Watch The Occupants

The Occupants from 2014 is a supernatural horror film that stars Cristin Milioti, Michael Rady, and James Urbaniak. The movie tells the story of a young couple, Lucy and Wade, who move into their dream home but soon experience strange occurrences that seem to suggest the house is haunted. At first, they try to ignore the strange happenings, but they soon realize that they are in grave danger.

The film opens with a montage of clips showing the happy couple moving into their new home, the joy they experience while furnishing and decorating the house, and the anticipation of starting their new life together. However, as time passes, cracks begin to appear in their seemingly idyllic life.

Lucy, a former journalist, is struggling to adjust to her new role as a stay-at-home mother, while Wade, a successful businessman, is barely able to spend time with his family due to his demanding job. Their relationship begins to deteriorate, and they become increasingly isolated from each other.

As the days pass by, Lucy starts to experience strange occurrences in the house. She hears strange noises that seem to come from the walls, and she starts seeing things that aren't there. She becomes convinced that the house is haunted, but Wade dismisses her concerns, believing that she is suffering from stress and anxiety.

However, as the paranormal activity in the house escalates, Wade starts to take Lucy's concerns seriously. They call in a paranormal investigator, who confirms that there is indeed a presence in the house. The investigator advises them to leave, but Wade, who is deeply invested in the house, refuses to do so.

As the supernatural occurrences become more violent, Lucy and Wade find themselves in a desperate race against time to find out the truth about the house and save their family from harm. In their quest for answers, they uncover a dark history of the house and its former occupants, who were involved in a sinister cult.

Despite its low budget, The Occupants succeeds in building an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The film relies more on tension and suspense rather than jump scares to create a sense of dread. The performances of the lead actors are convincing, especially Cristin Milioti, who delivers a nuanced portrayal of a woman struggling with her mental health.

One of the strengths of the film is its use of sound design, which enhances the eerie ambiance. The creaking of the floorboards and the howling wind create an otherworldly soundscape that amplifies the tension.

The plot, although predictable, is well-paced, and the filmmakers do an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension as the story progresses. The use of flashbacks to reveal the dark history of the house adds context to the plot and helps to keep the audience engaged.

One of the few downsides of the film is that some of the scares feel too staged, which detracts from the overall atmosphere. Furthermore, the ending could have been more satisfying, as it leaves some unanswered questions.

Overall, The Occupants from 2014 is a well-made horror film that succeeds in creating a tense and spooky atmosphere. While it may not be groundbreaking, it's a solid addition to the haunted house sub-genre, and fans of supernatural horror will appreciate its eerie ambiance and strong performances.

The Occupants is a 2014 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.8.