[Review] You Should Have Left(2020) {5.5/10}

Written and Directed by David Koepp, the film stars Kevin Bacon (Theo Conroy), Amanda Seyfried (Susanna) and Avery Essex (Ella). The film based on the 2017 book of the same name by Daniel Kehlmann. Jason Blum served as a producer through his Blumhouse Productions banner.

The film follows Theo aka Stetler (Kevin Bacon) is a wealthy man with a dark past. He's now married to actress Susanna (Amanda Seyfried), and they have a 6-year-old daughter, Ella (Avery Essex). Looking to get away and spend some time together, they rent a huge house in the Welsh countryside. But before long, strange things start happening. The dimensions of the house don't make any sense, and mysterious doors suddenly appear, as well as scribbled warnings in Theo's journal. But when Theo finally decides to leave, it may be too late.

The best thing about the movie is the performance by Kevin Bacon. He embodies jealousy and uncertainty. Also the house itself is truly unsettling. But You Should Have Left does not break any new ground. The script is bland and very poorly written. It uses a pretty same basic and familiar formula of Haunted House set-up. The movie is pretty slow paced but once it builds up, everything flows smoothly. Bacon’s presence is enough to earn a passing grade. A notorious celeb having to explain his messy, inescapable past to a child is a smart, relevant story in the social-media age. However, while there is a psychological element to the film, with Theo subsumed by guilt that manifests in dreams, it plays as lame supernatural spooks. For this horror film's potential viewers I will simply say 'You Should Reconsider'.

You Should Have Left is now available on Digital and VOD.