One of my favorite thrillers happens to be the fantastic STIR OF ECHOES, directed by David Koepp and starring Kevin Bacon. And when I heard the two were working together again in YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT, I was more than a little excited. The latest from Blumhouse is a twisted and engaging flick about a married couple renting a mysterious house. The film also stars the delightful Amanda Seyfried and young Avery Tiiu Essex, and it's a spooky little thriller that offers intriguing characters stuck in a strange home with a ton of secrets. To give away much more than that would be a disservice. If you're into mindbending and cerebral horror, with terrific performances and a cool premise, this flick may very well be perfect for you. It was for me.
One of my favorite things about Kevin Bacon is his willingness to step into genre. Truthfully, I've been a fan of his ever since he had some trouble at Camp Crystal Lake. And then there's the previously mentioned STIR OF ECHOES. During the virtual junket for his latest, he opened up about working with David again and finding the right project. The discussion led to playing a flawed character who is having trouble connecting with his much younger second wife. It's a terrific role for the talented actor, and he and his co-stars give the audience characters they can invest in.
For David Koepp and Jason Blum, the two talked about the challenge of creating a unique and fresh look at a haunted house fright flick. Instead of just sticking to the tried and true, they've expanded on the idea in an inventive way. For David, it was his chance to explore a different facet of this type of thriller, one that could open over several different doors to other fascinating stories. It's always a pleasure to speak to Mr. Blum, and it's exciting to see another cool feature come out this year from the fine folks at Blumhouse.
And finally, there is the amazing Amanda Seyfried. After correcting the name of JoBlo to the moderator in the most charming way possible, our conversation went in a few fun directions. Yes, we talked a bit about the lovely MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. Yes, the subject of cats came up since we are doing these interviews in isolation. And yes, there 's a lot of talk about sheep. Amanda is utterly delightful in every way, and she's fantastic in the new film. Amanda is a joy to talk with. Yet so is Kevin, Jason, and David. If you're looking for good creepy fun this weekend, I recommend YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT for a little escape from all the real-life insanity.