Movie · 2014 · Thriller, Horror · 1h 30m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 0.3/10 (27.9K ratings)
The dead are back for life.
Overview
A young woman recuperating at her father's run-down home after a tragic accident soon encounters a terrifying presence with a connection to her long-deceased mother.
Sarah Snook, Mark Webber, Joelle Carter, David Andrews, Chris Ellis, Ana de la Reguera, Brian Hallisay, Larisa Oleynik, Amber Stevens West, Vaughn Wilson, Fran Bennett, Paul Garrett, Barbara Weetman, Jason Davis, Lucius Baston, Charles Black, Elizabeth Rowin, Nick Basta, Chiek Sisoko, Kevin Patrick Murphy
Where to watch
Starz, Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A moody, swampy Southern Gothic supernatural thriller with a strong central performance and decent atmosphere, but it’s held back by thin writing, familiar scares, and some widely criticized racial imagery and plotting choices. Best approached as a low-budget vibe piece rather than a fully satisfying horror mystery.
Best for
Viewers who like atmospheric bayou or Southern Gothic horror
Fans of haunted-house mysteries with a melodramatic streak
People specifically interested in Sarah Snook’s performance
Horror fans willing to forgive a messy script for mood and setting
Skip if
You want smart, tightly plotted horror
You’re sensitive to racially problematic or exploitative material
You dislike derivative supernatural thrillers
You need strong character writing or a satisfying ending
Overview
Jessabelle is the kind of horror movie that survives on texture. The Louisiana setting, decaying house, and murky family secrets give it a swampy, gothic pull that a lot of viewers respond to, even when the story itself feels familiar and undercooked. Sarah Snook does a lot of heavy lifting, bringing enough presence to make the film feel more alive than its script deserves.
Worth noting
The movie’s biggest issue is that it keeps reaching for bigger shocks without earning them. The mystery is predictable in places, the scares are uneven, and the ending lands with more frustration than catharsis. For some viewers, that’s enough to sink it completely.
Bottom line
There’s also a real discomfort around the film’s handling of race and occult imagery, which makes it harder to recommend casually. If you’re specifically in the mood for a low-budget Southern Gothic ghost story with a strong atmosphere and don’t mind rough edges, it has a few rewards. Otherwise, there are better versions of this lane.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Ian West (3★) · 192 likes
Everyone hates this movie but I really don’t care. I love swampy bayou gothic sweatfest movies and sure, Jessabelle won’t win any awards or blow your mind, but it’s a solid supernatural southern mystery spooker thats held together for me by its atmosphere, locations, and Sara Snook’s performance. It’s like a darker low budget Skeleton Key (which I really dig/kinda love) but doesn’t feel like it was made a million years ago like that movie—it’s modern sheen and occasional shivers fit my mood… more Everyone hates this movie but I really don’t care. I love swampy bayou gothic sweatfest movies and sure, Jessabelle won’t win any awards or blow your mind, but it’s a solid supernatural southern mystery spooker thats held together for me by its atmosphere, locations, and Sara Snook’s performance. It’s like a darker low budget Skeleton Key (which I really dig/kinda love) but doesn’t feel like it was made a million years ago like that movie—it’s modern sheen and occasional shivers fit my mood… more
Christian Sweda (1.5★) · 144 likes
I honestly didn't care what happened to any of these people.
olivia 🌷 (2★) · 136 likes
thirst watch for sarah snook
pris (2★) · 114 likes
imagine surviving a car accident just to be haunted by your mom’s VHS tapes
𝚮𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖊𝖖𝖚𝖎𝖓𝖆𝖉𝖊 🙏🏻 (1★) · 90 likes
I love Southern Gothic, I love Louisiana and I love Sarah Snook, but this was a cheap piece of garbage. It's a shame, because some of the ideas for the visuals were interesting, it's the execution that was awful.
Based Shiv Roy is lovely and the score is good, but that's all this has going for it.
The only truly interesting thing here is that this film has the exact same scene as Babadook, but since they came out in the same year it's unlikely there's "homage" (or let's call it what it is - theft) going on here.