Movie Review: Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried Stuck Inside a Creepy Home in ‘You Should Have Left’

Blumhouse does it again. The latest Blumhouse chill inflicting flick is You Should Have Left. There have been countless haunted house themed horror films over the years, but what makes this one stand out of the pack? Find out in the full review below.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

Theo Conroy (Kevin Bacon) has it all. He’s successful, financially secure, has a much younger actress wife and a delightful child. What else could he ask for? When life is good, you take a family vacation to a beautiful Welsh countryside. Only problem is that when things are good on the surface, they usually aren’t as perfect on the inside.

Theo has been keeping his past troubles buried and they begin to unravel when the family arrives at the mysterious retreat home. The house has secrets and won’t let Theo and his wife Susanna (Amanda Seyfried) live it down, literally.

Truths come forward as the evil force(s) inside the house begin to terrorize the family and force them to come together before the house tears them apart. Maybe Wales wasn’t the ideal spot after all?

OBSERVATIONS AND TAKEAWAYS:

I really like the tension and intrigue this movie lays down. Written and directed by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Spider-Man). The man has written some of the biggest hits ever. Koepp has a flair for creating tense moments in his films, which he does here seamlessly from scene-to-scene.

The house itself is a character. It has a unique construction to it with a modern and classic look with wooden structures and brick walls all over. The vast brick overlay makes it look like a large elegant jail. In a architecturally stylish way. Is that any more appealing?

I liked how the movie actually made note of the age gap between Theo and Susanna. To put it in perspective, Bacon was creating a stir in Footloose while Seyfried wasn’t even born. The age gap is woven into the plot, and it works.

The film is adapted from Daniel Kehelmann’s best-selling German novel, so it’s not an original idea, but one that’s put together for the screen very well.

The characters are pretty self-aware, to the point they make note of how creepy and odd it is to be in the house and how they don’t want to be there, yet they stay. If you are having the characters be self-aware and break a bit of a fourth wall then have them go through with what they are saying.

HOW DID THE ACTORS DO:

Fine performances from the cast. Bacon is a veteran of this genre, especially considering he worked together with Koepp on Stir of Echoes. Bacon is right for this film and the part.

Seyfried seems to make everything she’s in seem better. She’s sort of a movie equalizer. That spice that makes the meal taste good. She can play comedy, drama, action and certainly horror. I liked her in this part opposite Bacon.

The wildcard and glue of the film is Avery Essex who plays the young daughter Ella. She makes the scary moments feel genuine. As a young actress she has poise and holds her own with proven veterans such as Bacon and Seyfried.

SHOULD YOU SEE IT:

I think You Should Have Left is one of the better psychological thrillers this year. Good acting with a couple big name leads adds to the credibility of the film. The concept isn’t fresh, but it’s freshly crafted. I found this movie to provide real chills and jump scares. Often times you see the jump scene coming, but many of them in this film come at you unexpectedly.

In a time we are in where there isn’t an influx on new movies this certainly is a good choice. It’s suspenseful, entertaining and with plenty of intriguing scenarios. If you’re into movie twists, you’ll be certainly twisted in every direction. Blumhouse gets it done. You Should Have Left is a movie you should stay for.

GENRE: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

RATING: R

RUNTIME: 1 hr 33 min

RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2020 on Digital, DVD and On Demand

• Acting: 8/10
• Entertainment: 9/10
• Story/Plot: 7.5/10
• Impression: 8.5/10
• Creativity: 7/10

‘YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT’ Score: 80%

‘YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT’ is out now on DVD, Digital and On Demand

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