The Charnel House (film)

The Charnel House is a 2016 American supernatural horror dark fantasy film directed by Craig Moss and written by Chad Israel and Emanuel Isler. The film stars Callum Blue, Nadine Velazquez, Makenzie Moss, and Erik LaRay Harvey. It was released in theaters and on digital platforms on November 4, 2016, by Freestyle Releasing.

Synopsis

A long abandoned slaughterhouse is transformed into modern lofts in a re-gentrified urban neighborhood. Soon after tenants move in, they are tormented by a dark secret that has been trapped in the building for over 30 years.

Cast

Callum Blue as Alex Reaves
Nadine Velazquez as Charlotte Reaves
Makenzie Moss as Mia Reaves
Erik LaRay Harvey as Devin Pyles
Alden Tab as Rupert
Danielle Lauder as Emily Turner
Andy Favreau as Jackson Davies
Kate Linder as Aunt Rachel
Neil Thackaberry as Blaine Cornish
Joe Keery as Scott
Patrick M. Walsh as Thomas Schect
Neal Hodges as Devin's Father

Production

On June 30, 2015, it was announced that Callum Blue and Nadine Velazquez would star opposite Makenzie Moss and Erik LaRay Harvey in the film, with Craig Moss directing from a screenplay by Emanuel Isler and Chad Israel. Producers Sandra Siegal and Mark Benton Johnson re-teamed after working together previously on Miss Meadows. The music was composed by Todd Haberman.
The film was shot in Cleveland, Ohio in 18 days.

Reception

Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times stated, "But while the cast is talented and the tone is classy, The Charnel House never develops any momentum. The movie puts fright on the back burner to tease out a mystery that proves to be too profoundly idiotic to be worth all the bother." Tom Keogh of The Seattle Times gave the film 2 stars out of 4 and observed that it "moves along fairly briskly, drawing on bits of inspiration from The Shining and Poltergeist, while adding an interesting twist to a doppelgänger theme." Maitland McDonagh of Film Journal International wrote, "The Charnel House doesn't break any conspicuously new ground, but the setting is distinctive and writers Emanuel Isler and Chad Israel make good use of the idea that the building's pervasive tech is also a portal to the kind of otherworldly things." Aaron B. Peterson of The Hollywood Outsider described the film as "an intriguing thriller with a novel concept, carried forward by a bold and focused performance from its lead."