His House 2020

As the film unfolds, Bol (Sope Dirisu) and his family, including his wife Rial (Wunmi Mosaku), embark on a perilous journey from war-torn South Sudan to Britain. Their small boat capsizes, plunging them into the treacherous waters of the unknown. The story then shifts to Bol and Rial as they find themselves in a cramped detention center, their daughter Nyagak (Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba) nowhere to be found.

A stroke of luck presents itself when government officials inform the pair that they have been assigned a two-story rowhouse in a British neighborhood. The catch is that they must not seek employment and reside exclusively in this new home, which serves as their temporary sanctuary until their citizenship application is processed. With strict instructions to assimilate seamlessly into local society and adhere to rules, Bol and Rial are left to navigate the intricacies of their new environment.

As they settle into their modest abode, a social worker named Mark (Matt Smith) greets them with warmth, welcoming them to their new home. The house may be dilapidated, but it is theirs alone, according to Mark, who takes pride in the fact that his own residence is smaller than this one. Bol’s enthusiasm for this fresh start is palpable, while Rial maintains a more reserved demeanor.

That night, strange occurrences begin to manifest: unexplained noises and movements within the walls. Bol becomes convinced he has spotted a ghostly presence, but a sudden bird flight reveals the true culprit behind these eerie events. As Bol attempts to shake off his unease, Rial finds solace in crafting a necklace from beads on one of Nyagak’s dolls.

The next morning, the couple steps out into their new neighborhood, only to be met with a sense of disquiet and hostility from their neighbors. Bol tries to make amends by disposing of their trash properly, but his neighbor’s glare makes it clear that acceptance is not forthcoming. Undeterred, Bol ventures out for a haircut, which serves as an opportunity for him to learn more about his surroundings. As he wanders back home, Rial remains unimpressed with Bol’s newfound enthusiasm.

In the midst of this disorienting new world, Bol’s ignorance about their actual location in Britain becomes apparent. A chance invitation to watch a soccer game at a local church serves as a cultural awakening for Bol, who quickly picks up on British chants and cheers alongside his hosts. Returning home, Rial’s skepticism towards Bol’s increasing familiarity with his surroundings only intensifies, highlighting the vast chasm that exists between their experiences and perspectives.

As the darkness of night descends upon Bol (character name), he is once again beset by the unsettling sounds emanating from behind the walls of his home. With an air of trepidation, he ventures downstairs to investigate, only to discover a gaping hole revealed by falling wallpaper. The sight that greets him is nothing short of bizarre: a strand of seaweed appears to be the focal point of a macabre dance, as if some unseen force is manipulating it from above. As Bol reaches out to touch the strange cord, a ghostly presence emerges from the shadows, its eyes fixed intently on the doll that dangles at the end of the seaweed like a morbid puppeteer’s marionette. The corpse that bursts forth from the wall in hot pursuit of the doll is a stark reminder of the horrors that lie just beyond the veil of reality. Bol’s response to this surreal scenario is one of resignation, as he closes his eyes and wills the chaos away, only to reopen them and find the walls restored to their former state. His curiosity piqued, he embarks on a midnight mission to strip the wallpaper from every surface in the house, as if the very act of revelation might uncover some long-hidden truth.

Meanwhile, Rial (character name) awakens to find Bol vanished, leaving behind a trail of discarded wallpaper that stretches like a serpentine path across the floor. As she sets about cleaning up the mess, her mind is flooded with visions of their perilous journey from South Sudan, the memories of which have been buried beneath the surface for so long. With a sense of unease growing within her, Rial decides to seek out medical attention at a nearby clinic, only to find herself lost in the labyrinthine corridors, as if the very streets themselves are conspiring against her. Her fears and anxieties are further fueled by the mocking gazes of her neighbors, who seem to view her as an outsider, a stranger in a strange land.

