When the opening scene of your movie contains what is supposed to be shocking violence, but is instead so contrived, forced, and crude in its realization (thanks as much to the execution of that violence as to the dialogue that precedes it) as to instead be at best bland and tired, and at worst distasteful - that's not a good look.
It doesn't get better. In fact, it manages to get worse.
'All through the house' is filled with touches of cheeky levity that fall short of real comedy, unnecessary crass language, boorish sexual content and gratuitous nudity (and sexualized violence), and otherwise overt, blunt stylization. There's a decided lack of subtlety in any regard - true, not necessarily the most important quality for a slasher. But every act of violence, line of dialogue, performance, characterization, and scene is so glaringly bereft of measured tact as to come across as inelegant, heavy-handed, unintelligent, and unsophisticated. Not even rounding details like hair, makeup, costume design, or set decoration escape the graceless, tawdry hand of filmmaker Todd Nunes and his crew. I see glimmers of real acting from some of the cast, including star Ashley Mary Nunes (Todd's sister, naturally), but they are of course forced into hackneyed nonsense befitting the guileless tone of the film at large. I wouldn't mind perhaps checking out these actors in other pictures, but most of those appearing here are given essentially nothing more to do than scream and play dead. I suppose the blood and gore looks okay, and the score is suitable - but if that's the most noteworthy praise to offer, then who really cares?
It should be noted that these were all thoughts I had within the first twenty minutes. And there was then still more than one hour to go in the runtime. I was aghast a bit later to look again at the digital timer and find that somehow, incredibly, I was only halfway through this slog. Everything about the screenplay is either overblown or undercooked, and at no time is there balance struck such that 'All through the house' is truly enjoyable. There are a few sparing good ideas of one kind or another scattered throughout the length, yet by all means it would have taken some considerable rewrites for this to be fashioned into a meaningfully entertaining, worthwhile picture. And whether a passing moment is bombastic or blase, what is certain at all times is that the result is simply dull and uninteresting, if not also aggravating for the unrefined bawdiness on display. I'm at best unsure if any commendations are even deserved for such fundamental elements of film-making like camerawork, direction, or editing. This is a chore.
If all you're looking for in a horror movie is pointlessly over the top mindless violence - congratulations, you've come to the right place. If you want anything else - atmosphere, acute frights, strong narrative, able performances, careful craft, absolutely anything else at all - then you should emphatically look elsewhere. Add further content warnings for suggested animal cruelty, simulated and suggested genital mutilation, and a second act constructed around a bizarre story beat that seems to reflect rotten, underhanded transphobia - why has anyone EVER bothered with this? Even with all the outrageous exaggeration there are occasional elements that I could appreciate in another context. But not here. Not like this. Far and away, 'All through the house' is near-total dreck - boring and oafish and excessive - and unless you're somehow completely starved for holiday-themed horror, then there's just no reason to watch it.
It doesn't get better. In fact, it manages to get worse.
'All through the house' is filled with touches of cheeky levity that fall short of real comedy, unnecessary crass language, boorish sexual content and gratuitous nudity (and sexualized violence), and otherwise overt, blunt stylization. There's a decided lack of subtlety in any regard - true, not necessarily the most important quality for a slasher. But every act of violence, line of dialogue, performance, characterization, and scene is so glaringly bereft of measured tact as to come across as inelegant, heavy-handed, unintelligent, and unsophisticated. Not even rounding details like hair, makeup, costume design, or set decoration escape the graceless, tawdry hand of filmmaker Todd Nunes and his crew. I see glimmers of real acting from some of the cast, including star Ashley Mary Nunes (Todd's sister, naturally), but they are of course forced into hackneyed nonsense befitting the guileless tone of the film at large. I wouldn't mind perhaps checking out these actors in other pictures, but most of those appearing here are given essentially nothing more to do than scream and play dead. I suppose the blood and gore looks okay, and the score is suitable - but if that's the most noteworthy praise to offer, then who really cares?
It should be noted that these were all thoughts I had within the first twenty minutes. And there was then still more than one hour to go in the runtime. I was aghast a bit later to look again at the digital timer and find that somehow, incredibly, I was only halfway through this slog. Everything about the screenplay is either overblown or undercooked, and at no time is there balance struck such that 'All through the house' is truly enjoyable. There are a few sparing good ideas of one kind or another scattered throughout the length, yet by all means it would have taken some considerable rewrites for this to be fashioned into a meaningfully entertaining, worthwhile picture. And whether a passing moment is bombastic or blase, what is certain at all times is that the result is simply dull and uninteresting, if not also aggravating for the unrefined bawdiness on display. I'm at best unsure if any commendations are even deserved for such fundamental elements of film-making like camerawork, direction, or editing. This is a chore.
If all you're looking for in a horror movie is pointlessly over the top mindless violence - congratulations, you've come to the right place. If you want anything else - atmosphere, acute frights, strong narrative, able performances, careful craft, absolutely anything else at all - then you should emphatically look elsewhere. Add further content warnings for suggested animal cruelty, simulated and suggested genital mutilation, and a second act constructed around a bizarre story beat that seems to reflect rotten, underhanded transphobia - why has anyone EVER bothered with this? Even with all the outrageous exaggeration there are occasional elements that I could appreciate in another context. But not here. Not like this. Far and away, 'All through the house' is near-total dreck - boring and oafish and excessive - and unless you're somehow completely starved for holiday-themed horror, then there's just no reason to watch it.