Winchester: A haunting masterpiece

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: BULLITT ENTERTAINMENT
Winchester, starring Dame Helen Mirren, is the perfect haunted house horror film, giving viewers the right amount of thrills and chills.

Probably one of the most underrated releases this month, Winchester, was an absolutely brilliant haunted house film with the perfect amount of realism.

Not only was it based off a fascinating history, but it included haunting visuals and jump out of your seat thrills that were simple yet perfectly timed. All of this, plus Dame Helen Mirren’s haunting performance, I don’t see how you couldn’t like this movie.

Winchester, inspired by true events, is about America’s most haunted house that is seven stories high, features hundreds of rooms, doors that lead nowhere and even windows in the floor.

Sarah Winchester, the heiress to the Winchester fortune, is supposedly haunted by hundreds of ghosts and spirits who have a score to settle with the Winchesters. To keep her and her family safe, she continually builds on the house, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to create a monumental asylum that traps these spirits away.

What makes this movie so captivating is its beautiful and realistic visuals. From the set décor to costume design, not a single detail is missed. The sets truly give you a glimpse into the beautiful labyrinth of the house and at times, make you feel even a little bit claustrophobic. This, plus the perfectly timed scares, makes for a really exciting movie.

While the movie may feel a bit slow at times to some, it’s because it is telling an incredibly intricate story and makes sure not to leave out any details. It also rounds out all of the characters so you really feel connected when watching the film.

To balance out some of these “slower parts”, Winchester has some perfectly timed thrills that are sure to make you jump out of your seat.

The special effects complement these scenes perfectly, creating a well-rounded horror film.

Everything aside, Mirren’s performance was absolutely captivating. Her haunting performance was translated beautifully on screen and made the Sarah Winchester character flourish. This movie would not have been the same without her in it. She was mysterious, a fighter and always left you wanting more.

There hasn’t been a decent haunted house horror film released in quite some time, so the release of Winchester was an absolute blessing.

If you are looking for a suspenseful film with a meaningful and interesting plot line, I highly recommend seeing Winchester. You will never know where the next door leads to.