I just reviewed the sequel..... Now it's time for the original 1986 classic.
Doesn't this poster just totally do it's job?
As a young child, I loved horror films. However, few were really available to me. HOUSE was one of the first I ever saw and it has made a lasting impression on my life. Even if it's a horror-comedy.
HOUSE follows the story of Roger Cobb (William Katt), a writer who moves into his recently deceased Aunt's house where he spent a good deal of his childhood. His reasoning: A mix of Nostalgia and need for inspiration. Roger must kill the Great Marlin hanging from his wall when it comes to life and begins flapping. While babysitting, the kid he is looking after is kidnapped by gruesome-smiled demons of some sort. Tools begin to animate and attempt to kill him. There's some sort of monster in his closet (literally) as well. All while dealing with divorce and a lost son. The House is the key to finding his son however....
House has some genuinely creepy moments but I really don't want to spoil them here. That's also too bad because there's a lot I'd like to say. If it were a more prestigious and well-known movie, I would.
Many reviewers note the Vietnam flashback scenes as being cheesy and stupid, but it took courage to mix that in with a horror film and I don't mind them at all. I think one needs to see HOUSE at an early age to really love it. The movie borrows remixed clips of music from Friday the 13th movies (as does it's sequel) and was directed by Steve Miner (heavily involved in the early Jason outings). The House set is awesome, even if the House isn't quite as well styled or creepy as in the sequel. George Wendt has a small role that doesn't work out too well.
When it's all said and done House is a pleasing film that unashamedly ends in a freeze-frame. Though it's tongue-in-cheek style horror, it never sets us into the "anything can happen" world the sequel so foolishly used. While the sequel is laughably bad, House is laughably good and belongs in every horror collection. Look for the OOP 2 pack DVD containing House 1&2 with really cool lobby cards. THREE AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE.
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