Our House (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story unfolds across two main locations: a university laboratory where Ethan conducts his experimental research, and the family home where he lives with his younger siblings. The house becomes central to the story, not just as a setting but as an emotional space filled with memories of the deceased parents, eventually becoming the site of supernatural events.

• setting
• locations
• university
• family home
• house

The movie explores three interconnected themes: grief, as the siblings process the loss of their parents; technology, symbolized by Ethan's wireless electricity device that promises connection but unleashes chaos; and the supernatural, as ghostly manifestations appear throughout the family home. These themes intertwine to examine how people cope with loss and the dangers of attempting to bridge the gap between the living and the dead.

• themes
• grief
• technology
• supernatural
• meaning

Grief is the emotional backbone of the film. Ethan becomes obsessed with his invention as a way to potentially reconnect with his deceased parents, while his younger siblings Matt and Becca each cope differently, Matt through curiosity and bravery, Becca through her belief that she can communicate with spirits. The supernatural events in the home directly stem from unresolved grief, making loss palpable throughout the story.

• grief
• loss
• parents
• family
• mourning

Ethan is the older brother who suddenly becomes guardian of his younger siblings after their parents die in a car accident. As a college student, he's intellectually gifted and driven to invent a device that transmits wireless electricity. His determination to succeed stems from grief, but his obsession with the machine ultimately unleashes dangerous supernatural forces into their home.

• ethan
• character
• protagonist
• older brother
• caregiver

Ethan's device represents both hope and hubris. On the surface, it symbolizes human innovation and the desire to push technological boundaries, reflecting modern ambitions. However, the film uses it as a cautionary element, showing how scientific experimentation without regard for consequences can open doors to darker forces. The device serves as the bridge between the physical world and the supernatural realm.

• technology
• device
• wireless electricity
• invention
• science

Our House blends multiple genres, it combines family drama about grief and loss with supernatural horror elements. While the core story focuses on Ethan's struggle to care for his siblings after tragedy, the horror emerges when his experimental device activates and unleashes malevolent supernatural forces. The film maintains a tense, heavy emotional tone throughout, balancing emotional drama with frightening occurrences.

• horror
• genre
• thriller
• drama
• supernatural

Matt is Ethan's younger brother, who grapples with parental loss while trying to support his sister. His curiosity and bravery often lead him into dangerous situations involving the supernatural. Becca is the youngest sibling, representing childhood innocence amid tragedy. She believes she can communicate with an entity she calls 'Alice,' adding emotional complexity as she struggles to process her grief in ways the older characters cannot.

• matt
• becca
• siblings
• characters
• children

The family home functions as more than just a backdrop, it becomes a character itself. It's a sanctuary filled with memories of the deceased parents, but also transforms into a site of supernatural activity once the device is activated. The house embodies the family's grief and serves as the battleground where the living confront the supernatural forces unleashed by Ethan's invention.

• house
• family home
• setting
• location
• haunted house

The film is set in contemporary times, placing the story in a modern world familiar to viewers. This timing reflects current societal issues including academic pressures faced by college students, the prevalence of technology in daily life, and contemporary experiences with loss and grief. The modern setting makes the supernatural elements more unsettling by grounding them in a recognizable everyday world.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern
• setting
• era

The supernatural manifestations, ghosts, visions, and unexplained phenomena, represent unresolved grief and the blurred boundary between the living and the dead. Rather than pure horror, the supernatural elements serve as a metaphor for how loss haunts a family. The film suggests that attempting to connect with the deceased through unnatural means can have dangerous consequences, both emotionally and spiritually.

• supernatural
• ghosts
• spirits
• haunting
• afterlife

Tom is a recently widowed neighbor who becomes involved in the family's struggle with grief and the supernatural. His own experience with loss parallels the siblings' situation, providing a narrative mirror that enriches the theme of mourning. Tom also serves as a cautionary figure, representing the dangers of attempting to connect with the afterlife, a warning that echoes Ethan's own dangerous experiments.

• tom
• neighbor
• character
• supporting role
• widowed

Our House is a work of fiction, though it deals with universal themes of family loss, grief, and supernatural intrigue that resonate with real human experiences. The film was released in 2018 and written by various contributors, using these emotional foundations to create a narrative that explores what happens when grief drives someone to attempt contact with the deceased through technological means.

• based on true story
• fiction
• origin
• film
• production