The House of Usher (2007)

The physiotherapeutic Jill Michaelson (Izabella Miko) has difficulties to date since her beloved Rick Usher (Austin Nichols) and his twin sister Maddy (Danielle McCarthy) left her without giving any explanation. Out of the blue, Rick calls her to tell that Maddy has died. Jill decides to travel to the House of Usher to attend the funeral of Maddy, who was her best friend in college and saved her life, and has a cold reception of the housekeeper Mrs. Thatcher (Beth Grant). When Jill is leaving the house, Rick invites her to have dinner and tells that Maddy and he have neurasthenia and is hyper-sensitive. The love is rekindled and Rick asks her to stay until the next weekend. Along the days, Jill makes love with Rick and is haunted by the ghost of Maddy. Sooner she discovers the dark secret of the cursed family Usher."The House of Usher" is another version of the short story of Edgar Allan Poe. The screenplay develops the drama and romance of Jill in a very slow pace but the resolution when Jill finds the bonds in the Usher Family is rushed and confused. The Polish Izabella Miko shines in this film and I look forward to see her again. My vote is four.Title (Brazil): "O Mistério da Casa dos Usher" ("The Mystery of the House of the Usher")

"The House of Usher" is a bland, boring barely horror.**SPOILERS**Heartbroken over their break-up, Jill Michaelson, (Izabella Miko) is invited go back to Roderick Usher, (Austin Nichols) at his house, where they attend the funeral of a close friend. After the services, they realize how they've drifted apart and decide to stay the weekend to catch up. The more time they spend together, the closer they become until he reveals he suffers from an acute cell disease that renders him ill and weak. Thinking something more might be going on, she stays by his side where she learns the dreaded secret he was hiding and tries to get away from the mansion.The Good News: This one barely qualifies as a horror film, but the few that are related help it nicely. The ghost scenes near the middle section generates a couple of rather nice shock scenes, especially in the walk outside. That's a solid scare and helps the film out. There's a nice atmosphere derived from the house, as there's an attempt for it to be somewhat centered around old-school Gothic ideals about the setting, but there's also the really great design that also works nicely for this. The only other area to work is the finale, which has a lot to like. It's the closest to actually having some excitement with some nice chasing through the house, a couple good moments in the attic as well as the deprivation tank, and along with the film's sole appearance of violence as well as the great revelation scene, make this one's finale its best scene, as well as all of the good parts from the film as a whole.The Bad News: This here was a pretty below-average horror film, mainly for one large reason. For the majority of the film, it refuses to be like a horror film and instead acts like a drama about the family's disease. There's rarely any mention of anything horrific happening, which could've been gold with the disease plot-line already in place for it. This had the deadly, degenerative disease angle ready to go, using it to throw symptoms his way and forcing the stay to take care of him, but here they keep it a mystery and go for the romance and drama angle, which is plain weak. The other part that's weak is that this gives the film no scares, which if done the real Gothic route combined with the dangerous disease angle would've made this one entertaining, instead there's large sections, which consists of mainly the first hour of the film with absolutely nothing of interest, which is a really bad sign. None of the other flaws can overcome this, although there isn't much else since there's very little else to the film.The Final Verdict: Pretty dreadful horror-drama that has very little about it that's worthwhile or even interesting, leaving it as a really lacking viewing. Really only watch this one if you're into the horror-drama side or are looking for something to kill an hour with, otherwise just leave this one alone.Rated R: Violence and a sex scene

There really isn't much story here, so it is hard to imagine how this film can be retold. However, there is a twist in this retelling that makes for some interesting imaginings.It is a Gothic tale with a very wooden Austin Nichols as Roderick Usher, a man who is dying, and dying to continue the family linage, and the curse as well. Izabella Miko, a really hot choice, is his old girlfriend brought back to complete his mission. She is caught in his web, although one has to wonder why, as he has no charm whatsoever.She tries to escape once she discovers the awful family secret, but it is to no avail. It is only through the intervention of the creepy housekeeper, Mrs. Thatcher (Beth Grant), that she has a chance. Mrs Thatcher hates her, so it's hard to see how she will escape.That's pretty much it. Like I said, there is not a of of story in this creepy Gothic by Edgar Allen Poe. It would probably be better to see Roger Corman's version.Or, you could wait later this year for the gay version.

In this very serviceable thriller, a young woman named Jill hears from her former lover Roderick. He and his sister Maddie, her best friend when the three of them were at college together, disappeared suddenly from her life several years ago and she had not heard from either of them since. Roderick tells her that Maddie has died, and asks Jill to come for the funeral.Roderick suffers from an illness that makes him sensitive to light and touch. He is a novelist and writes at night, wearing gloves and headphones to drown out sensation. He frequently communicates through typewritten notes that bear the Usher seal, weighty symbol of the burden of the Usher legacy. The novel he is writing parallels the happenings in the house, and he won't let Jill read it, saying that he isn't sure yet how it is going to turn out.Roderick asks Jill to stay because he needs her, but she only gradually discovers his full intent. Austin Nichols is the restrained Roderick to Izabella Miko's translucent but determined Jill. Both are well cast in their roles.The opening music and the repeated warnings of the housekeeper are a bit heavy-handed and the film might have done better to let the story unfold without them. The second half of the film has lots of plot twists that make for great after-viewing discussion. The artistry of the filming earned this film the best cinematography award at the Boston Film Festival where it premiered.I recommend seeing this movie (but not alone!)