The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›We Used to Live Here
Entertainment • Film

We Used to Live Here

We Used to Live Here is a horror novella by Marcus Kliewer, first published in 2024 after originating as a short story on Reddit’s NoSleep forum.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

We Used to Live Here is a horror novella by Marcus Kliewer, first published in 2024 after originating as a short story on Reddit’s NoSleep forum. It follows a young couple whose new home is disrupted by a family claiming to have lived there before, and it has been reported to be in development as a Netflix film adaptation with Blake Lively attached to star and produce.

Premise

The novella follows a couple who move into a remote house and are confronted by a family that says it once lived there. The encounter escalates into an eerie psychological-horror scenario involving shifting identity and reality.

Publication history

The story first appeared on Reddit’s NoSleep forum and gained significant attention there before being adapted into a book published in 2024. Publicity around the book highlighted its online origins and viral readership.

Film adaptation

Reports from 2021 onward said Netflix had acquired the screen rights. Coverage in 2024 and 2025 stated that Blake Lively was attached to star and co-produce, but the project remained in development with no release date announced.

Reception and cultural context

The work attracted attention as part of the broader trend of internet-born horror stories moving into mainstream publishing and film. Its queer protagonists and ambiguous, reality-bending plot were frequently noted in coverage.

Key facts

  • The story began as a Reddit NoSleep post before being expanded into a full-length novella in 2024.
  • It centres on a queer couple, Charlie and Eve, whose home is visited by a man, his wife, and their children claiming prior ownership.
  • The work has been described in publicity as a mix of horror-thriller influences, with comparisons made to Get Out and Parasite.
  • Reports in 2021 said Netflix acquired film rights, with Blake Lively attached to star and co-produce.
  • As of late 2025, no release date had been announced for the film adaptation.

Frequently asked questions

What is We Used to Live Here?
It is a 2024 horror novella by Marcus Kliewer that originated as a Reddit NoSleep story.
Who wrote We Used to Live Here?
Marcus Kliewer wrote the novella.
What is it about?
It follows a couple whose new house is visited by a family claiming to have lived there before, triggering increasingly unsettling events.
Is there a film adaptation?
Yes. Reports say Netflix acquired the rights and attached Blake Lively to star and co-produce.
Has the film been released?
No release date had been announced in the available reports as of late 2025.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Used_to_Live_Here
    Supports: Basic identification of the work, publication context, and adaptation reporting.
  2. PinkNews — https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/08/26/blake-livelys-next-big-project-after-it-ends-with-us-is-a-sapphic-horror-movie/
    Supports: Plot description, Reddit origin, publication in 2024, and reported Netflix/Blake Lively adaptation details.
  3. Movie Insider — https://www.movieinsider.com/m19886/we-used-to-live-here
    Supports: Development status, adaptation involvement, and release status as TBA.
  4. IMDb News — https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63317939/
    Supports: Reported Netflix screen-rights deal and Blake Lively attachment.
  5. The Mary Sue — https://www.themarysue.com/we-used-to-live-here-ending-explained/
    Supports: Story premise and broad plot elements of the novella.