“This film is cursed.”
There’s a new horror-documentary set in Indiana that’s out now, and it’s deadly serious.
“Demon House” dropped earlier this month via digital distribution and a limited theatrical release. It follows paranormal investigator and Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” host Zak Bagans’ time in the eponymous home in Gary, Indiana.
The home itself is in Gary, Indiana. It made national headlines after resident Latoya Ammons made claims of demonic sightings, possession – she even reported her son walking up the wall backwards.
Photo: Hammond Indiana Police Department
Many called Ammons’ account false, but it was enough to convince former Gary Police Capt. Charles Austin, a 36-year veteran of the force. And the story was enough to get Bagans to purchase the home, sight unseen – which isn’t a strategy I remember from “House Hunters,” but I could be missing something.
“View at your own risk,” the trailer warns, accompanied by news clips, interviews and dramatic reenactments in spades. It all culminates with one of the crew staring down a looming, goat-like figure in a hotel hallway, but it’s unknown what the creature is or whether he’s actually just there for the continental breakfast.
WATCH: "The exorcism of evil" via IndyStar
If you’re wanting to make the drive up to Gary for an in-person sneak preview or a meet-and-greet with the goat man, you’re out of luck. Bagans had the house demolished in 2016.
“There was something there that was very dark yet highly intelligent and powerful,” Bagans said in an email to IndyStar.
Photo: John Delano / IndyStar
As a smaller release, “Demon House” just has a few reviews out in the wild. But the response so far has been somewhat mixed.
John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter said the documentary was an engrossing enough story held back by a shoestring budget.
“None of the audio and video evidence seen here is so dramatic that a hardened disbeliever can’t waive it away, but those who want to believe, will,” DeFore wrote.
Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com was less kind. “It proves to be incredibly tedious when you can’t trust your documentarian or even the possible true suffering of his friends, as they collectively inspire more of a ‘who cares?’ than ‘who knows?’ reaction,” he wrote.
If you want to experience the paranormal activity for yourself, get your ghost-busting tool of choice and head to your favorite digital store, or see if the movie is playing in a theater near you.
