The Deep House 2021
Directed by
Alexandre Bustillo
Made by
Epix (I)
Plot Summary
Ben and Tina, a lively young couple from New York, are engaged and dive enthusiastically into their passion for YouTube content creation, where they explore infamous haunted locations. Their adventures lead them to the picturesque countryside of south-west France, in search of a notorious sanatorium that now lies beneath an artificial lake. Unfortunately, upon arrival, they discover that the site has transformed into a bustling vacation destination.
Their fortunes change when a local named Pierre offers to guide them to a secluded section of the lake, deep within the forest of Chanteloup. This area was submerged in 1984 in an effort to halt relentless flooding. Pierre claims that within this forest lies a mansion that has remained “perfectly preserved” over the years.
As Ben and Tina dive into these mysterious waters, they quickly find the mansion, surprisingly intact yet shrouded in an ominous atmosphere. Upon entering the house, the couple is engulfed in a series of unsettling events. Disturbing voices echo through the halls, their drone’s motion tracker reacts to unseen presences, and their electronic devices falter mysteriously. They stumble upon rooms filled with chilling photographs, news articles of missing children, and cryptic satanic symbols. One door, ominously blocked by a large crucifix, leads to a horrifying room where they find two corpses shackled and enshrined in grotesque masks amid a satanic pentagram, accompanied by disturbing jars containing preserved body parts.
In a frantic attempt to escape, the couple discovers that the window they entered has been sealed shut by a sudden brick wall, trapping them inside the mansion of horrors. An attempt to pry open a grate in the cellar results in a shocking attack on Tina, who witnesses a horrific series of events that Ben cannot acknowledge, leading to a rift between them. Upon removing the masks from the corpses, Ben discovers them to belong to the Montégnac family, the former owners of the house. To their horror, these corpses animate, pursuing the couple through the progressively hostile house.
As they seek to flee via the chimney, the structure collapses, separating them. In the bedroom, Ben uncovers a family tree that reveals Pierre as the son of the Montégnacs, suggesting he has ensnared them into this trap deliberately. In a shocking twist, Ben encounters the undead daughter, Sarah, who possesses him, further complicating their plight. Tina, distraught, uncovers a hidden room where Sarah reveals the family’s dark history of kidnapping children for satanic rituals, culminating in a gruesome demise at the hands of a vigilante mob.
Controlled by Sarah’s malevolent intent, Ben attempts to draw Tina into the Montégnac fold. Desperately seeking an escape, Tina races into a secretive chapel and discovers an exit that leads out. However, chaos ensues when Ben, momentarily freed from possession, turns against her. In a heart-pounding struggle, Tina manages to wound him, only for the conflict to end tragically as Sarah fatally stabs Ben.
As Tina escapes through the opening leading back into the lake, she faces her ultimate challenge; she surfaces only to realize she’s out of air and tragically drowns beneath the waters.
In a chilling post-credit scene, two divers peer into the lake, their presence unsettlingly reminiscent of the cycle of terror that continues, altered now by Pierre’s guiding hand.
Timeline
Engagement and YouTube Adventures
Ben and Tina, a young couple from New York, are engaged and excitedly embark on creating YouTube content. Their focus is on exploring infamous haunted locations, which serves as both their passion and a way to share thrilling experiences with their audience.
Journey to France
The couple travels to the picturesque countryside of south-west France in search of a notorious sanatorium that has reportedly sunk beneath an artificial lake. They envision a thrilling adventure but are met with disappointment upon discovering that the location has been transformed into a busy vacation resort.
Meeting Pierre
Ben and Tina encounter a local named Pierre, who offers to guide them to a secluded part of the lake, buried deep within the forest of Chanteloup. He shares a mysterious legend about a mansion that has been preserved underwater since 1984 when the area was flooded.
Discovering the Mansion
Guided by Pierre, Ben and Tina dive into the lake and discover the surprisingly intact mansion that lies beneath the waters. However, the atmosphere is ominous, hinting at dark secrets hidden within its walls.
Unsettling Experiences Begin
Once inside the mansion, the couple experiences a series of unnerving events. Disturbing voices echo through the halls, and their drone's motion tracker indicates unseen presences, causing paranoia to swiftly set in.
Chilling Discoveries
They stumble upon rooms filled with disturbing photographs, news articles about missing children, and cryptic satanic symbols. One door, ominously blocked by a crucifix, prevents them from entering a horrifying chamber filled with corpses masked grotesquely, suggesting a dark ritual context.
Trapped Inside
In a frantic attempt to escape, Ben and Tina discover that the window through which they entered has been sealed by a sudden brick wall. Panic begins to set in as they realize they are trapped inside this horror-filled mansion.
