Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: The bodies pile up when a Halloween attraction is built inside an actual haunted hotel.
Review: Hmm, should this fully count as a Halloween movie? Technically it doesn't take place on Halloween, however, the attraction itself was meant to be for Halloween so it's close enough. As for the sequels...they're getting lumped in regardless. Now, what exactly is a "Hell House LLC?" It's found-footage style which is immediately going to lose a sizable chunk of any audience. Despite the tired and cheap formula to found-footage, this is how you do it right. The pacing felt right with a healthy dose of scares to keep you going before the big finale. Sure, there are instances of questionable acting and moments where people wouldn't realistically keep a camera rolling, but there's a fun movie here if you're willing to give it a try.
A little background on the story's structure will help paint the picture. A group of, I guess, friends and coworkers have worked on multiple Halloween haunts and decide to setup shop at an abandoned hotel called the Abaddon. They film everything that goes on with the production, because they want to use the footage to spot flaws in their setup along with having visual references for future attraction they build. That might be an acceptable reason to film, but they kind of take that to unrealistic proportions you just have to accept from a movie. As for the Abaddon Hotel, of course it is given a sketchy background to explain away the creepy happenings that the main cast experiences.
What makes this movie interesting and, at times, truly scary is the complete utilization of the Halloween haunt concept. The attraction the characters set up is cool with numerous creepy props at every turn. When characters are roaming around the hotel, you are left scanning the entire screen trying to see what is prop and what is moving on its own. This keeps you on edge at all times as a viewer and can be intense when the characters are moving fast; I might even go as far as to say there was a sense of dread. As you would easily guess, many unsettling things happen to the characters since the hotel turns out to be haunted after all. By the end, when they finally open the haunt up to the public is when things really amp up; the film certainly delivers the goods you were hoping to see.
While "Hell House LLC" does much correctly, it does still fall into the trappings of found-footage. It's not just filming things no one would, it's this idea that you already know what will happen since we are shown the aftermath of the events at the film's start. I get that this is to build tension since you want to know how it happened, but it sucks to know who will die and who won't right away. There is an attempt to throw a curveball to the viewer with a final twist, but that still doesn't alter the expectations you feel while watching. The fate of the characters should have been kept vague until the reveal of each one dying with less focus on the how and more emphasis on the anticipation toward the climax. I mean, there are other flaws you can nitpick, but this was low-budget and I can overlook certain weaknesses.
All things considered, "Hell House LLC" has been flying under the radar for a lot of people. This is a great low-budget flick that definitely feels creepier when watching around Halloween time. The clever usage of the background props along with the legit scares enhances what would be an otherwise cookie-cutter experience. You do need to understand this is found-footage and has the inherent flaws that accompany that subgenre when handled poorly. This film does take most things with stride, but you do still see many common missteps these types are know for. Nevertheless, this is a recommend that you should check out this year.
Notable Moment: When Paul has a shadowy figure behind him while he's laying in bed. This is probably the first scare, and I like that we never really figure out who or what that was.
Final Rating: 6/10
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