House of Dust

House of Dust is an American thriller with psychological horror elements, directed by A.D Calvo and released in 2013. This chilling film takes its audience into a hair-raising journey of terror in a seemingly serene college setting. The movie brings together a star-studded cast, featuring Inbar Lavi (Imposters, Lucifer), Steven Grayhm (White Chicks, Journey to the Center of the Earth), and Eddie Hassell (The Kids Are Alright, Surface).

In House of Dust, the tasteful blend of mystery, suspense, and horror creates an intriguing atmosphere that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats throughout. It paints a disturbing picture of an old mental asylum, which decades ago, took care of the most volatile and dangerous psychiatric patients. What happens then when a group of college students stumble into a situation that’s beyond their control? What if they inadvertently release a psychological plague that once incubated within the antiquated building’s walls?

The young students, filled with curiosity and bravado, decide to explore the old Redding House Asylum which stands in the heart of their campus. The now-derelict facility is known for its gruesome past, rumored to have been the site of horrific experiments on its unstable patients. Some stories detail how ashes of cremated patients were used in the construction of the building, imbuing the very walls with an eerie presence.

Emmaline (Inbar Lavi), a vibrant psychology major, is the driving force behind this ghoulish adventure. With the initial idea to use the location for a school project, she convinces her friends to join her in this endeavour. These include Dylan (Steven Grayhm), a witty, charming literature student, and Holt ( Eddie Hassell), a fun-loving, daring character with a penchant for the unusual.

As they delve into the recesses of the dilapidated asylum, the troupe inadvertently uncovers and disperses the ashes of the long-deceased patients. And here begins the terror. Unknown to them, this unleashes a psychological force that immediately begins to possess them one by one, subjecting them to psychotic episodes while embodying the personalities of the disgruntled patients. As the eerie manifestations become more ramped and terrifying, their genetically linked personalities awaken – giving an unusual twist to the narrative.

As the students find themselves being manipulated by psychotic forces beyond their understanding, they discover horrifying truths about the asylum's past. They are drawn deeper into the world of the mentally ill, progressively becoming prisoners in their bodies and losing control of reality. The line between madness and sanity blur, as the spirit of the unquiet dead demand to be heard. The tension escalates as the characters struggle to regain control and seek help, leading to unexpected and unnerving revelations.

The film cleverly explores the duality of mental illness, with its characters displaying murderous tendencies one moment and being blissfully unaware of their actions the next. There's a cadence to the madness, a rhythm of chaos that the film beautifully brings to the fore. It also raises probing questions on the stigmatization of mental illness and how society treats those who are deemed unstable.

House of Dust provides more than just a twist in the tale with its mental health themes. The director, A. D. Calvo, brilliantly uses the asylum setting to add a haunting atmosphere to the story, with disquieting psychiatric ward scenes shot in a way that gives the audience a real sense of unease. The film's use of shadows and lights build up the eerie ambience while the chilling soundtrack underscores the psychological terror.

To its credit, House of Dust also boasts some commendable performances by its leading cast. Inbar Lavi skillfully performance commands the narrative, convincingly moving between the cheerful college student and a person struggling with the malevolent personalities seizing her. The same goes for the rest of the talented ensemble who puts in compelling performances specially in portraying their tormented characters.

In conclusion, House of Dust is an invigorating psychological horror tale that exploits its unique plot and haunted setting to maximum effect. Despite a few predisposed horror clichés, the film stands out due to its intricate examination of mental health, memorable performances, and immersive cinematography. It's an exciting and unnerving film that is sure to captivate fans of the horror genre.