Dream House

Top publisher, Will Atenten (Daniel Craig), his wife, Libby, and two daughters, Trish and Dee Dee, move to a new house, It's not long before they learn that the previous occupants were killed.
The case went down as "Unsolved" but suspicion fell on the family's father, Peter Ward... who has recently been released from the institute where he has spent the last 5 years.
Meanwhile, The Atenten girls are convinced that someone is watching them from outside the house, and the more Will finds out about the previous residents; the worse it gets.
Did Ward kill his family? Is that Who is watching? or is the real killer also out there?

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I think this is the first time I've ever taken a request (as opposed to a recommendation), but a Facebook friend asked me for an opinion on this one (she wants to see it, her partner is reluctant due to bad reviews).

There is a twist about half way through this movie, which once again, makes this one a toughie to review...

I will say that, although there is nothing to suggest that anything supernatural is at work, this one still feels very much like a haunted house movie; what with the Atenen girls' discovery of  a hidden room full of the Ward girls' toys, Libby's discovery of the bullet hole in the wall and so fourth; in-fact, it feels a lot like a present day "The Others" at times (totally, not story wise).

The twist, when it comes  is clever enough, although stretches credibility, and is a little convoluted and while you try to get your head around it, but is definitely interesting.

Acting and Cinematography are solid enough, and the lighting is at times excellent; the hidden room of toys being a good example - creepy enough to build the feel of the movie, but not so creepy that we question 2 healthy little girls wanting to play in it.

All in all, I can't quite "Recommend" this one, It was enjoyable enough once it got going, but was punishingly slow for the first half of it's runtime.