Grendel neatly subverts the 'haunted house' trope by having the player act as a cynical plumber and the stereotypical old lady be an innocent (?) occupant and bystander to the horrors within.
I like the inclusion of a lot of environmental storytelling to explain the son's role, as well as the addition on different endings depending on whether the player finds the earring or not. Giving the protagonist a little attitude as a jaded plumber who exploits their clients is a fun idea and also adds a little more character to the game. The dialogue was done particularly well in my opinion!
This game has a neat monochrome presentation too, that isn't overly simplistic yet is detailed and minimalist enough to not really rely on colour. And I really think the monster design looks great!
What constructive feedback can I give? I think there could have been a little more backstory to the mother and son that still would have kept the context ambiguous. The monster encounter in the living room is a little sudden, and limits any opportunity to build dread. The faint atmospheric pad is great, but a slight addition of some more sound effects or music could add to the tension in the game.
Thanks for submitting Grendel to the SCREAM LITE jam!