Tina's Attack
While trying to pry open a grate in the cellar, Tina is shocked by a sudden horrific attack, creating a deep emotional rift between her and Ben. This incident reveals the mansion's dark and violent nature, intensifying the tension between them.
Revealing the Mystery
Upon removing the masks from the corpses, Ben uncovers that they belonged to the Montégnac family, the mansion's former owners. This revelation deepens their horror as they start to realize they are entangled in a nightmare involving the family's sinister past.
The Pursuit
The corpses of the Montégnac family animate and become hostile, actively pursuing Ben and Tina throughout the increasingly dangerous mansion. Their desperate situation pushes them to seek a way out, evoking primal instincts for survival.
Collapse and Separation
As the couple attempts to flee via the chimney, the structure unexpectedly collapses, separating them from each other. This tragic event amplifies their sense of isolation and fear as the horrors intensify.
Unveiling Pierre's Identity
Ben uncovers a family tree revealing Pierre as the son of the Montégnacs, suggesting that he has orchestrated this horrifying encounter. This shocking twist complicates their situation as they realize they are pawns in a larger sinister game.
Sarah's Possession
Ben encounters Sarah, the undead daughter of the Montégnac family, who possesses him and further complicates their desperate situation. This possession not only threatens Ben's life but also creates an emotional battle for Tina.
Attempted Escape and Betrayal
In a critical moment, Tina discovers a hidden exit within a chapel, leading her to hope for escape. However, chaos ensues when Ben, momentarily freed from possession, turns against her, culminating in a heart-pounding confrontation.
Tragic Conclusion
Despite wounding Ben in self-defense, their struggle ends tragically as Sarah fatally stabs him. As Tina escapes into the lake, she faces a final challenge and tragically drowns, highlighting the horrific cycle of terror in which they found themselves.
The Cycle Continues
In a chilling post-credit scene, two divers arrive at the lake, echoing the haunting nature of the events that transpired. Their presence suggests that the cycle of terror continues, now with Pierre's lurking influence shaping the next victims.
Characters
Ben (James Jagger)
Ben is an adventurous spirit, eager to explore haunted locations with his fiancée, Tina. His enthusiasm for YouTube content creation often blinds him to the eerie dangers surrounding them. As the story unfolds, Ben’s character undergoes a terrifying transformation as he becomes ensnared in the mansion's dark past.
Tina (Camille Rowe)
Tina is a resilient and spirited individual, passionately engaged in the adventures with Ben. Her strength and determination are put to the test as they confront the horrors within the mansion. As the narrative escalates, Tina's desperate need to escape exposes her vulnerability and fierce will to survive.
Sarah Montégnac (Carolina Massey)
Sarah is a tragic figure, doomed by her family's dark legacy and becomes a haunting presence throughout the film. Her character embodies the horrors of possession and the painful history of kidnapping and rituals. Initially a victim of fate, she transforms into an antagonistic force that complicates the relationship between Ben and Tina.
Pierre (Eric Savin)
Pierre serves as a deceptive guide, leading Ben and Tina into a trap that unravels their fate. His connection to the Montégnac family places him at the core of the mansion's sinister atmosphere. His character's motives and chilling demeanor create an unsettling tension, ultimately revealing the depths of betrayal.
Setting
Time period
1984, Present Day
The narrative shifts between the present day and significant events from 1984 when the mansion was submerged to prevent flooding. This time period is crucial as it marks the transformation of a dark history into an eerie underwater enigma. The remnants of the past starkly influence the characters' fateful exploration.
Location
South-West France, Lake of Chanteloup
The movie predominantly takes place in the picturesque countryside of south-west France, where the serene beauty of nature contrasts sharply with the dark events unfolding beneath the surface. The Lake of Chanteloup, once a site of relentless flooding, now hides a sinister mansion and the tragic history of the Montégnac family. This location embodies a blend of tranquility and terror.
Themes
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Horror
The film delves into the horror genre, exploring themes of possession, the supernatural, and the brutal legacies of familial sins. The characters' journey into the haunted mansion reveals unsettling truths about the Montégnac family and their dark rituals. The ambivalent relationships and terrifying encounters evoke a constant sense of dread and suspense.
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Trapped
A significant theme in the movie is the feeling of being trapped, both physically and psychologically. As Ben and Tina find themselves confined within the haunted mansion's sinister walls, their sense of freedom swiftly transforms into a struggle for survival. Relationships unravel under the weight of terror, further emphasizing their entrapment in both the literal and metaphorical sense.
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Betrayal
Betrayal is a pivotal theme as characters reveal their hidden motives, particularly with Pierre's duplicitous role as the puppeteer behind their horrific experiences. As trust dissolves, the emotional toll on Ben and Tina complicates their fight for survival against malevolent forces, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.
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