The House
directed by Paloma Baeza & Niki Lindroth von Bahr - 8/10
In Netflix’s new animated anthology The House, three stories illustrate the past, present, and future of an ominous building, weaving together surrealist plots to examine the peculiar circumstances which take place within the house.
All of the stories contain several through-lines; the creation of a place with which to call home, and the destruction of it through the arrival of an unexpected guest or the presence of those who do not value the home the same way our main characters do, and never will. Some of these guests do it malevolently, others do it carelessly in passing, but all of these adversaries erode the virtue of the home.
Chapter I - And Heard Within, a Lie Is Spun
The first story is told through the eyes of a child, whose family suddenly takes up residence in a brand new home after her father has a mysterious encounter with a shady benefactor. She tries to make sense of the ever-changing world as it constantly contorts itself in front of her eyes until it transforms into something unrecognizable and horrifying. Rendered in gorgeous animation, Chapter I is the strongest narrative of the three, and is a perfect introduction to the continuous themes of the anthology. The story is presented using a conventionally “childish” medium (stop-motion animation), but we quickly come to terms with the fact that this life before is far more disturbing than the ones that are usually depicted by this art form. In this way, we mirror our main character, watching our surroundings morph themselves into something far more monstrous than we ever thought we would witness.
Chapter II - Then Lost Is Truth That Can’t Be Won
After the first tale concludes, we are transported into the life of a struggling house developer in the modern day. The felted human figures of the first narrative are replaced with Wes Anderson-esque animated mice, and we see the original house now filled to the brim with modern appliances and technology as our main character tries to sell his home, to no avail. The haunting ambiance of Chapter I makes itself known in Chapter II as well, when the developer can’t seem to rid himself of persistent pest problem, and when a few unearthly buyers take a keen and bizarre interest in his home. This is the most bizarre and experimental story of the anthology, and leaves the viewer with the most to speculate about.
Chapter III - Listen Again and Seek the Sun
In the final chapter, we must face an apocalyptic goodbye to the place we have grown so strangely familiar with. Our story has run its course and so has our setting, which is now decomposing beyond repair, despite valiant efforts from its owner. The current tenants of the house are moving on and accepting their uncertain future, but the main character tries to conceal her imminent reality with a facade of stability and well-being. The animation in this chapter is the most advanced of the film, but the story is the weakest by a long shot. It’s a conclusive and apropos finale to the overarching narrative, but it lacks the eerie qualities and the energy of the first two stories.
The eldritch horror of The House creates an otherworldly exploration of self-perception, the creation of home, and the act of confronting adversaries who wish to undermine all that you hold dear. The voice acting is distractingly out of place at times, and the final story is a bit weak, but overall it is a thoroughly surreal and thought-provoking compendium that leaves you feeling stunned and surprisingly rewarded.
The House was released on January 14, 2022 and is currently streaming on Netflix.