Treehouse (film)

Plot

After several children go missing, a Missouri town institutes a curfew. Brothers Killian and Crawford disobey the curfew and discover Elizabeth, one of the missing children, hiding in a treehouse. As the teens became aware that they are being stalked, they attempt to return to town safely.

Cast

Production

Bartlett, a native of the UK, moved to Missouri, where he shot Treehouse. Bartlett said that he was attracted to the script due to its atmosphere and originality. Bartlett did a complete rewrite after optioning the script. Elizabeth was based on his own wife. The initial budget was $1 million, and they worked to decrease costs below that. The shoot was planned to last 19 days. Impressed with The Signal and its fast shooting schedule, Bartlett sought out that film's director of photography, but unforeseen circumstances, including an influenza outbreak, caused shooting to extend to 30 days. Bartlett and original scriptwriter Child were heavily involved in casting.

Release

The theatrical premiere was at the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 16, 2014. After technical issues with the film's screening, Bartlett told the audience that they should illegally download the film from the Internet in order to get their money's worth. It was released on DVD in the UK on October 20, 2014, and on video on demand on February 20, 2015. It also played in Los Angeles on the same date.

Reception

Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times called it "a lackluster backwoods thriller" lacks the tension of Jeopardy!. Dan Gvozden of LA Weekly said that the film initially builds suspense but ultimately unravels due to the characters' "cringe-worthy dialogue" and "unlikely decisions mandated by plot rather than character". Ryan Pollard of Starburst rated it 8/10 stars and wrote, "In the end, while there are inadequate faults with the script and some ungainly performances, Treehouse overcomes its flaws with its core aesthetic, visceral atmosphere, Dana Melanie's towering performance, and ultimately delivering on its promise to scare the pants off you." Michael Gingold of Fangoria rated it 2.5/4 stars and criticized Bartlett's rewrite of the script as changing the film's tone and contradicting what has gone on before, though he praised the film's tension. Patrick Cooper of Bloody Disgusting rated it 3.5/5 stars and called it "a brooding, atmospheric thriller that works on a lot of levels". Scott Hallam of Dread Central rated it 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "If you're looking for a tense and creepy night at the movies, give Treehouse a look."