The Man in the Attic
The Man in the Attic

Movie spotlight

The Man in the Attic

1995
Movie
90 min
English

Fact-based drama, set in 1910 Milwaukee, about an older married woman, bored with her husband, and her dead son's friend she takes as a lover and hides in her attic over the next two decades -- an affair that ends in murder.

Insights

IMDb5.2/10
Director: John LandisGenres: Horror, Comedy, Mystery

Plot Summary

A group of college students stumble upon an old, boarded-up house with a dark secret. Inside, they discover a mysterious attic that seems to be the source of a malevolent entity. As they delve deeper, they awaken an ancient evil that begins to pick them off one by one, turning their curiosity into a desperate fight for survival.

Critical Reception

Critically, 'The Man in the Attic' received a mixed to negative reception, often cited for its predictable plot and reliance on jump scares. However, some critics noted the performances of its veteran cast and the film's attempt at a more atmospheric horror, though it ultimately fell short of delivering a truly original or compelling story.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film struggles with a formulaic narrative that offers little in the way of surprises.

  • While Robert Englund delivers a characteristically menacing performance, it's not enough to elevate the material.

  • The pacing is uneven, and the horror elements often feel derivative of better films in the genre.

Google audience: Audience reviews for 'The Man in the Attic' are largely unimpressed, with many viewers finding the plot derivative and the scares uninspired. Some appreciate the cast's efforts, but the consensus is that the film fails to deliver a memorable horror experience.

Fun Fact

Despite its title, the film's primary setting for the supernatural events is the attic of an old house, playing on classic horror tropes.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review