'Lyvia's House' Review: A Slow-Burn Indie Thriller With A Dash Of True Crime

Alex Leptos
Sep 26
5 min read

Official poster for 'Lyvia's House' by Patricia V. Davis and Niko Volonakis. — Official poster for Lyvia's House

When Patricia V. Davis and her husband left the Bay Area of California to relocate 150 miles north, they settled near her husband’s family rice farm. The farm was surrounded by walnut orchards, rice fields, and golden poppies- a seemingly welcoming and glorious environment. Davis was shocked to learn that a series of brutal murders had taken place only minutes from her new home. This reality- the beautiful and the profane- combined with Covid's imposed hiatus on her book tours, seemed to guide her into writing her first screenplay, the romantic psychological thriller, Lyvia's House.

Still from indie thriller 'Lyvia's House.' — *Lyvia's House* focuses on a large home previously owned by a missing artist.

Directed by Niko Volonakis and written and produced by Patricia V. Davis, Lyvia’s House is the kind of indie thriller that thrives on mood. The feature-length debut for both- Volonakis coming off of a series of short films and Davis known for her paranormal mystery novels.

The film follows a young couple relocating to Northern California. Journalist Tara (Tara Nichol Caldwell) moves her life across the country to be with Johnny (Joshua Malekos), an aspiring architect returning to his hometown. They move into a big beautiful home which happens to be the former residence of Lyvia Ricci (also played by Tara Nichol Caldwell), a local artist who mysteriously vanished. Now, I don't know about you but a house with a missing former owner wouldn't be my first choice if I were a young home seeker.

Obviously that's a set up for mystery and from the opening moments, Volonakis makes sure that you know this is an ominous atmosphere. The film takes its time, carefully layering in the town’s history and its colourful cast of residents. That gradual unfolding is something I can really appreciate, as somebody who really enjoys detailed stories. Tara learns that the disappearance of Lyvia may be related to a murder within the same town two decades prior (inspired by the case of serial killer Juan Corona), so there are certainly enough questions planted to keep you leaning forward.

That said, it's all very keen to remind you that you should feel unsettled- the score in particular, which occupies about 95% of the film. It’s less of a subtle creep and more of a “Hello guys, I’m the music!" At times, it ends up drowning out some of the quieter dialogue especially in the early portions, when really the actors could have carried the mood on their own. Sometimes silence says more than strings.

Tara Nichol Caldwell in 'Lyvia's House.' — **Tara Nichol Caldwell** plays both Tara and Lyvia.

Whilst the atmosphere is solid, the film is slow to start. When it does pick up, things do land pretty well. Clearly inspired by classic film noir (one in particular that I won’t mention at the risk of giving it away) which offers a very nice touch and callback for film fans who will surely be pointing at the screen like that Leonardo DiCaprio meme from Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The second half is where Lyvia’s House really comes alive and the intensity ramps up; the build clicks into place, and the cast deliver their strongest work following a somewhat uneven first half. Just as it seems to be getting to its peak though, it ends. It feels like it could've spent less time on the build up during the first half and more time at the aftermath of what ends up being its conclusion.

Technically, this is a strong production for a modestly budgeted indie. The cinematography, lighting, and colour grading all look polished, with a few striking horror visuals to boot. Having Tara Nichol Caldwell play both the protagonist and Lyvia herself is a bold choice. It’s unusual, but it works in that it layers in an extra sense of tension and ambiguity.

Still from 'Lyvia's House.' — There's a lot to unravel in the small town mysteries.

Lyvia’s House certainly has its strengths, but a few inconsistencies and a reliance on some familiar tropes sometimes dull the edge of what could have hit harder. There are moments of clever writing and flashes of real creativity that make the slower stretches worthwhile. Ultimately it's a film that doesn’t quite escape its clichés but manages to deliver a moody, unsettling experience with a solid payoff following a rather slow burn. It’s a little uneven but it’s also smart enough and atmospheric enough to keep you interested.

Find Lyvia's House on Amazon Prime.

About the director

Director Niko Volonakis. — Director **Niko Volonakis** (right).

Niko Volonakis grew up in Greece, divides his time between Athens and California, where he studied film at City College of San Francisco. Niko's work behind-the-scenes includes writing, directing, producing, camera, composing, and even, when needs must, acting. Dubbed "the Frankenstein of indies" by his colleagues, Niko's skilled hand at editing has bolstered many worthy low-budget projects. By scrutinizing all available footage, stitching it together (frame-by-frame, if necessary), he ensures every performance is elevated, every scene is enhanced, and every available production dollar is maximized. He brings that same philosophy to his directing.

Early in his career, Volonakis met Egyptian filmmaker, Taher Medhat. When Medhat returned to Cairo, the two stayed in contact during the 2011 Egyptian uprising. Shortly thereafter, Greece had its own upheaval, and the duo decided to 'guerilla-film' both rebellions, using them as backdrops for a short, Cairo Year Zero, and a feature, HATE YOUR CITY. Volonakis self-financed CYZ by producing a variety of vids for other artists and living on the cheap. Reminiscent of De Sica's Bicycle Thief, CYZ'S distinctive perspective on Egypt during that historic period garnered festival accolades, including Best Short at Reel Independent Film Extravaganza.

When Covid slammed production to a halt on HYC, Niko left Athens for California to be with family, and was approached to direct Lyvia's House, a thriller with Greek tragedy undertones. Keen to complete HYC, he turned it down, but when border restrictions prolonged his exile, he decided to take it on. Lyvia's House also became a festival winner, earning Niko awards for Best Music Score, Best Editing, Honorable Distinction in Directing, and a Femmy Nomination for Best Feature Film at the Nevada Women's Film Festival.

In development for Niko as director is THE TAMAWO, to be shot in the Philippines with BrandCinema. He's also slated to co-direct with Joshua Malekos, ISLE OF BOAR, a creature feature to star Z Nation's Russell Hodgkinson.