Despite her initial trepidation, Rial receives a clean bill of health from the clinic’s nurse, but it is the latter’s probing questions that truly unsettle her. As she explains the significance of the raised tattoos that adorn her and Bol’s bodies – symbols of their tribal affiliations, forged in the crucible of war – Rial is forced to confront the cruel irony of her situation: having sought refuge in a foreign land, only to find herself forever torn between two warring factions. The nurse’s query about Nyogak (character name) serves as a poignant reminder of all that has been lost along the way.

Returning home with a sense of unease growing within her, Rial is greeted by an eerie whispering emanating from the walls themselves. As she watches in transfixed horror, a peach rolls across the floor like some sort of macabre puppet, drawn inexorably towards the gaping hole that has become a portal to the unknown. The cacophony of voices that begins to speak to her is nothing short of overwhelming, their words piercing the veil of reality and shattering the fragile illusion of peace that Rial had so desperately sought.

As Bol (actor name) steps back into his home, a mixture of apology and determination etches its way across his face. He’s met with the warm aroma of a traditional meal, carefully prepared by Rial on a vibrant rug reminiscent of their African heritage. However, instead of embracing their cultural roots, Bol insists they adopt Western customs, forcing them to use silverware and dine at a table. His English-only dictum is as much a declaration of assimilation as it is an attempt to sever ties with their past.

Rial regales Bol with the haunting tale of a man who coveted a home so desperately that he resorted to thievery, only to have his newfound abode cursed and eventually destroyed. Her words are laced with a warning, suggesting that they too may be trapped in a similar web of despair if they fail to confront their true nature.

That night, Bol’s senses are once again assailed by the whispers of the past. As he begins to excavate the walls like an archaeologist uncovering ancient secrets, the air is filled with the lively rhythms and haunting melodies of African music. The ghosts that Rial spoke of materialize before him, their ethereal presence a stark reminder of the curse that threatens to consume them.

Nyagak, donning a tribal mask, appears, her eyes blazing with an otherworldly intensity. Bol flees his home, leaving behind the echoes of his own guilt and the whispers of the ancestors. When he returns, fueled by a determination to break the curse, he sets ablaze the remnants of their African heritage – the clothes and goods that served as tangible links to their past.

The necklace Rial crafted from Nyagak’s sacred beads becomes an unbearable reminder of their connection to their homeland. Bol rips it from her neck, ignoring her pleas not to destroy the symbols of their history. As the flames consume the symbols of their cultural identity, Bol sets his sights on a new path – one that involves embracing Western customs and leaving the ghosts of their past behind.

In the days that follow, Bol becomes increasingly obsessed with integrating Rial into British society. He repairs the wiring in their home, sacrificing his own comfort and safety in the process. The once-intact walls now resemble a war-torn landscape, bearing testament to Bol’s all-consuming drive for assimilation.

As he finishes his task, Bol is met with an unsettling sight: Rial, her eyes aglow with an unearthly light, conversing with an unseen presence. Her words are laced with a sense of foreboding, warning Bol that if she complies with the ghosts’ demands, they will reunite her with Nyagak – and that he should be afraid of his own transformation. The air is thick with tension as Bol sets the table for dinner, his determination to reshape Rial in his image now a desperate attempt to stave off the darkness that threatens to consume them both.

As Bol’s frustration boils over, he devours his dinner with fervor, his utensils clinking against the plate in a staccato rhythm that echoes the turmoil brewing within. The realization dawns on him like a dark storm cloud gathering on the horizon - he’s trapped inside a waking nightmare. The sea around him churns with watery corpses, their empty eyes drifting toward him like bloated leaves on a stagnant pond. The vision dissolves, but Bol’s torment is far from over; the malevolent entities continue to assault him, their ethereal forms vanishing into thin air whenever he attempts to banish them with light.

Desperate to reclaim control of his reality, Bol turns to Mark (no actor specified), beseeching him for a new place to call home. Mark’s skepticism is palpable, his brow furrowed in concern as he surveys Bol’s battered appearance and the labyrinthine holes that have been drilled into the walls. The explanation offered - vermin infestation - rings hollow, but Mark’s willingness to issue a warning rather than a full-scale eviction speaks volumes about his trust in Bol.

