A couple finds their dream apartment in NYC’s East Village for a killer deal. Soon after moving in, the apartment seems to be wanting blood. What could be the cause and how can they make sure they can keep the place?
Written and directed by Allan Piper, this horror comedy takes the horror, and the comedy, of looking for a new place to live in a major metropolitan area, in this case one of the topmost difficult ones, and turns it into a supernatural story that adds layers to the basic insanity of searching for a place to live that is decent and on a budget. The horrors some have seen trying to get a place in NYC are felt throughout on top of the potential haunting of the place the central couple finds. This is one of those films that is relatable, filled with characters who are all a bit kooky and yet oddly resemble that one person you met at a party a while back in that 3rd floor walkup apartment. The film does have some of NYC’s quirkiness about living spaces and about some of its artsy-er residents as well as a good serving of Coney Island magic. This is a film that is made for those who have lived in NYC, those who have thought about living in NYC, and those who know better.
The cast here sells the film from its serious moments to the completely nonsensical ones. Playing our leads, couple Alex and Ben, are Jennifer Leigh Houston and Charley Tucker, a duo who makes the chemistry work between them to the advantage of the story, giving real couple vibes and making their characters and their relationship work on screen. These two are fun and funny, giving the film life and making it one that is easy to watch as the story follows them. Take a few scenes away from the leads is Stephen Mosher as Lorne, a character with some supernatural talents who gets roped into the story here. The cast overall is great with a few hiccups here and there, but not enough to note beyond this.
As writer-director Allan Piper also served as cinematographer and editor, the film is very much his vision, one that is clear and allows the viewer to really get into the film and follow along as things get crazier and crazier. His vision of NYC and his take on the haunted house trope is great here. His sense of humor shows through and through, creating a film that is funny, has a few spooky moments, and shows talent from its maker on many levels.
eVil Sublet is a great take on the housing crisis around the world and particularly in NYC as well as all those haunted house movies that make viewers scream at the screen and get annoyed as to why the folks being haunted and hunted don’t just leave. This film gives you reasons for this, even though they are a bit silly to be honest, and really makes the most of the settings, situations, and talents of those involved.