Private Project

Housesitters

Angie and Izzy get a housesitting gig that seems too good to be true. Gruesome supernatural hijinks ensue.

Critical feedback:

"...a wildly funny, original and weird film." - Stephanie Crawford, Dread Central

"...one of the most thoroughly baffling and charming cinematic experiences I’ve had in a while." - Chicago Cinema Circuit

"...what a fun ride.... I happily watched it twice in a row." - Indie Horror Films

"I've seen much worse." - Horror Society

"(HOUSESITTERS) isn’t just entertaining but gives you something unexpected and funny..." - Gross Movie Reviews

"Do I recommend you watch it? You’re damn right I do." - Popcorn Horror

"The originality and humor of this film makes it stand out above many other indie flicks that I’ve seen in my years of reviewing horror movies... you’ll be doing your horror-loving self a favor by checking it out." - PopHorror.com

"With a solid script and really charming lead actors.... The charms of Housesitters are hard to resist." - F This Movie!

"...a wicked enjoyable watch." - Screamfix

"(HOUSESITTERS) makes up for the rough edges with a smart sense of humor and a game cast that clearly enjoys the film they are making." - Daily Grindhouse

"...the stupid-smart humor is executed with an ungainly, yet graceful, hilarious panache." - HorrorBuzz.com

  • Jason Coffman
    Director
  • Jason Coffman
    Writer
  • Jamie Jirak
    Writer
  • Jason Coffman
    Producer
  • Jamie Jirak
    Key Cast
    pH Productions (comedy theater)
  • Annie Watkins
    Key Cast
    The Bardy Bunch (stage production)
  • Peter Ash
    Key Cast
  • Ben Schlotfelt
    Key Cast
  • James Timothy Peters
    Key Cast
    Beware of the Klownz
  • Mariah Michael
    Key Cast
  • Bethanie Louise
    Key Cast
  • Karen Murphy
    Key Cast
  • Jay J. Bidwell
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Horror, comedy
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 3 minutes
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jason Coffman

Jason Coffman is the author of "The Unrepentant Cinephile" and a regular contributor to Daily Grindhouse and Film Monthly. He is a member of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle and co-director of the Chicago Cinema Society. He is the proud owner of 35mm prints of Andy Milligan's "Guru, the Mad Monk" and Zalman King's "Two Moon Junction."

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I'm a huge horror fan, and I watch a lot of independent horror movies. Far too many indie horror filmmakers make familiar zombie or slasher movies. With HOUSESITTERS, I wanted to do something a little different, something that doesn't take itself too seriously and is a fast, fun showcase for the talents of our fantastic cast and crew. We shot HOUSESITTERS on a minuscule budget (that mostly went toward buying food for everybody on shooting days) with a lot of hard work on a tight schedule. I'm proud as hell of everybody who helped out in front of and behind the camera, and I can't wait to share it with everyone!

The Five Rules of HOUSESITTERS:
I have watched many independent horror films over the years, and this experience has helped me figure out both what I want to do and--perhaps more importantly--what I do not want to do. While putting together HOUSESITTERS, I set down some ground rules before writing in order to help set it apart from many other independent horror films (and debut features in any genre). These rules were:

1. Keep it short. Part of the practical function of a debut feature is just to prove to yourself and others that you can actually complete a movie, and you don't necessarily need 100+ minutes to prove that point.
2. Keep it simple. Minimal locations, characters, and effects help keep the project feasible and realistic. These things also help you make a tight schedule that you can stick to for the whole shoot. It's a lot easier to finish a sprint than a marathon with no concrete finish line.
3. No explicit violence against women. Too many independent movies are reliant on violence towards women, whether it's a zombie movie, a slasher, or a serial killer "thriller." There's too much of that in the real world and in film history, so there's no need to add any more.
4. No guns. Guns are often a quick way to get yourself out of narrative problems and frequently are used gratuitously to just look cool. Also if you live in the United States, you're bombarded with gun stuff all the time. Give the viewer a break from seeing guns for a little bit.
5. Have fun! A lot of independent horror films take themselves far too seriously, and combined with overlong run times this turns a lot of them into joyless slogs. Instead of trying to be as unpleasant as possible or make a serious statement, have fun and try to convey that fun and make it infectious for your audience.