However, the fragile peace is shattered when Rial (no actor specified) emerges from the bedroom, clad in the very garments and necklace that Bol had thoughtlessly destroyed. Her words are laced with venom as she reveals the true nature of their haunting: they’re being terrorized by malevolent spirits and a vengeful witch. Mark’s expression turns grim as he threatens to report the couple to his superiors, implying that they’ll be sent packing back to South Sudan.

As tensions within Bol’s home reach a boiling point, he and Rial engage in a bitter squabble over their place in this strange new world. Bol seeks solace outside, where his neighbor dispenses a dose of harsh reality: they’re doomed to return to Africa no matter what. Bol refuses to abandon his adopted home, taking drastic measures by removing the door and window handles. He then lights a candle, inviting the ghosts to engage with him in a desperate bid for answers.

The darkness yields the Butcher (Javier Botet), its presence as unsettling as a cold draft on a winter’s night. The witch offers Bol a twisted deal: reunite Nyogak with Rial, but at the cost of his own life, repaying his debts to the spirits. Bol recoils in horror, realizing that while the Butcher cannot directly harm him, it can still torment him with visions of a ghostly Nyagak, her empty eyes fixed on the horizon like a beacon of despair.

As Rial (re)gains her footing outside, a surreal vision transports her back to South Sudan’s sun-kissed plains. Reunions with old friends are short-lived, however, as the enigmatic witch intervenes, forcing Rial to confront the long-suppressed truths of her past. The memories flood back, like a tidal wave, revealing a brutal attack by a warring tribe that left most of their loved ones in a tragic heap.

We witness Rial and Bol’s desperate bid to escape the war-torn landscape, only to be rebuffed by bus workers prioritizing families with children. With no little ones of their own, they concoct an audacious plan: Bol swoops in, claiming Nyagak as their daughter, securing a spot on the bus. As it departs, leaving a distraught mother behind, Rial vows to safeguard this adopted child.

Their journey continues aboard a creaky vessel bound for Britain, but fate has other plans. The boat capsizes, and amidst the ensuing chaos, only Bol’s quick thinking saves Rial from a watery grave. As the rescue raft closes in, it becomes clear that Nyagak, along with countless others who sacrificed their lives for Rial and Bol to survive, now haunt them as ghosts.

The witch reappears, offering a twisted proposition: deliver Bol into her grasp, and she’ll reunite Rial with Nyagak. But when Rial returns to the apartment, she finds Bol waiting, his resolve to atone for past wrongs steeled by self-inflicted wounds. As he confesses his transgressions, the floor gives way, and the witch rises from the earth like a specter.

With Bol dying in her arms, Nyagak’s ghostly presence rekindles Rial’s connection to him. Recognizing that her true home lies with Bol, she seizes the knife and slays the witch, freeing her beloved from her grasp.

As the narrative progresses, Mark and his superiors make a return visit to the residence, only to discover that all vestiges of the previous inspection’s discoveries have been meticulously eradicated. The domicile is now tastefully (albeit minimally) decorated, its walls bearing no visible scars from the earlier ordeal. Despite their initial ire, the inspectors seem willing to turn a blind eye to Rial and Bol’s presence, allowing them to remain in the home. In hushed tones, out of earshot from his colleagues, Mark queries Rial about the sudden transformation. With a hint of solemnity, she reveals that she has taken care of the witch, laying her spectral concerns to rest. Concerning the lingering ghosts, Rial explains that they have become an integral part of their beings, forever entwined with their identities. Bol and Rial reaffirm their commitment to coexisting with these ethereal remnants as they strive to build a new life together. The cinematic narrative concludes on a poignant note, with Bol and Rial sitting in peaceful contemplation alongside the ghosts of their troubled pasts, their collective energies infused with a sense of resolution and renewal.