The SXSW Film Festival has a large variety of options including features and shorts. Additionally, it also has television show pilots, one like the 22-minute horror-comedy pilot “Dale’s House,” playing as part of the ‘Episodic Pilot Competition.’
The story follows a pair of former best friends—Nilly (Julie Lake) and best-selling author Ben (Matt Kirsch)—who are both invited to housesit at the mysterious “Dale’s House,” which, according to the series synopsis, is a “demonic house that grants them all the success they desire, in exchange for their souls.”
I say that’s what it is according to the synopsis because all we see is the pair first arrive at the house, banter a lot, and get slightly creeped out before it ends—and we only get the slightest suggestion that the series will have a house that knows its tenant’s deepest desires.
The said comedy, too, isn’t particularly funny. It tries so hard to the point that it’s awkward as it waits for us to laugh. There are moments where the awkwardness of the moment is the joke. One such moment is when a strange neighbour tells us that she has two first names and forces them to laugh, because everyone does, and the horror score plays over that moment. The actors are likable enough, as the pair are also the showrunners and writers, and this pilot is directed by Kat Whalen.
Director Kat Whalen. (Photo: Marie C.)
There is some okay creepiness in the horror here (and some grossness where yellow Jello seems to fall from the ceilings). Still, that’s not remarkable, either. I was mostly impatient here as it is doesn’t set up this thing as a wishing house until the last 30 seconds; and even then, you only know that’s a teaser because it’s in the synopsis.
That’s partly why it feels unfair to me to criticize a show based on its pilot, as the premise surely seems like it could get interesting throughout the series given the best friends’ history and a couple of other teasers, such as a creepy unicorn man. As well, I like the detail that Nilly is pregnant and her baby has been kicking like crazy since they got to the house; and I like that bit of foreshadowing and what that might entail.
The job of a pilot is to keep you to get watching. Knowing that it eventually does have something to do with a wish-fulfillment house à la “Needful Things,” I’d give it at least another episode, but this pilot is so disappointing that it didn’t expand on the reason I watched this (which definitely are the wishes they might make). The optimist in me knows that this would probably get better and find its groove in the second or third episode. However, just judging it by the first 21 minutes, I’d sadly switch the channel if I caught it on TV because I just didn’t get its humour.
*”Dale’s House” premiered on March 17th at SXSW Online, and is available to press and ticket holders until March 21st at 1 AM.
