Okay, so I finally sat down to watch Hell House LLC: Origins, The Carmichael Manor, and let me just say, this franchise has had me in a mood from the start to continue watching since that creepy clown first popped up in the original. I don’t scare easy (okay, maybe a little, but not typically with movies) but something about these movies always hits differently.
We’re back in found-footage territory with a new documentary crew, a beautiful, yet creepy, old mansion, and a whole lot of “we shouldn’t be here” energy. The story centers around Margot, her girlfriend Rebecca, and Margot’s brother, Chase, who all decide it’s a great idea to investigate the Carmichael Manor, where a family was brutally murdered back in the day.
The vibe of this one feels like scary, home invasion psychos, rather than demonic entities, but they go back to their roots with the dark hallways, cameras catching just enough to make you question your eyesight, and that slow, quiet dread that makes you pull the blanket up higher even though it’s not helping.
The tension builds in little moments. When the camera lingers too long, or when you swear something moved in the background but they just keep talking like everything’s fine. Those creepy mannequins from the first movie? Yeah. Still nightmare fuel. The found-footage style worked again, for me, but I like those types of movies and find them intriguing. It’s like watching something real and believing it’s truly real, found footage, even though you know it’s just a movie. However, I do know they are not everyone’s cup of tea.
They finally nailed that “real but cinematic” balance that made the original so good. It feels like you’re right there with them and you definitely don’t want to be.
I love backstory! The reason as to why things are the way they are and this movie franchise built up to that and ended on a creepy note. I was reminded why I love haunted house horror in the first place. It’s not about blood and guts, it’s about that slow, crawling fear that makes you question what’s in the shadows. And if you’re anything like me, fascinated by the paranormal but still turning lights on before bed, this one is for you.
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