I needed to stay up late last night, so I decided to finish this, which caused me to stay up even later because of the creeps 😮💨
The plot 📖:
Margaret and her husband Hal finally purchase their dream home - an old, gorgeous Victorian - after their daughter becomes an adult. The price, the house all felt perfect, until September, when their seemingly normal house has walls that start bleeding, and d*smembered children that start running around talking about the man in the basement. Don’t forget their unalived housemaid who still cooks and cleans for them.
My thoughts 💭:
Was I supposed to find some of it funny? I don’t know, but I did. The sprinkles of humor were tasteful and helped take away from the absolute horror show that was the rest of the book. It was very triggering at times (domestic violence, alcoholism, and some others), so I suggest looking those up if you aren’t one to go in blind (like me).
... Read moreOkay, bookworms and horror fans, let's talk about 'The September House' by Carissa Orlando, because I know I'm not the only one who's been seeing whispers and questions about its potential film adaptation! As someone who just barely survived reading this chilling novel (seriously, the creeps were real!), I can absolutely see why people are asking if 'the september house' film rights are being optioned. This book is practically begging to be brought to the big screen!
First off, the visuals Carissa Orlando conjures are just chef's kiss for a horror movie. Those bleeding walls in their 'dream home'? The dismembered children running around as normal? And let's not forget the unalived housemaid who just keeps cooking and cleaning – it's all so perfectly macabre and unsettling. The OCR even caught that the book features a 'Haunted House' where 'Ghosts can interact,' and believe me, those interactions are ripe for some truly disorienting and gory cinematic moments. Imagine the practical effects for the ghostly children or the subtle terror of the house itself. A director with a keen eye for atmospheric horror could really make this shine.
What makes 'The September House' truly stand out, and why it would be such a fantastic film, is its unique blend of genuine horror with those unexpected sprinkles of dark humor. My initial review mentioned how I found some parts unexpectedly funny amidst the absolute horror show. That balance is crucial, and if a film adaptation could nail it, it would be a critical and audience darling. It's not just a haunted house; it's a commentary on domesticity, denial, and facing uncomfortable truths, all wrapped in a terrifying package. The way Margaret navigates her increasingly bizarre reality is both horrifying and darkly comedic – a tricky tightrope walk that could make for brilliant acting performances.
Of course, adapting such a nuanced and psychologically rich story comes with its challenges. The novel delves into some very triggering themes like domestic violence and alcoholism, which would need to be handled with immense care and sensitivity on screen. Translating Margaret's disorienting internal experience to a visual medium without losing its impact would also be a directorial feat. However, if done right, this could be a horror film with real depth, not just jump scares.
For those curious about what 'film rights optioned' even means, it's essentially when a production company buys the exclusive right to develop a book into a film for a set period. It's a huge step, but it doesn't guarantee a movie will actually be made. Still, the fact that there's buzz around 'The September House' for this reason speaks volumes about its compelling narrative and cinematic potential. I'm crossing my fingers that this amazing, gory, and deeply unsettling story finds its way to a wider audience, whether on the page or the silver screen!