Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Haunting of Helena’

Written by Scott Edwards 

Getting a separation from your significant other is never easy and is twice as hard when there is a child involved. Having to come to terms with a schedule of when each one of the parents are going to be looking over the kid causes all kinds of doubt whether you are a good parent or not. As long as the child comes first in your eyes determines if you are suitable to raise them, even if it is alone.  

Sophia has recently separated from her husband and is now on her own with her daughter Helena. The split is hard for both of the women in the broken family, but Sophia is willing to do anything to make ends meet. Moving to a new flat, Sophia is trying to erase all of the memories of her old home with her soon to be ex-husband Robert and start a new life with Helena.  Without having anyone to help fill the void of an absent father, Sophia has to find ways to keep her daughter’s imagination at bay between their weekly Skype chats.

Moving into the new apartment, Sophia is looking around in the basement to try to determine how much storage space she will have. Being intrigued by a large cabinet that has been covered by years’ worth of dust, her daughter says that she would like it in her room. Although Helena has never seen this piece of furniture before, she seems to have a bond with it like nothing Sophia has ever seen. Wanting to make their new home as comfortable as possible, Sophia gives into her daughter's request and has the cabinet brought up to her room.  

---

Being content in their new home, Helena tells her mother that she has a tooth loose. Sophia, being the loving mother that she is tells her daughter that when it falls out, the Tooth Fairy will bring her lots of money for the prize possession. Crashing her car off of a bridge in the middle of the conversation, Sophia and Helena are taken to the local hospital where Helena reveals that her loose tooth was lost in the wreck. Being extremely upset about the loss, Helena starts to buy teeth from her classmates around the school that raises the interest of the principal. Saying that she only wants to make the Tooth Fairy happy, Sophia finds out that there is much more to the history of the apartment and their new cabinet than she could have ever expected.

The Haunting of Helena follows Sophia and her daughter Helena as they are starting their life over without a husband/father being involved. Sophia has found an apartment with everything that she needs and within a price range she can afford, but there is a greater cost involved. Helena is haunted by the Tooth Fairy that inhabits this flat and she will not stay away from the young girl until she gets what she wants, teeth. Although Helena gives her every available tooth she can get her hands on, the Fairy wants the teeth that she lost many years ago and will not stop tormenting the young girl until this happens. With her daughter being locked up in an institute, Sophia will do anything to get her out. Finding out the history of the Tooth Fairy, she comes up with a plan to rid her daughter of the hateful specter.  

A good horror story as you follow mother and daughter when they are in their time of need. With Sophia not truly understanding what is happening to her daughter and a ghost haunting her every movie, it will keep you guessing as to whether or not the child is lying or actually telling the truth. Although seeing is believing, Sophia is challenged with trying to protect her daughter and with that a choice has to be made. If it is worth it...well, you will just have to sit back and watch as The Haunting of Helena will not leave you guessing as the final credits roll. Stay Scared. 

---