Our House

Our House is a 2018 drama-thriller directed by Anthony Scott Burns, starring John Ralston, Thomas Mann, Percy Hynes White among others. The movie is a remake of the 2010 picture "Ghost from the Machine” also known as “Phasma Ex Machina.” It enhances the original concept and introduces a fresh perspective regarding spirituality, science and the struggle of dealing with loss.

The story revolves around Ethan, a brilliant college student with a passion for engineering and science, portrayed by Thomas Mann. Ethan is always curious, innovative, and constantly reaching out to understanding aspects beyond the average mind. He is working on a project aiming to provide wireless electricity. However, life takes an unfortunate turn, leading Ethan to leave college to take care of his younger siblings Matt (Percy Hynes White) and Becca (Kate Moyer) after the unexpected death of their parents.

Struggling with his new role as a surrogate parent, Ethan never loses sight of his dream project. He continues to work on his invention in the garage, hoping it might benefit his family financially in the future. However, his device appears to have some limitations, such as damaging area electronic devices, causing lights to flicker, and leading to some peculiar things happening in their home.

All the while, the siblings are dealing with the pain of their loss. Precocious little Becca begins to astral-doodle as she claims to see and communicate with her parents. Initially, her teenage brother Matt scoffs at the idea but eventually strange, inexplicable things begin to happen around the house, suggesting a paranormal presence. It starts to seem as though their house is haunted but not as one might typically envision. It is the machine Ethan created causing all these events, as he suspected it might be interacting with a realm beyond what is physically perceivable.

The film’s main theme encompasses love, family ties, and grief, complimented by the essence of supernatural elements. The director Burns gives the traditional haunted house scenario a scientific spin. The tale ingeniously weaves together the string of emotions, the sci-fi element, and the unexpected turns all through the lens of Ethan's invention.

John Ralston complements the ensemble cast with his role as Tom, the next-door neighbor. He provides additional emotional resonance and complexity to the storyline. The familial bond portrayed by the siblings adds a layer of depth to the narrative making it not just another horror genre film but an emotional journey through grief and acceptance too.

The visual effects in the film enhance the eerie and somber mood of the narrative, without becoming overwhelming or kitschy. The cinematography is able to portray the raw emotions of every character and gives the movie an authentic feel. Composer Mark Korven creates a soundscape that perfectly complements every scene, enhancing the tension and emotional depth tied to every corner of the plot.

The house itself becomes a central character in the storyline, portrayed almost like a living entity interacting with the characters. The storyline continuously refers back to the house as the symbol of the shared past, present struggles, and an uncertain future for the grieving siblings.

"Our House" offers a fresh spiral in the supernatural film genre, throwing in elements of a family drama while interlacing a science fiction theme without losing its grip over the emotional spine of the story. It's a restraint-filled, subtle horror with a consistent sense of dread that escalates towards the climax. The movie's narrative avoids cheap scream scares and rather focuses on creating an escalating tension that's felt throughout.

Overall, "Our House" is more than a simple tale of a haunted house; it's a poignant exploration of loss and longing, of clinging to the past and of letting go. It’s about a family dealing with trauma, love, sacrifice, and the lengths to which one might go to keep their loved ones safe. Despite its dark themes, the movie is also about hope and the resilience of familial bonds even in the face of the worst possible circumstances.