Netflix has released the first official trailer for the upcoming anthology series The House, and it's perhaps the streamer's scariest television production in a while.
The stop-motion adult miniseries, due out on January 14, 2022, is being promoted as a "quirky dark comedy" by Netflix. And judging by its creepy, unnerving and downright bizarre first teaser, that's an understatement.
There are dancing cockroaches, anthropomorphic cat-and-mouse cults, exorcist-style horror and whipping from Tim Burton, David Lynch, David Firth and even Wes Anderson's fantastic Mr. Fox. So, think of us as sellouts.
Check out the official trailer for Netflix's The House below:
Little is known about the overarching narrative of The House, but Netflix's official synopsis hints at what it will entail. The house will tell "three surreal stories of the people who made it their home." And based on what we've seen so far, it seems like each of The House's stories take place in different realities but are interconnected in one way or another.
Each of the tales in The House has also been directed by some of the leading voices in independent stop-motion animation. Emma de Swaef and Marc Roels (This Magnificent Cake), Niki Lindroth von Bahr (Bath House) and Paloma Baeza (Poles Apart) are the visionaries behind The House's unusual and sometimes creepy aesthetic. Actors such as Mia Goth (Suspiria, Emma), Matthew Goode (The King's Man), Miranda Richardson (Good Omens) and Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd, Corpse Bride) will lend their voices to The House's eclectic cast of characters.
The House was produced by Nexus Studios, the company behind the Billie Eilish animated film "Happier Than Ever" and an augmented reality experience for Marvel Studios' Eternals, the first project of its kind created for the band giant.
The House will be released exclusively on Netflix on January 14, 2022.
Analysis: Netflix's catalog of cutting-edge TV projects grows
Netflix hasn't been shy about increasing its selection of disturbing, creepy, and horror-filled projects in recent years.
Black Mirror, His House, Midnight Mass and Mike Flanagan's 'The Haunting of', the Fear Street trilogy and Stranger Things have captivated, pissed off and terrified audiences in equal measure since the company began developing its own 2013 originals. And, given how well these productions have performed, among subscribers and on year-end critics' lists, it's no surprise that Netflix is stepping up its efforts to create more content of this type.
Of course, the streaming giant can afford to take risks with projects like The House. Netflix remains the biggest streaming service, and with its vast cash reserves, for every project that fails to grab viewers' attention, there are three more, like Squid Game, Arcane, and The Witcher, that become global phenomenons. .
As more and more people with different tastes sign up to the platform, the demand for unique movies and TV series is increasing within its subscriber base. Therefore, projects like The House will attract at least some viewers.
But word of mouth is a major component for TV shows and movies to become Netflix sensations overnight. And, based on its intriguing and creepy trailer, Home could end up being a hit for the streamer. If enough people are interested in its teaser and also marvel at its aesthetic, style, and tone when it drops next month, it might surprise a lot of people.