Housebound

Play trailer

Housebound

2014

1h 49m

Comedy

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A would-be thief (Morgana O'Reilly) is remanded to the custody of her estranged mother (Rima Te Wiata), who turns out to be correct in her assertion that evil spirits are afoot in their family domicile.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Alternately hilarious, gross, and simply diverting, Housebound is the rare horror-comedy that delivers on both fronts.

Read Critics Reviews

Aja Romano

Vox

01/12/2021

Housebound is writer-director Gerard Johnstone's only feature film, but its unique tone has the confidence of an established, more experienced screenwriter

Go to Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

07/05/2015

4/5

O'Reilly is terrific as the sneery discontent at the centre of the madcap maelstrom, while Rima Te Wiata walks a wonderfully fine line between pathos and aggravation as the long-suffering/insufferable mum whose forced smile is about to crack.

Go to Full Review

Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

07/02/2015

4/5

Housebound does ghosts in the walls with the same wacky panache as the recent Wyrmwood did Aussie zombies.

Go to Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

10/31/2024

4/5

Creating a funny, believable situation only to interrupt it with sudden spikes of fear is a tough trick to pull off, but Johnstone and team make it look spookily easy.

Go to Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Common Sense Media

09/23/2023

4/5

Combining a ghost hunt and murder story with a craftily wry sense of humor and genuinely likable, broken characters, this horror/thriller has good scares and atmosphere, but it also has heart.

Go to Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

09/20/2023

4/5

What starts as a relatively conventional horror-comedy eventually pivots into something genuinely creepy, though without betraying its established blend of scares and laughs.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 8

Successful horror comedy movie in 1 hour and 49 minutes.

See more

Carp S

@Carp2345 Dec 22

This movie made me think of Home Alone, it is a horror, thriller, mystery with a comic edge. They did a good job keeping the mystery going. Worth a watch, if looking for a fun horror movie with an English sense of humor.

See more

sadia m

@RT07046929 Nov 27

worthwatching.....perfect direction and marvellous acting by each and every character......minute details, loaded with deep emotions, and deep messages. wonderful.

See more

Jason W

@RT21899927 Oct 5

Fantastic horror/comedy from New Zealand. Blends the genres nicely. Production is great and the acting is phenomenal.

See more

Les N

@Vegas628 03/25/2025

Brilliantly funny the way that only Kiwis can be.

See more

Alissa R

@RT39664512 02/16/2025

Such an underrated masterpiece! Housebound is easily in my top 3 favorite movies of all time simply for it's originality, humor, and unpredictability. I wish I could go back in time and watch it for the first time again. Going from thinking it was a ghost story, to a home invader story, to a this crazy girl is seeing things story, then back again was an absolutely delicious unicorn that almost never happens with todays predicable garbage. Pure cinematic gold.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Gerard Johnstone

Director

Morgana O'Reilly

Kylie Bucknell

Rima Te Wiata

Miriam Bucknell

Glen-Paul Waru

Amos

Cameron Rhodes

Dennis

Millen Baird

Officer Grayson

The Cabin in the Woods

92%

74%

The Cabin in the Woods

Watchlist

Bhool Bhulaiyaa

33%

72%

Bhool Bhulaiyaa

Watchlist

Happy Death Day

71%

67%

Happy Death Day

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Happy Death Day

You're Next

79%

60%

You're Next

Watchlist

The Ice Cream Truck

68%

35%

The Ice Cream Truck

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Ice Cream Truck

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

50 Fresh Scary Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Netflix

Critics Consensus: Fury is Certified Fresh

View more photos

Synopsis

A would-be thief (Morgana O'Reilly) is remanded to the custody of her estranged mother (Rima Te Wiata), who turns out to be correct in her assertion that evil spirits are afoot in their family domicile.

Director: Gerard Johnstone
Producer: Luke Sharpe
Screenwriter: Gerard Johnstone
Distributor: XLrator Media
Production Co: Semi-Professional
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 49m

Most Popular at Home Now