Exclusive: Gerald Webb on African American stars in his ghost movie 'A House Is Not A Home'

Courtesy DeInstitutionalized Films
The popularity of films that tackle the paranormal certainly isn’t waning. As we’ve reported, this past weekend’s number one film was Mama and the weekend before that, the Paranormal Activity spoof A Haunted House was a close second. So naturally we were excited to see the recently released trailer for A House is Not a Home, a new ghosty flick from DeInstitutionalized Films.

What makes Not A Home particularly interesting is the fact that the horror movie revolves around an African-American family that has moved into a haunted house. While we're used to seeing black characters in paranormal comedies, this straight and scary approach is fairly unique.

That is not a point lost on Gerald Webb, producer and star of the movie, who chatted briefly with us about the film.

Webb says that, "With the popularity of science fiction and horror films in both mainstream and urban culture, I've always thought it peculiar that other than as the villain, i.e. Candyman, I rarely see ethnic actors, specifically African American, as heroes or the lead cast in the genre's films."

He adds, "in almost every other genre of film those opportunities have been severely lacking. I decided the best way to remedy that problem was to produce films of our own, to create opportunities for myself and others. Christopher Ray and I crafted this film with that goal or agenda from the beginning."

Directed by Christopher Olen Ray:
Ben (Webb) and Linda Williams (Emmy winner, Dianhnna Nicole Baxter) move the family into a dream home in a last ditch effort to save their troubled marriage. Despite their good intentions, they cannot shake the feeling that they are being watched by something. Their unimaginable fears are realized when things inside the house take a supernatural and sinister turn. Ben and his family flee for their lives, but it is too late. The house isn't finished with them, trapping the family in its labyrinth. The Williams’ must come together as never before to fight for their family, their lives and to escape.
The film also stars familiar names like Richard Grieco (21 Jump Street), Eddie Steeples (My Name is Earl), and veteran actor Bill Cobbs (The People Under the Stairs, Go On). Aurora Perrineau -  daughter of Harold Perrineau from Lost and Sons of Anarchy -  plays the daughter of Ben and Linda.

According to Gerald, there is “no distribution info yet” but we’ll keep you posted.

-Larissa Mrykalo