The Horror Show
Treehouse
by James Roday
Horror has always been reliant on our political climate. From the days of Tod Browning being inspired by the injured and disfigured soldiers of WWI to make Freaks to George Romero's obvious statements of consumerism in Dawn of the Dead to Jordan Peele's amazing look at modern day race relations in Get Out, the way our world is functioning on social and political levels shapes what goes up on the big screen and to some extent, what our deepest fears are. Treehouse is a movie that hits a note pretty close to home. As a woman, I know what it's like to go through some of the things talked about in this film. I understand what it means to be part of a sisterhood. I know what it's like to be shunned cause you're not “one of the boys” and quite frankly, it sucks.
Treehouse is a cautionary tale about B list celebrity chef, Peter Rake, who is escaping his latest batch of bad press by returning to his family home for the weekend. Peter is a divorced father trying to juggle being there for his kid, a reality television show, his womanizing ways, and being a general dick bag. After lying to his daughter, he meets his twin sister, Gwen, at the family home which is still looked after by their housekeeper Agnes. After Gwen has to bounce, Peter meets his weekend neighbors, five smoking hot babes having a bachelorette party. Little did Peter realize that these five women are witches and they have an ulterior motive. His past is about to come to light in a big way.
This film is oozing with female empowerment. It speaks to the struggles a lot of women have had to face through history. It's about sisterhood and how a group of women can get shit done when we are pushed too far. All my life I've had men question my knowledge on horror and film. I've heard women who don't understand the genre call it misogynistic. They're both wrong. Women are the backbone of horror. We are the ones that watch it, we are the ones that love it; there's a reason the hero is usually a final girl. I know a lot of people will call this film feminist propaganda, but let them. Horror is our genre and it's nice to see a movie embrace that.
Treehouse is part of Hulu's Into the Dark series. It was directed and co-written by James Roday of Psych fame. Psych is one of my favorite shows. I love James Roday as Shawn Spencer and as a director he's no slouch. You can tell it was co-written by him, and, if you're a Psych fan like I am, you'll notice the hidden pineapple.
I loved Treehouse! The story was interesting and funny. The acting was great! Its setting was atmospheric and dark. There are witches, goats, sisterhood, and a grumpy old housekeeper that loves her doobage. I think she was my favorite part.
Treehouse is on Hulu right now. It's totally worth a watch. Girl power
Robin Thompson, HMS
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