After watching Hell House LLC: Lake of Fire, my first thought was that Russell, the director, might already be possessed. It instantly reminded me of Alex from the first film. When they kept mentioning how insistent Russell was on filming at that specific location, especially in the basement, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something darker was influencing him. The fact that the play he’s directing revolves around heaven and hell only added to that suspicion. The moment he came up those basement stairs, that thought really hit me.
This movie immediately gives off a more religious tone, focusing on the constant battle between good and evil. One scene that stood out to me was when the actor playing the pastor started talking about demons. He explained that even during the time of Christ, many demons were believed to have once been human. That idea stuck with me, especially when he went on to say that demons do this to sow doubt into believers. Then he mentioned a Latin phrase, “est aperta porta,” which means “the door is open.” Of course, I had to pause and Google it, and sure enough, that’s exactly what it means. That small detail gave the movie an extra layer of eerie realism, as if it were touching on something more spiritual than just a haunted house story.
I also liked the conversation between the director and the interviewer. She admitted that she doesn’t believe in God, which I thought was an interesting choice considering how strongly the film leans into themes of faith and evil. It felt a bit predictable, though, since it was easy to assume that by the end she might either become a believer or beg for forgiveness. Still, it fit the story’s overall message.
One thing that continues to stand out to me throughout the Hell House LLC series is how inconsistent the hauntings are. In the first film, the crew stayed in the hotel for more than a month before anything strange happened, and everything finally escalated on opening night. In the second movie, people entered the Abaddon Hotel at different times, whether for a dare or an investigation, and things went wrong almost immediately. In Lake of Fire, the crew had been there for more than three weeks before anything unusual happened. The pacing felt different, and while it built suspense, it also made me wonder why the timing always changes from movie to movie.
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the ending had a really good twist that I didn’t see coming. Still, much of the film felt a little too predictable. You can guess who’s who and what’s going to happen next, which takes away from some of the tension.
Overall, Lake of Fire wasn’t my favorite film in the franchise, but it did a nice job of wrapping up the story that has been building since the beginning. It provided closure and tied things together, even if some parts felt a little too expected.
If you enjoy haunted houses, religious horror, or that eerie mix of faith and fear, it’s definitely worth watching. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself Googling Latin phrases halfway through, like I did!
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