Housebound

Set primarily in the Bucknell family home, a suburban house that doubles as a trap for its inhabitants. The basement and hidden tunnels reveal a history as a former halfway house and the site of a brutal murder, imbuing the house with a chilling atmosphere. Domestic life collides with corridors of danger as the characters uncover evidence of the past.

👻 Paranormal

Unexplained phenomena drive the plot and blur the line between haunting and psychological disturbance. Kylie’s fear and the adult characters' credulity create a tense atmosphere where danger feels supernatural. Yet the twist reveals the 'ghost' may be a human threat or the product of distorted perception. The film uses the haunted house as a mirror for trust, memory, and truth.

🏠 Home Tension

Home becomes a pressure chamber where house arrest enforces limits while secrets fester. Kylie clashes with her mother Miriam and with Graeme, turning the domestic space into a battleground. The safety the house promises is continually undermined by mysteries lurking in its walls.

🧠 Mental State

Delusions, paranoia, and skepticism drive character dynamics. The psychologist Dennis questions what is real and what signals deeper issues, while the discovery of the neighbour’s denture and Eugene’s secret presence test the reliability of every witness. The narrative toys with perception until the true antagonist is exposed.

🗝️ Escape and Control

Surveillance and confinement are intertwined: an ankle monitor enforces house arrest while secret tunnels offer an escape. The tension between monitoring and freedom pushes characters toward violent choices and unlikely alliances. Months later, the family has adjusted to a fragile peace as Eugene remains a mostly unseen presence.