HELL HOUSE LLC: LINEAGE Bombs with Fans Walking Out and Producer Begging For Mercy on Rotten Tomatoes
The Hell House LLC franchise is limping to the finish line, and fans aren’t exactly applauding the final act. The latest and final film in the series, Hell House LLC: Lineage, debuted at an early screening and reportedly had viewers walking out before the credits could roll.
One frustrated attendee took to Reddit to vent, claiming they hadn’t seen people leave a theater mid-movie since the Last House on the Left remake. They said they regretted not walking out themselves, calling the movie’s dialogue “atrocious” and complaining about repeated, tired gags that just didn’t land.
One of the biggest shocks for fans is that Lineage ditched the found footage style entirely, abandoning the very element that made the original Hell House LLC a standout in the horror genre. That first movie is still considered by many to be one of the best found footage horror films ever made. So naturally, fans are asking: why mess with what worked?
While some viewers bolted, Hell House LLC: Lineage is still somehow holding a 64% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. But that number might not be as organic as it seems. Joe Dain, producer and President of Terror Films Releasing, took to the franchise’s official Facebook page on August 21 with a pretty strange request. He asked viewers who “hated” the movie to avoid Rotten Tomatoes entirely.
Here’s what Dain said: “If you're going to leave a negative review, leave those reviews on IMDB, Letterboxd or Reddit and leave the good reviews for those who liked the film for Rotten Tomatoes.”
You don’t have to be a seasoned horror fan to raise an eyebrow at that one. Despite Dain’s plea, critics didn’t hold back. The film currently holds a grim 27% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Serving as the finale to a franchise that’s been haunting horror fans for over a decade, Lineage follows a woman drawn to the cursed town of Abaddon after a near-death experience. Her journey uncovers disturbing links between the Abaddon Hotel, the Carmichael Manor, and a long trail of grisly murders.
Stephen Cognetti, the director of the original film, returns to helm this swan song.
Hell House LLC: Lineage is currently playing in select theaters and is set to hit Shudder in October. Curious to see it for yourself?