At the SXSW Q&A, Austin-based director Michael Tully jokingly described his latest effort Don’t Leave Home as ‘Hereditary for old people’, which may be an apt comparison but it belies the true spooky power of a more delicate horror film. With a Lynchian style that combines the lush scenery of Ireland, a 4:3 aspect ratio, older actors, and frightful visions of a dark figure, the film feels like an ancient relic of sorts, in a similar way that his last film Ping Pong Summer felt like a product of the 80s.
Lead Anna Margaret Hollyman is endlessly watchable, and she lends a vibrant youthful streak to the proceedings. Don’t Leave Home makes for an ominous outing that, after a late-night screening, may cause you to see apparitions in the middle of the night.
