User reviews

An agoraphobic woman, a victim of a violent rape, suspects that her new male roommate who loves to cook is up to something a tad more sinister (But not before getting romantically involved with him). This film is 1 part thriller to 2 parts romantic drama, not really that good of a ratio in my eyes, but the film is well-acted enough (even if it borders on the melodramatic at times) and there's some tension to be had. Perhaps not a great movie, maybe nor a good one, but it's perfectly suited for a rainy weeknight with nothing better to do. It plays too much like a made for Lifetime movie for my tastes though.

My Grade: C-

Well, here is an interesting little film. In a nutshell Marie, played by Katharina Wressnig, is a rape victim and an agoraphobic living in a house bequeathed to he by her father. She takes in a boarder, Tom, played by Peter Aarsgaad. Their developing relationship takes place against the background of a series of local murders.

There seems plenty of meat on this shank but 2/3s of the movie is lightish chatter and the final third, gets down to business but not enough time is left to really do anything with. The film is ostensibly about whom the killer might or might not be but is in fact about the developing relationship between Tom and Marie.

Taylor Swift, who pens a nice lyric wrote, 'I think the perfection of love is that it's not perfect'. This really is what Housebound is about, genuine love, but flawed love. The rape looms large and the filthiness this type assault is powerfully conveyed. The agoraphobia has grown out of the rape. Tom addresses the rape by gently leading Marie through the anxiety of agoraphobia.

This evolving relationship happens against the background the murders but these are far distant in the background only taking their proper place quite late in the movie.

Mari Kornhauser is both director and writer of this small independent production. She has a lot of experience writing but I think that this is first her attempt at directing. It shows.

A small point, the film's title, it might be known as Housebound or Kitchen Privileges depending the breeze direction.

I would watch it again but for a horror movie it makes quite a fine chick flick.