The House of the Devil (Limited Edition) Blu-ray Review

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The House of the Devil: A Retro Horror Homage

Ti West’s The House of the Devil (2009) is a slow-burn love letter to 1980s horror, dripping with dread and retro aesthetics. Starring Jocelin Donahue as Samantha, a cash-strapped student who takes a dubious babysitting gig, the film masterfully blends satanic panic tropes with vintage filmmaking techniques to craft an unnerving ode to the genre’s golden age. 

Plot: Satanic Panic Meets Isolation Horror 

Set in the 1980s, Samantha’s desperation for rent money leads her to a remote mansion where the Ulman family (Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov) harbors a grotesque secret. What begins as a routine job spirals into a ritualistic nightmare during a lunar eclipse, culminating in a chilling finale where Samantha battles not just cultists, but her own horrifying fate. 

Cast: Subtle Performances, Eerie Atmosphere 

Donahue anchors the film with a relatable, vulnerable turn, while Noonan and Woronov exude unsettling charm as the cryptic Ulmans. Greta Gerwig shines in a brief but memorable role as Samantha’s ill-fated friend, Megan. The cast’s understated performances amplify the creeping tension, letting the eerie silence of the isolated house speak volumes. 

Production: Authentic ’80s Craftsmanship 

Shot on 16mm film, West replicates the grainy texture of ’70s/’80s horror, complete with zooms (not dollies), yellow-font credits, and freeze-frames. Period details—Samantha’s Walkman, The Fixx’s “One Thing Leads to Another,” and a boxy Volvo—immerse viewers in the decade. The crew’s stay at Connecticut’s purportedly haunted Yankee Pedlar Inn even inspired West’s subsequent film, The Innkeepers (2011). 

Release: Nostalgia Beyond the Screen 

Premiering at Tribeca in 2009, the film embraced its retro roots with a VHS-style clamshell promo, echoing the era’s home video culture. Its limited theatrical run and VOD release cemented its status as a cult favorite, appealing to horror purists and newcomers alike. 

The Video

The House of the Devil is presented in a 1.78:1 AVC 1080p encodement on Blu-ray. The film was shot on 16mm so expect a grainy and somewhat limited in contrast picture, but Ti West and cinematographer Eliot Rockett make the most of the format, pushing it to its limits, offering up a noir-esque palette of chiaroscuro lighting, purposely pushed whited, and warm midtones. The Second Sight transfer presents the imagery flawlessly and in the most natural and detailed way for a 16mm source on Blu-ray.

The Audio

The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio mix is a masterclass in subtly. It begins straightforward and front-heavy, opening up only when the soundtrack kicks in, but by the third act when we are in the full throes of the horrors of the house, the atmospherics, thumps and foley effects begin to come from all around with natural sounding reverberation and a good amount of thump, but certainly not room rattling lows. Dialogue is full and clear and has more than adequate range.

The Supplements

Second Sight provides this limited edition set with their usual full-array of bonus materials, including multiple audio commentaries, a 70-page book, art cards, and their gorgeous slipcase.

Limited Edition Contests:

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Nick Charge
• 70-page book with new essays by Martyn Conterio, Ariel Powers-Schaub, Jerome Reuter, and Julieanne Stupidis plus Behind the Scenes gallery.
• Six collectors’ art cards

Bonus Features:

• Audio commentary with writer-director Ti West & actor Jocelin Donahue
• Audio commentary with writer-director Ti West, producers Larry Fessenden & Peter Phok and sound designer Graham Reznik
• The Right Vibe: An interview with director Ti West (1080p; 00:19:00)
• Satanic Panic: An interview with actor Jocelin Donahue (1080p; 00:17:17)
• Slowing Down is Death: An interview with actor AJ Bowen (1080p; 00:25:40)
• A Level of Ambition: An interview with producer Peter Phok (1080p; 00:23:44)
• An Enduring Title: An interview with producer Larry Fessenden (1080p; 00:27:48)
• It All Feels Appropriate: An interview with director of photography Eliot Rockett (1080p; 00:13:32)
• Hiding the Seams: An interview with composer Jeff Grace (1080p; 00:15:35)
• Writing Through Sound: An interview with sound designer Graham Reznick (00:24:42)
• This Night Changes Everything: The Making of The House of the Devil (1080p – upscaled; 00:24:16)
• In The House of the Devil (1080i; 00:20:23)
• Deleted Scenes (1080p – upscaled; 00:06:41)
• Trailer (1080p; 00:02:07)

The Final Assessment

The House of the Devil thrives on patience, rewarding viewers with escalating dread rather than cheap jumpscares. West’s meticulous recreation of ’80s style—both visual and narrative—elevates it beyond mere imitation, offering a chilling reminder of why slow-burn horror endures. A must-watch for fans of atmospheric, character-driven terror. The Second Sight release presents the film beautifully and in a set with lots of extras and beautiful packaging. This will be a great one to have for collectors and for the spooky season marathons.

The House of the Devil (Limited Edition) is out on Blu-ray in the UK from Second Sight Films. A standard edition is also available.

• Rating Certificate: R (for some bloody violence)
• Studios & Distributors: R (for some bloody violence)
• Director: Ti West:
• Written By: Ti West
• Run Time: 95 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Video Format: AVC 1080p
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Street Date: 28 April 2025