From writer & director Ted Geoghegan, We Are Still Here is a great haunted house/ghost film that doesn’t fall back on the familiar formula or clichés. It takes a smart and fresh approach to the subgenre and succeeds because of it.
The film follows a married couple, Paul and Anne Sacchetti, played by Andrew Sensenig and Barbara Crampton who’ve lost their son and their move to a remote house in rural New England. Shortly after they move in, they feel a supernatural presence in the house. Could it be the spirit of their deceased son or something far more sinister?
What’s most effective about this film is that all of the scares are genuine and it doesn’t rely on jump scares like most haunted house films do. Pacing wise, it’s strong too because everything unfolds smoothly without being slowed down by excessive exposition. The gradual reveal of the house and its dark past keeps you hooked and is frightening to say the least. The house itself is an effectively creepy setting, and the equally creepy townsfolk make it all the more unsettling.
Another strong point for the film is the acting. Barbara Crampton of Re-Animator and From Beyond fame gives an exceptionally solid performance. She really shows off some fine dramatic chops here, and it’s been great to see her active in the horror genre again these past few years. She had a good supporting role in Adam Winegard’s impressive 2011 horror film You’re Next!, and a great role in Sunchoke an intriguing, yet underwhelming horror film that also came out this year too. She’s at her best in this film, however. Larry Fessenden is also great in his supporting role. He’s convincingly funny and creepy.
The only downside of We Are Still Here is that at 84 minutes, it feels a little too short, especially the final act. The final act is totally gruesome though thanks to some great and convincing effects. Along with It Follows and Spring, it’s one of the best horror films of 2015.
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