Buurthuis 2

A real-estate developer wants to convert a community house – “buurthuis” in Dutch – into a luxury spa. He also turns out to be a vampire. He asks help from a wizard, who casts a spell to create chaos in the community house. The neighbours soon organise resistance. 　　In the Netherlands, a community house acts as a centre for educational and recreational activities for the neighbourhood. Director Arnell was inspired to make a horror short in the “buurthuis” around her corner, involving the locals in the writing process and casting them. We can feel on screen the fun these non-professional actors had shooting this deliciously campy, lo-fi film, which could well have been titled Vampire State Building. But its more realistic horror is the topical threat of gentrification embodied by the villain. Buurthuis 2 is a celebration of much needed fellowship, in front of and behind the camera.