Static DVD Review

Home invasion films have been a staple of the horror genre for many years but with the success of The Strangers, a surge in their popularity led to the release of many lacklustre pictures which failed to have the impact or originality of films such as 1997’s Funny Games or even 1967’s Wait until Dark. Static is the latest offering to enter the fray but it treads a slightly different path to those that have been before it by blending aspects of other horror subgenres to create a new experience for those who have been overexposed to this style of horror.

Milo Ventimiglia and Sarah Shahi star as a grieving couple, Jonathan and Addie, whose choice to reside in a secluded country house threatens to spell disaster for the second time (after the recent loss of their son) when a mysterious visitor interrupts a peaceful night. Claiming that she has been attacked by a hooded gang, Rachel (Sara Paxton) seeks safety in the Dade’s household, and when Jonathan goes to investigate further, it transpires that something sinister could be afoot.

Whilst Static relies on all of the typical genre tropes to draw in the audience and ratchet up the tension, Todd Levin’s directorial debut displays an impressive level of control; the screenplay toys with the audience’s expectations and delivers something quite unexpected that never feels out of place. An eerie atmosphere is created as the camera stalks the grounds of their unsettlingly quiet house and the cause of strange noises and disturbances are often left unseen, much to the confusion and terror of the lead actors, whose suitably distracted performances heighten the sense of pervading fear.

Rachel’s credibility as a victim of an attack is soon doubted as the couple begin to suspect ulterior motives, and as the outside threat grows stronger, the panic-stricken couple don’t know where to turn. It is this dilemma that forces the Dade’s into a tight situation, and their already frayed relationship begins to buckle under pressure.

Ambitious, yet lacking in any real impact, Static is a fairly impressive debut that unfortunately never manages to fulfil its initial promise. Credit must go to Gabriel Cowan for her well-crafted screenplay and Levin is certainly gifted behind the camera, but just like the strange experiences encountered by the Dade family, there is something amiss that holds the film back. Horror and thriller fans will be intrigued by the premise but those averse to the genre are unlikely to see any reward in what is essentially a well-executed film that, despite Levin’s best attempts, doesn’t quite capture the intensity or relevance of the films it draws its influences from.

It is encouraging to watch a home invasion film that doesn’t rely on gore to shock the audience, but the resolution is somewhat unsatisfying as, despite being unpredictable, Static still retains a sense of familiarity once all is revealed. Disappointing revelations aside, Static is a bold attempt at combining horror subgenres that shows there is still fresh ideas out there and I only hope that Levin’s next picture will showcase more of this ingenuity.