical effects, and a lot of vomit, but hardly any blood.

Emily’s fate is left ambiguous as well, and the last shot of her is great. It’s overall really enjoyable. I think the movie foreshadows that something’s about to happen when it talks about what Emily wishes to study in the future. Getting released during the pandemic, the movie definitely adds to the uneasy feeling that we already have. The Beach House is more unsettling than straight-out frightening, and it holds on to that feeling throughout.

Summing up: The Beach House

“Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to come to the Beach.”

Shudder usually has some really good movies and shows for horror fans. The Beach House is no different. It’s creepy and spooky and is quite well-acted for the most part. Randall and Emily are believable as the couple who are trying to save themselves in the face of an unknown enemy. The practical effects are quite creepy. Although there are absolutely no jumps-scares or such, there’s an air of dread that holds throughout the movie. Adding to that the nice soundscape-type score, you have a watchable horror movie without too many frills.

Also, I don’t ever want to under what’s in the universe or under the water. It’s terrifying.

The Beach House is streaming on Shudder.

Further Reading: The Hater, The Maid, Japan Sinks: 2020, The F**k-It List, and more.