‘His House’ tells the story of Rial and Bol, a couple fleeing war-torn South Sudan, as they try to adjust to life in England. As the two are granted probational asylum and are subject to a number of restrictions to stay in the UK, the pair have to settle in a house assigned to them, yet all is not as it seems, as a dark force has settled in the house with them.
We follow Rial and Bol as they settle in the house, shoddy as it may be, as they make their way in discovering their surroundings, adjusting to the new way of life and encountering the nearby community to varying degrees of success.
Bol is set on making it work – exploring the neighbourhood and even singing along to a football song in a nearby pub. Bol also changes the way he dresses and encourages the pair to use utensils while eating, rather than using their hands. However, Rial is not prepared to make such drastic changes, clinging to their culture, wearing brightly coloured outfits and preferring to not sit at a table for meals.
The two have to cope with having lost Nyagak, a young girl that drowned as they were in transit making their way to the UK across the English channel. As they try to settle in the house, strange happenings occur and both Rial and Bol see spirits haunting the house. Rial determines that they have been followed by an apeth, - a witch that has settled in their house to whom they owe a debt for a past wrongdoing.
It is revealed that in order to escape from the war-zone, Rial and Bol abducted Nyagak to be able to board a bus that only allowed people fleeing with children on. As they made their way to England, Nyagak was lost at sea, and Rial and Bol understand that they have to repay the apeth for losing her.
Bol is prepared to sacrifice himself to the apeth for the return of Nyagak, however Rial decides to slit the apeths’ throat, choosing not to lose Bol. Finally, the two accept their new life and try to settle in their new home. The final shot shows the two standing in their home, looking through a doorway and seeing the people that were lost along the way. Rial and Bol appear peaceful as they look on to the unknown immigrants.
‘His House’ is a horror film that, like many others of the genre, raise and discuss important social and emotional issues related to immigration, refugees and adjusting to life in a new environment. On the surface the apeth serves as a reminder of the haunting thought and regret that Rial and Bol experience regarding Nyagak, how they used her to flee their homeland, and the weight of guilt that they feel regarding her death. Feeling that it would not have happened had they not abducted the girl in order to escape, the pair have to cope with the guilt and responsibility for her death. The climax of the film reveals that Bol is willing to sacrifice himself to the apeth for the return of the girl, yet Rial chooses to slay the witch instead, showing her resolution to process her emotions about what has happened and to move on with her life, accepting and coping with her past actions.
The closing scene of the film is indicative of Rial and Bol adjusting to their new way of life, yet accepting that they have to carry the memory of those they have lost previously. The spirits, or images, of the people that were lost in their homeland, or in transit to the UK, now appear to them not as frightening grim spectres, rather retaining their appearance of how they were in life, indicating that Rial and Bol still hold memories of them, but are now able to accept what happened and process their emotions in a more open and calm manner.
Wunmi Mosaku portrays Rial, a refugee that is apprehensive and finds it difficult to adjust to life in England, not only due to the drastic shift in scenery and a new way of doing things, but also due to her hesitation to let go of her traditions and customs. The film allows the idea of compromise for individuals that find themselves in such a situation, striking somewhat of a balance between the old and new way of life. Mosaku presents a very strong character in Rial, combining integrity and a sense of fear, delivering a person showcasing the reality of the struggle that exists for refugees.
Sope Dirisu portrays Bol, an individual set on making their new life work, doing everything he thinks is necessary to adjust and change to conform to the society he finds himself in. By changing his clothing, dining with utensils and at a table and burning their old possessions, Bol carries out all the cosmetic adjustments to appear part of the community. However, it is not until he faces his emotional hang-ups and starts to deal with the guilt and regret he feels that he can truly find peace and start his new life in peace. Dirisu delivers a frank and emotional performance, showing the tension and anxiety Bol feels, displaying the desperation to adjust and exhibiting the pain of facing his past misdoings.
In tandem, Mosaku and Dirisu deliver a pair that feels real, managing to portray a harsh reality where the torment of past regret can haunt any individual, and showing that resolution of those emotions needs to come through facing what you have done.
‘His House’ is a feature with a strong message about regret, guilt and the way in which people cope with their past. The journey that Rial and Bol go on, both physically and emotionally, shows us how the couple come to terms with having to adjust to a new way of life, yet retain their roots and memories of what they have left behind.
The film is not heavy handed with sentimentality, but rather exposes the fear, anxiety and pain that can haunt a person when they have to deal with guilt, regret and a struggle with their identity. The film is written and directed by Remi Weekes, in his feature directorial debut, and having grown up as someone who has had to integrate into a different way of life from his ancestral predecessors, masterfully delivers a very realistic and frightening representation of the struggles that immigrants, or refugees have to face, including racism, a drastic shift in everyday activities and the difficulty of reconciling ones own past and cultural heritage with a new way of life.
‘His House’ is horrifying, both in its imagery and the core ideas that linger after the film has concluded, inviting the viewer to contemplate their own actions regarding acceptance and understanding towards others. Definitely a memorable film, ‘His House’ is worth the watch for the unique premise, excellent writing and outstanding acting.
Score: 4/4
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