magic-games.net – I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016) is a slow-burning, atmospheric horror film directed by Osgood Perkins. The film delves into themes of isolation, the supernatural, and the unnerving power of the unknown. Central to the eerie narrative is the character Iris Blum, played by Paula Prentiss, a retired horror novelist whose mysterious past and unsettling presence anchor much of the film’s tension. As the enigmatic Iris, Prentiss delivers a chilling performance that adds to the haunting atmosphere of this gothic tale.

Plot Overview: A Quiet Descent into Terror

The story follows Lily Saylor (Ruth Wilson), a live-in nurse who is hired to care for the elderly and reclusive Iris Blum, a once-famous author of ghost stories. As Lily settles into Iris’s remote and decaying house, she begins to experience strange occurrences that blur the line between reality and fiction. The house itself, with its dark corners and lingering shadows, becomes a character in its own right, holding secrets that Lily is not prepared to confront.

Iris Blum, though physically frail and largely silent throughout the film, exerts a powerful influence on both Lily and the audience. Through her books and the lingering presence of her past, Iris’s connection to the supernatural becomes more apparent, especially through her unfinished novel about a ghost named Polly, who may be more than just a figment of her imagination.

Iris Blum: The Eccentric Novelist with a Dark Past

Iris Blum is a pivotal character in I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House. A former horror novelist, Iris is now bedridden and slipping into dementia. Despite her frailty, she remains a figure of intrigue, as her life and work seem to mirror the haunted atmosphere of the house. Iris’s career was built on crafting stories about the macabre, and the film suggests that her fiction may have been influenced by something much darker and more real.

Throughout the film, Iris speaks very little, but her presence is palpable. She refers to Lily as “Polly”—the name of a ghostly character from her most famous novel, The Lady in the Walls. This recurring name hints at Iris’s blurred perception of reality, suggesting that she may be aware of the supernatural forces at play in her home. Her connection to the ghostly Polly becomes a key element of the story, as Lily begins to unravel the mysteries of both Iris’s past and the house itself.

The Role of Iris Blum in the Film’s Horror Aesthetic

Iris Blum’s character is essential to the film’s unsettling atmosphere. Her house, with its creaking floors and silent rooms, reflects the internal decay and isolation that Iris herself experiences. The house is filled with memories of Iris’s past, and as Lily explores the space, she finds herself drawn deeper into the world of Iris’s stories and the lingering presence of Polly.

Iris represents a bridge between the living and the dead, her mind slowly deteriorating as the boundary between fiction and reality fades. The film’s horror is psychological, relying on the gradual revelation of these connections rather than overt scares. Iris’s character is a central figure in this unraveling, as her novels and her life intertwine with the haunting presence in the house.

A Slow-Burning, Psychological Horror

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is not a traditional horror film filled with jump scares or intense action. Instead, it is a slow-burning, atmospheric exploration of fear, memory, and the unknown. Iris Blum’s character is key to this aesthetic, as her silent, eerie presence lingers throughout the film. The horror comes not from overt supernatural encounters but from the gradual realization that the house—and Iris herself—may be tied to something far darker.

Iris’s connection to her writing, especially her novel about Polly, serves as a metaphor for the power of stories to shape reality. As Lily uncovers more about Iris’s past, she begins to realize that the line between fiction and reality is not as clear as it seems. The horror in the film is subtle but deeply unnerving, relying on the psychological tension created by Iris’s mysterious past and the spectral presence that haunts the house.

Conclusion

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016) is a haunting and atmospheric horror film that explores the boundaries between reality and fiction. At the heart of this gothic tale is Iris Blum, portrayed by Paula Prentiss, whose silent yet powerful presence drives much of the film’s tension. As a former horror novelist who may be haunted by her own creations, Iris serves as a key figure in the story’s exploration of fear, memory, and the supernatural.

Through Iris Blum’s character, the film creates a chilling, psychological horror experience that lingers long after the credits roll. Her connection to the house, her past, and the ghostly figure of Polly adds depth to the film’s unsettling narrative, making Iris Blum an unforgettable character in this eerie and poetic horror tale.